About Us

Sherborne Festival Chorus was formed in 2006 as a community-based choir, of 140 people, to provide a platform for local singers to perform in Sherborne Abbey and to encourage community involvement in the annual Sherborne Abbey Festival.

There are no auditions, but most of our members have some previous singing experience, and being able to read music or at least follow your line in a musical score is very helpful.

Musical Director: Paul Ellis

Born in Nottinghamshire, Paul studied at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music, where his main instrument was the organ. His love of choral music developed whilst at university, where he formed his first choir. He has worked with many choirs throughout the South West, and has earned a reputation for high standards of performance and innovative programming. He is particularly known for his ability to coax out the best from amateur singers of all ages, and introducing them to a broad range of music, from the Renaissance to the present day. Amongst the choirs that Paul has directed are the Grange Choral Society in Christchurch, Taunton Camerata, Sherborne School Music Society and East Cornwall Bach Choir. He is also an experienced organ recitalist, giving performances across the UK, in the USA and in Paris.

Paul has been actively involved locally in leading choral music for many years, in particular as Musical Director of Sherborne Chamber Choir for over thirty years, with whom he has given numerous highly acclaimed performances. He was Director of Music of Sherborne Abbey for thirteen years until his retirement in 2019, where he was responsible for building a thriving choir of adults and boys. He has been Musical Director of Sherborne Festival Chorus since its formation in 2006.

Past Performances

• 2025 - Mozart: Requiem / Haydn: Te Deum in C
• 2024 - Fauré: Requiem / Rutter: Magnificat
• 2023 - Haydn: Harmoniemesse / Brahms: Schicksalslied
• 2022 - Elgar: The Kingdom
• 2021 - No performance due to COVID-19
• 2020 - No performance due to COVID-19
• 2019 - Mendelssohn: Elijah
• 2018 - Mozart: Requiem & Litaniae de Venerabili Altaris
• 2017 - Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
• 2016 - Vaughan Williams: Sancta Civitas & Toward the Unknown Region
• 2015 - Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
• 2014 - Elgar: The Apostles
• 2013 - Verdi: Requiem
• 2012 - Mozart: Mass in C minor / Haydn: Te Deum
• 2011 - Holst: The Hymn of Jesus / Poulenc: Gloria
• 2010 - Elgar: The Kingdom
• 2009 - Handel: Messiah
• 2008 - Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony
• 2007 - Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
• 2006 - Haydn: The Creation

Our Next Concert:
Thursday 30 April, Sherborne Abbey

Haydn The Creation

Sherborne Festival Chorus
Sherborne Classical Players
Soprano Amelia Monaghan
Tenor Guy Cutting
Baritone Morgan Pearse
Conductor Paul Ellis

Sherborne Festival Chorus is twenty years old in 2026: join the celebration! And what better way to celebrate than with a performance of the same wonderful work that the chorus performed at its inaugural concert: Haydn’s Creation.

Composed in 1798, this glorious masterpiece celebrates the creation of the world as depicted in the book of Genesis and Milton's Paradise Lost. From its revolutionary ‘representation of chaos’ to the final depiction of the innocent joys of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Haydn paints a vivid and varied musical picture – both the grandeur of the cosmos and the delicate beauty of nature, complete with a cast of characters, dramatic orchestral colour and joyful choruses.

A large period orchestra and a trio of top soloists will perform alongside the Festival’s own choir, for an inspirational and uplifting opening to the Festival.

Tickets will be available from Sherborne Abbey Festival from 13th March.

Rehearsals

We rehearse in the Digby Memorial Hall on Digby Road, usually on a Sunday night.

2026 rehearsals

All Sundays at 7pm-8.45pm unless stated otherwise:

• Sunday 8 February
• Sunday 15 February
• Sunday 22 February
• Saturday 28 February (afternoon workshop from 1.30pm)
• Sunday 1 March
• Sunday 8 March
• Sunday 15 March
• Sunday 22 March
• Saturday 28 March (afternoon workshop from 1pm to 4pm - please note the slightly revised time)
• Sunday 29 March
• Sunday 5 April no rehearsal (Easter Sunday)
• Sunday 12 April
• Sunday 19 April
• Sunday 26 April
• Wednesday 29 April (in the Abbey)
• Thursday 30 April (afternoon rehearsal from 2pm and evening concert)

Contact Us

We are always happy to hear from potential new members and our audience.

You can follow us on social media for the latest updates and news about the choir, or send us an email.