Registered Charity No. 1049352

Copyright 2014 Hardynge Choir

Honorary President: Sasha Johnson Manning

Hardynge is the ancient name for Harpenden, dating from when it was a farming hamlet growing wheat for the nearby manor of Wheathampstead. The choir's name and logo symbolise these enduring connections.

The Hardynge Choir started in 1966 and continues to provide a challenging outlet for singers wishing to perform mostly the mainstream Choral Society repertoire. The choir currently has 70 to 80 members.  

There are no formal individual auditions for entry or ongoing membership.  We believe that singing should be taken seriously and worked at hard, but above all it should be fun and open to as many people as possible.

Three or four concerts are given each year, usually with professional orchestras and soloists.

Glorious Venetian Christmas

The Hardynge Choir rounded off a successful year by celebrating with a glorious Venetian Christmas carol concert in St John’s Church.  The concert opened with a flourish: Paean Brass Ensemble performed Canzoni Per Sonar: Canzon I, "La Spiritata" by Giovanni Gabrieli.  Later in the concert they played his delightful Canzon II a quattro, and Roger Carter, Organ, played Ricercar Arioso (I) by Andrea Gabrieli (uncle of Giovanni).  The choir sang splendid pieces by C16/17 Venetian composers, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Gabrielli, Cipriano de Rore and Orazio Vecchi, and the audience joined in singing five well known carols.  There were also some well chosen readings.

Concert in St Albans Cathedral

The Hardynge Choir and Aeolian Singers gave a wonderful joint concert in St Albans Cathedral on Saturday 18 October 2014.  The concert opened with Schubert’s joyful Magnificat; that was followed by a beautiful performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto by Jane Booth on a period instrument.  The second half of the concert was an outstanding performance of Beethoven’s glorious Mass in C, with some exquisite singing from the four soloists.

Enjoy our next concert!