Oxford Philomusica Chorus

The Oxford Philomusica Chorus was established in 2000 to work with the Oxford Philomusica. Under chorus master Andrew Stewart, the chorus has appeared with the Oxford Philomusica and Marios Papadopoulos in performances of Bach's Mass in B minor and Christmas Oratorio, Handel's Messiah, Bernstein's West Side Story, Mozart's Requiem and with John Rutter in a programme of Christmas works. Recently, they appeared with the Oxford Philomusica in a special concert at the House of Commons performing Haydn's Nelson Mass and in an Armistice Day concert in Christ Church Cathedral where they performed Rutter's requiem under the baton of the composer. Its membership consists of professional singers who have studied in Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music in London. Between them they have recently performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Wales Millennium Centre (Cardiff). Members have notably performed a wealth of music, ranging from Bach and modern realisations of Hasse through to Xenakis and more recently commissioned contemporary works.

Andrew Stewart

Music Director, Oxford Philomusica Chorus

Widely regarded among the UK's leading music journalists, Andrew is also active as choir trainer and conductor. He has contributed regularly to the Independent and written feature articles for The Times, the Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Sunday Express. In 1989 he founded the Southwark Festival, serving as its artistic director and offering performance platforms to many young artists who have since developed major careers. In 1999 he established Southwark Voices, which has appeared with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Nigel Kennedy, Anna Netrebko, Luciano Pavarotti, Russell Watson, Aled Jones and Hayley Westenra, and also recorded Sullivan's The Rose of Persia with the Hanover Band for the CPO label. For the past decade Andrew has worked regularly in Oxford, serving as chorus master and artistic adviser to the Oxford Philomusica since its foundation. In December 2006 Andrew conducted the Blackbird Leys Choir for HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace, subsequently preparing the group for the world premiere of Orlando Gough's Blackbird, and for concerts at the Sheldonian Theatre, Christ Church Cathedral, BMW Group Plant Oxford and Royal Festival Hall.