The William Byrd Singers Bring Bach’s Christmas Oratorio to The Stoller Hall
Our Autumn/Winter season has already been jam-packed, with family fun from Horrible Histories and Stoller Story Sounds, captivating flamenco dance from Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company, and the first of our 2025-2026 Emerging Artists Rush Hour concerts with the incredible Dominic Mattos. Looking ahead to our Christmas programme, we’re welcoming back old favourites with Down For The Count and Lindisfarne, as well as the fantastic William Byrd Singers on 14 December, who last performed with us in 2022. A longstanding North-West choir that has been active since the 70s, the William Byrd Singers are bringing us a spellbinding performance of Bach’s festive masterpiece, the Christmas Oratorio. We spoke with choir member Leslie Robinson to find out about the choir’s history, their mission, and what to expect from their performance.
Tell us about the William Byrd Singers! What’s your story and what’s the driving force behind your work?
The roots of the William Byrd Singers go back to 1970, when Dr. John Coope—GP, philanthropist, and chairman of the East Cheshire Music Committee—invited Stephen Wilkinson, Director of the BBC Northern Singers, to form a small but exceptional choir for a special concert. Stephen handpicked the very best voices in Cheshire, holding auditions to ensure top quality. The resulting performance was a triumph, praised not only for its superb singers but for Stephen’s remarkable ability to draw out a deeply personal musical response from the group.
Originally known as the East Cheshire Cantata Choir, the ensemble soon adopted the name William Byrd Singers. Under their new name, they gave their first concert in November 1970 at Whitworth Hall, Manchester.
In 2009, Stephen passed the baton to Keith Orrell, a former member of the choir with an impressive track record as a choral director. His résumé includes founding the Beaumaris Singers, leading the Birmingham Singers, and directing the Stone Choral Society. He also served as Chorus Master of the Hallé Choir for seven years, and the Music Director of the Liverpool Welsh Choral since 2003. Keith has continued to honour the choir’s founding principles of excellence while adding his own distinctive musical interpretation. Today, the William Byrd Singers remain one of the North West’s foremost chamber choirs.
Our driving force? Quite simply, it’s the unrelenting pursuit of musical excellence.
You’ll be getting us in the festive spirit with Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Why have you chosen this piece, and what makes you excited about performing it?
Bach has always been a favourite of the Byrds – his music is a gift to singers. Every line is crafted with beauty, and the harmonies, when woven together, create something transcendent. In fact, our very first concert in 1970 featured a Bach piece (Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ), and we’ve returned to his works again and again. Our last appearance at the Stoller Hall in 2022 was a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, a monumental undertaking that was met with great acclaim.
For our 2025 performance, we’ll once again collaborate with the brilliant 18th Century Sinfonia, whose period instruments bring a rich authenticity to the sound. Joining us will be four internationally acclaimed professional soloists. It’s a grand production artistically and logistically, which is why we’ve launched another Crowdfunder campaign to help raise £5,000 towards costs. Supporters will have their names printed in the programme and can choose unique rewards, from music lessons to a personal performance by the Byrds. In 2022 we exceeded our target, raising £6,100, and we’re hoping to do the same this year.
The William Byrd Singers have been performing together for over fifty years. What does it mean to be part of a group with such a rich and enduring history?
We’re hugely proud to be part of a choir with such an established and respected name. Admittedly, most of us weren’t there in those early years – only two or three original members remain (an impressive feat in itself!). But under Keith’s leadership, we’ve developed a renewed identity while holding fast to our tradition of high-quality singing.
Like many ensembles, we faced challenges during Covid, but it strengthened our bonds as a community. The joy of singing together is now even more powerful – sometimes it feels as though that joy surpasses even the individual satisfaction of tackling the challenging and distinctive repertoire that defines the Byrds.
And finally, what do you hope the audience will take away from this performance?
As Keith Orrell explains, while Handel’s Messiah is a Christmas staple, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachts-Oratorium) is equally iconic. It’s a work of infectious joy and celebration – from grand, trumpet-and-drum choruses to serene pastoral scenes with lyrical flutes and oboe d’amores. The contrasting arias, performed by our exceptional soloists, are as melodically captivating as they are technically demanding.
Whether hearing it for the first time or returning to it as an old favourite, audiences can expect to be moved, uplifted, and inspired by one of the greatest works in the choral repertoire.
Don’t miss this magical performance from the William Byrd Singers this December! Experience their enchanting rendition of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at the Stoller Hall on 14 December at 2:30pm.
