We are a local choir based in St John of Jerusalem Church, South Hackney. The choir celebrated its fifteenth birthday in April 2012, and its 25th birthday in December 2022, with performances of Handel’s Messiah, the piece with which we started in 1997. Performances have included works by Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Britten and Vivaldi. For a full list see our Past Concerts page.

We normally give two concerts a year with orchestra and professional soloists. Although we are not a church choir, members have sung in church events, including the annual carol service.

The choir has also taken part in other events such as opera concerts at the Hackney Empire and a special concert in Lostwithiel, Cornwall to celebrate the 70th birthday of our first conductor, James Funnell, former rector of St John of Jerusalem. We have a twinned choir, Chœurs Résonances Suresnes in Suresnes (Hackney’s twin borough in the Paris suburbs).

We rehearse on Sundays between 5.30 and 7.00 pm at the Church. As well as preparing for performances, rehearsals provide an opportunity to improve singing technique and general musical knowledge and are highly stimulating and enjoyable. We also run a programme of social and fundraising events (see our Events page) throughout the year, such as quiz nights and barn dances.

We welcome new members and the choir is open to all regardless of age, ethnic background or religion. No-one is excluded from membership on financial grounds. There are no auditions and the choir includes people with a variety of musical experience. We are interested in hearing from any keen singers who would like to join us.

Visit our Join page if you are interested in joining or finding out more about the choir.