Shortlisted for the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award, the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus is South Yorkshire’s foremost large mixed-voice chorus, performing a range of works to a high level of musical excellence. We regularly sing with leading orchestras including the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic, the Northern Sinfonia and the Manchester Camerata, and with internationally renowned conductors such as Gianandrea Noseda, Nicholas Kraemer, David Hill, Gábor Takács-Nagy and Sofi Jeannin. We perform with Orchestra in Residence the Hallé and acclaimed soloists as part of the Sheffield International Concert Season at the City Hall in Sheffield, and at other venues around the UK. We frequently collaborate with other large choirs such as the Halle Chorus, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and the Halifax Choral Society.
There have been a number of really high points in the Chorus’s history. The recording of The Dream of Gerontius made with the Hallé and Barbirolli nearly 50 years ago is highly acclaimed and is still available; amazingly a few existing Chorus members took part in the recording. The Chorus performed the Berlioz Te Deum in the Royal Albert Hall under Sir Thomas Beecham, Handel’s Messiah with Sir Malcolm Sargent, and Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony, with the composer himself conducting. More recently the Chorus has worked with a wide range of conductors and orchestras – and some outstanding soloists – performing some ‘traditional’ repertoire (Messiah, Mozart Requiem, Britten’s War Requiem, etc.) as well as that of contemporary composers, including Wilby and Mealor. The Chorus has commissioned several new pieces in recent years, and has made recordings for Chandos and for BBC Radio 3. The Chorus also has its lighter moments, in particular our very popular annual Christmas Concerts with the Black Dyke Band. Carols from the ‘Awake Arise’ Christmas CD with Black Dyke Band have been Classic FM Drive winners no fewer than four times.
Prestigious performance venues
Although we usually perform in Sheffield, we have participated in The Proms on a number of occasions, including the Proms in the Park event for 
the Last Night of the Proms in Heaton Park, Manchester in 2005 and in a performance of Beethoven‘s ninth symphony (sung from memory) with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for Prom 75. As well as London’s Royal Albert Hall we have performed in Leeds, Halifax, Middlesbrough, York and Edinburgh, but also in France, Germany and Monaco. We enjoy touring and performance links with French choir Ensemble Vocale Perigueux based in Perigueux France, and with the Philharmonischer Chor Bochum, who are regular performers with the Bochumer Symphoniker based in Bochum, one of Sheffield’s twin towns in Germany. In September 2023 members of the Chorus sang Mahler’s 2nd Symphony in Monte Carlo with the CBSO and CBSO Chorus.
High quality professionals
Our subscriptions pay for a professional Music Director, Darius Battiwalla, and accompanist Rachel Fright, both of whom give tremendous value to every rehearsal. Individual singers are professionally coached in rehearsals by Maggie McDonald (also voice coach to the Hallé Choir) every few weeks. These superb professionals help the Chorus maintain the high levels of excellence expected of a choir accompanied by orchestras with national and international reputations for excellence. The actor Samuel West and BBC broadcaster Petroc Trelawny are our patrons, and Rachel Copley BEM is our President.
Stella Jockel Young Composer Competition
In 2023 the Chorus launched the Stella Jockel Competition to support local young composers starting out in their musical careers. The winning works were premiered at the finale of the Classicsal Sheffield Festival Weekend in Sheffield City Hall. You can read more about the competition at Stella Jockel Young Comp0ser Competition. This project led to a nomination for a Making Music Award in 2023 and for a Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award in 2024.
Young Conductor Scheme
In 2024 the Chorus launched a support scheme for aspiring young choral conductors. The scheme enables the recipient to conduct the Chorus for part of each rehearsal, coached by Music Director Darius Battiwalla, as well as receiving a stipend of £500 to help fund their musical development.
New singers welcome
The chorus currently numbers about 160 singers, and always welcomes new members in all voice parts. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm, usually at at the Heeley Hall, Birkdale School, Sheffield, S10 3DH. We are a friendly choir and prospective members are very welcome to try us out before joining, following an audition which doesn’t involve sight singing; re-auditions are every three years. If you are interested, find out more on our New Members page.
How to support us
The best – and entirely pleasurable – way to support us is to come to our concerts. However, if you’d like to do more then do consider making a donation (easy to do, just click on the donation button below). Alternatively you could become a Friend of the Chorus. Find more details at ‘Support Us‘.
