Joyful Company of Singers

Established as one of the foremost chamber choirs across Britain and the Continent, the Joyful Company of Singers maintains an extensive catalogue of works spanning Renaissance polyphony through scores by living composers. Dedicated both to presenting newly written pieces—many of which receive their first performances under its auspices—and to advancing choral training via targeted educational initiatives, the ensemble was brought into being in 1988 by conductor Peter Broadbent. Its victory in the 1990 Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition immediately raised its standing, resulting in frequent appearances at major festivals and repeated invitations to record for broadcast. Festival engagements have included the Bath International Music Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts, the Cheltenham Music Festival, the City of London Festival, the Three Choirs Festival, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, and the BBC Proms, together with numerous additional events throughout Europe. The choir has also crossed the Atlantic, appearing at Stanford University and at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors' Association. Composers who have created works expressly for the group encompass Alun Hoddinott, Roxanna Panufnik, Kaija Saariaho, Roderick Elms, David Bedford, Michael Berkeley, Judith Bingham, and Jonathan Harvey.