The University Chamber Choir was formed in 1977 and merged with ChaOS in 2023. Chamber Choir has the goal of singing a wide range of choral music - from Tallis to Rutter, Vivaldi to Whitacre. As Students’ Union society, we are formed primarily of students with a student-run committee, plus a few staff members, totalling around 35 voices.
Over the years, we have performed extensively in Bath and the surrounding counties, and recently went on tour to the Netherlands. We lead the annual University Carol Service, usually held in Bath Abbey and partake in various other University ceremonies, such as the University’s 50thanniversary celebration and the University’s welcoming event for the new Vice-Chancellor. The choir is conducted by Michael Painting, who has inspired and conducted the Chamber Choir since its founding.
This year we are looking forward to building on the hard work we put in last year to restore the choir to its pre-Covid glory! We have plenty of concerts, workshop days, and socials already planned which we cannot wait to share with you all. The Committee are excited to welcome old and new faces, so keep reading to see how you can get involved.
To prepare for our performances, we normally rehearse at the Edge Arts Centre every Tuesday from 19:15 to 21:15.
Why join the University Chamber Choir?
Within the Chamber Choir, we strive not only to make music, but to also create a welcoming community of members of all ages and backgrounds. Together, we enjoy performing a wide repertoire of music in a number of great venues; there is always something for everyone!
Being a member of the Chamber Choir will greatly enhance your university experience. It can help you to develop greater self-confidence and organisational skills, expand your musical knowledge, and give you a well-deserved break from studying- all of which will benefit you during your degree and in your life post-university. More importantly though, it is a fantastic way to meet a whole host of new people with similar interests to you, get involved in an active and dynamic university society, and make life-long friends.
When we’re not singing, we’re a very sociable group holding several socials each month. Whether you like wine and cheese nights, or prefer a big night out, going ice skating, or a Christmas jumper party, our socials cover it all and our enthusiastic committee are ready to welcome your ideas and get us all together!
Is this choir for me?
If you can read music, have some previous singing experience, and are keen to perform fantastic choral music with a group of lovely people, then University Chamber Choir is for you.
As we are a relatively small choir, we are looking for members who are prepared to commit to attending one 2-hour rehearsal per week, and every performance we do. This commitment helps the choir to enhance and develop every member’s choral ability above and beyond the level reached at school whilst giving you valuable choral experience which will allow you to carry on singing long after graduation.
If you’re still unsure, please don’t hesitate to send a message to any of our social media accounts or drop us an email. We are happy to answer any questions you might have!
How to join!
If you think that Chamber Choir is for you, we will be hosting auditions at the start of this term. These auditions are very simple and completely pressure-free – there is no preparation needed!
If you are interested, come and meet some of our committee members and learn more about the choir at the SU Groups Day on the Parade, or the SU Groups fair in the Founders Hall. We would love to meet you and chat to you more about what being a member of the UCC involves!
We look forward to seeing you there!