Oxford Pro Musica Singers
Encyclopedia
Oxford Pro Musica Singers (OPMS) is a choir based in Oxford
, England
, founded in 1977, which performs a wide range of musical repertoire from 16th century music to jazz
. They are directed by Michael Smedley. The choir performs in Oxford, as well as all over Britain and also more recently in Europe
. This includes concerts in three of London
's main concert halls: St John's, Smith Square
, The Queen Elizabeth Hall
and the Purcell Room
. The choir has reached the Final of Sainsbury's BBC
Choir of the Year Competition and has won a Bronze Medal in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod
. The choir has also represented the UK at choral festivals and competitions abroad, achieving a Silver Medal in the prestigious International 'Florilege Vocal de Tours
' competition in France
.
The group was founded as the Oxford Pro Musica Chorus, in order to accompany the Oxford Pro Musica Orchestra by Michael Smedley in 1997. They have released many albums with recognised record labels and their latest recording, of English choral music, titled simply Oxford Pro Musica Singers was released in December 2006.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, founded in 1977, which performs a wide range of musical repertoire from 16th century music to jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. They are directed by Michael Smedley. The choir performs in Oxford, as well as all over Britain and also more recently in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. This includes concerts in three of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's main concert halls: St John's, Smith Square
St. John's, Smith Square
St John's, Smith Square is a church in the middle of Smith Square, Westminster, London. Sold to a charitable Trust as a ruin following firebombing in the Second World War, it was restored, the internal layout altered somewhat, and is now used as a concert hall....
, The Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
and the Purcell Room
Purcell Room
The Purcell Room is a concert and performance venue which forms part of the Southbank Centre, one of central London's leading cultural complexes. It is named after the 17th century English composer Henry Purcell and has 370 seats....
. The choir has reached the Final of Sainsbury's BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Choir of the Year Competition and has won a Bronze Medal in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
. The choir has also represented the UK at choral festivals and competitions abroad, achieving a Silver Medal in the prestigious International 'Florilege Vocal de Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
' competition in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The group was founded as the Oxford Pro Musica Chorus, in order to accompany the Oxford Pro Musica Orchestra by Michael Smedley in 1997. They have released many albums with recognised record labels and their latest recording, of English choral music, titled simply Oxford Pro Musica Singers was released in December 2006.