Choral reflections
King's Lynn Festival concert
It was an honour for us to perform for the first time in the King's Lynn Festival, and we loved every minute, especially singing James McConnel's brilliant new piece 'Like a Bell' with such an evocative libretto by Rachel Goodman. We were thrilled that Kate Parker who had commissioned the piece was so complimentary to all concerned in its first performance. James had been very kind and worked with us for months to bring all the elements together, especially the clapping! We're looking forward to performing it again before too long.
Totally loved your concert last night! It was superb. Top musical quality. So much musicality and vitality. a great joy to see and hear all of you.
Review by Andy Tyler, Lynn News 23/7/26
The recent concert given by The Guildhall Singers under the enthusiastic and animated conductor Andres Hernandez-Salazar at Lynn's All Saints' Church certainly lifted the spirits and included pieces ranging from the Renaissance period to modern times.
The recital celebrated the Maritime, Hanseatic, and Cultural heritage of Lynn, so naturally Shakespeare and Vaughan Williams featured in one way or another.
Sensitive and joyful performances were given by the choir consisting of approximately fifteen members, formed in 2019, and composers included were Purcell, Josquin des Pres, Lasso, Mantyjarvi, Lindberg, Vaughan Williams, Whitacre and Shearing.
The choir, directed with authority by Andres, mastered technical difficulties presented by some of the pieces and seemed to revel in the diverse nature of the programme and some of its more unusual creative features.
The programme concluded with a newly commissioned original work by Norfolk Composer, James McConnel and Librettist Rachel Goodman, entitled Like A Bell.
The concert supporter Kate Parker commissioned the piece to celebrate the festival's 75th anniversary. The work was warmly received by the full and enthusiastic audience and describes a stage performance, including references to Lynn's maritime and theatrical past.
Jazz and folk elements are always welcome as part of our local musical heritage, which was certainly evident in this exciting Festival event. Kate and Adrian Parker kindly supported the concert. Thanks to all involved in its success.
Librettist, Rachel Goodman, composer, James McConnel, ‘Like A Bell’ commissioner, Kate Parker and conductor, Andres Hernandez- Salazar
Sicily 2026
We recently spent a delightful few days in Sicily, where we had the privilege of singing in two stunning churches in Ortigia and Catania. Sharing the stage with the distinguished Coro Polifonico di San Benedetto and Coro Discantus di Siracusa was a true honour. Their warm welcome and camaraderie allowed us to forge lasting friendships that we will cherish.
30th April 2026
Chiesa di San Filippo Apostolo, Ortigia
A joint concert with Coro Discantus di Siracusa
2nd May 2026
Monastero di San Benedetto, Catania
A joint concert with Coro Polifonico San Marco
Click below for more.......
We were delighted to return to the beautiful setting of St Faith’s Church in Gaywood, where we performed our inaugural concert in 2019, to present an evening of Christmas music. A very appreciative audience enjoyed music ranging from the Gloria from Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli sung in mystical darkness from the back of the church, through pieces by Praetorius. Rutter, Lauridsen, Reger and Britten, and including arrangements of traditional carols.
We are very happy to share proceeds with St Faith’s towards the ongoing work of the church and its community support, The Bungalow Project, now known as The Hub.
Breckland Society Christmas Social
We were delighted to be asked by the Breckland Society to perform at their Christmas Social event on Friday 5th December in St John the Evangelist Church in Oxborough. We sang a range of Christmas music from Palestrina to an arrangement of Mel Tormé’s Christmas Song. Something to suit every taste!
St John the Evangelist is stunning, with its adjoining Bedingfeld Chapel containing beautiful and intricate terracotta tombs in the Italian Renaiassance style of the early 16th century. The Bedingfeld family have occupied the adjacent Oxbrugh Hall since it was bult in the 1480s.
The excellent accoustics in the church made it a joy for us to sing, and the champagne and canapés following the concert were a perfect way to end the evening!
James Parry, Chairman of the Breckland Society, wrote the following: 'What a triumph! We've had the most wonderful feedback to the concert from our members - hardly surprising, given the beautifully curated programme and the quality of the singing. We are truly grateful to you all for supporting the Breckland Society in this way. It was a rare treat, and will be remembered for a very long time by everyone lucky enough to be there,'
Find out more about the work of the Breckland Society by clicking here.
The Glory of the Renaissance 8/11/25
Superb....so good to hear such a really well blended choir
The Palestrina was sung in such a prayerful way. Like hearing it sung in a Mass. The choir sang it completely without ego - as it should be sung. Truly spiritual.
Click on the poster for the programme
Review of the concert by Andy Tyler published in the Lynn News 18/11/2025
In just half a dozen years or so The Guildhall Singers, formed in 2019 by Helen Herbert, have become a trusted and popular chamber choir, based here in West Norfolk and have explored music of an intimate nature, attracting enthusiastic audiences as was the case in its most recent concert, ‘The Glory of the Renaissance’ held at All Saints Church, Hillington Square, Lynn.
A nicely contrasted concert included one work by G.P. da Palestrina ( 1525-1594), in its first half, a complete performance of his Missa Papae Marcelli, a work where no element of the music dominates, and we enjoyed a clear, well-balanced performance of the piece. A very satisfying musical experience.
After the interval, secular and popular madrigals were performed by composers Orazio Vecchi (1550-1605), Jacques Arcadelt (1507-1568), and some better-known composers: Thomas Morley (1557-1602), Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), and John Dowland (1563-1626). The subject matter of the pieces is often of love and loss, some lively, some much more reflective. Thomas Morley’s popular ‘Now is the month of Maying’ is based on one of Vecchi’s madrigals. I was pleased Orlando Gibbon’s moving piece ‘The Silver Swan’ was included - a favourite of mine!
Thanks, of course, go to music director Andres Hernandez-Salazar for his confident and inspiring leadership of this excellent local chamber choir. The varied character of the pieces is well conveyed. We look forward to the choir’s next concert at St Faith’s Church, Gaywood, on Sunday, December 14, 6pm.
Concert Archive
