One of the Northwest's foremost chamber choirs since 1970
A Special Year for the William Byrd Singers
This is a landmark season for the William Byrd Singers — and one tinged with both celebration and change. After seventeen remarkable years at the helm, our Musical Director, Keith Orrell, will be retiring, and we are dedicating this entire year to honouring his extraordinary contribution to the choir and to choral music in our community.
Under Keith's direction, the William Byrd Singers has grown into a choir known for the depth, ambition and warmth of its music-making. His passion, discipline and generosity of spirit have shaped not only our sound but our identity as a choir family. Marking the end of this era, we want this year to be a fitting tribute — a celebration of everything Keith has given us, and a joyful send-off he thoroughly deserves.
To mark the occasion, we've planned a programme of highlights that reflects the breadth and ambition Keith has always encouraged in us:
Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir — a work of extraordinary richness and colour, showcasing the choir at its very best.
Come and Sing Handel's Messiah — an open invitation for singers of all backgrounds to join us in this best-loved of choral masterpieces.
Dido and Aeneas — Purcell's exquisite and moving opera, brought to life in concert.
Monteverdi Vespers — a monumental and thrilling close to our celebratory season.
Whether you've sung with us for years, followed our concerts from the audience, or are simply curious to hear what we do, we would love you to join us this year. Come and celebrate seventeen years of music, friendship and community with Keith — and help us give him the send-off he so richly deserves.
We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an unforgettable year of music.
The William Byrd Singers are one of the foremost chamber choirs in the North West, and were formed just over fifty years ago under our first conductor, the great and greatly missed Stephen Wilkinson MBE. Our current MD is Keith Orrell, whose eclectic programming has seen us tackle diverse repertoire including Hindemith, Vierne, and Wylkynson, as well as Bach's St. Matthew Passion and Byrd's Great Service
Upcoming Events
Singet!
7:00pm, Sat, 14 Nov 2026Music predominantly composed for double choir. Schutz’s Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied and Brahms’ Fest und Gedenksprüche, Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir, also music by JS Bach, Mendelssohn ... moreCome and sing Handel's Messiah with the Byrds
2:15pm, Sun, 6 Dec 2026We will sing every chorus and some selected solos performed by Byrds’ choristers. Come and join us! Choral leader: Keith Orrell Stephen Hargreaves (organ) Ticket purchase and booking form https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sing-handels-messiah-with-the-byrds-tickets-1998210501400 ... moreHenry Purcell "Dido and Aeneas"
7:00pm, Sun, 14 Mar 2027Soloists from the choir. Conductor: Keith Orrell Players from the Eighteenth Century Sinfonia Ticket: £15 | £5 (student) more
JOIN THE CHOIR!
You may be interested in making music with us, and in joining our merry band of Byrds. You can always ask at any concert, and our members will be only too happy to answer questions about being in the choir and the transporting experiences that come along with the hard work of rehearsals. But if you are serious about choral singing and want to find out more, visit our Membership page, where you can apply for an audition slot. We are a friendly bunch, but we keep our standards high, and because we are a chamber choir there will not always be an immediate vacancy to fill. But don't let that discourage you -- we are always happy to hear from motivated and experienced singers who want a fresh challenge!
We rehearse every Sunday afternoon at 1400, in the hall of Christ Church West Didsbury, Darley Ave, Manchester M20 2ZD.
