Welcome to the website of

The Bradford Chorale started life as The James Ashworth Singers giving its first concert in Thornton Parish Church in April 1976.   After some years the base moved to the Unitarian Church near St Luke’s Hospital to be more central for members coming from al parts of Bradford and the surrounding area.  

In 1979 James Ashworth moved on to projects new and was succeeded by Douglas Robinson who had recently retired as Chorus Master at Covent Garden and who held the post until ill health forced his retirement.   During this period the name was changed first to The Ashworth Singers and later to The Bradford Chorale.   

John Coates took over as Musical Director in 1984 and was followed by Tricia Platts in 1991.   Since Tricia’s departure Chorale has been led by several Musical Directors including Carleton Etherington, Andrew Dibb, Elizabeth Altman, John Griffiths and Christopher Rathbone.  Our new Musical Director PAUL DEWHURST takes us into the second quarter century of musical life. 

The choir has maintained a singing strength of around 55 voices (a sizeable core of whom have been members since the founding of the choir) and is always keen to recruit new voices in all parts.  There is no formal audition before acceptance yet the choir succeed in producing a well-balanced sound.   Repertoire is wide and varied from a backbone of the traditional oratorio and masses of composers such as Haydn, Vivaldi, Faure, Mendelssohn and Mozart, to madrigals, partsongs, opera choruses and arranged pieces spanning the centuries and embracing a variety of styles.

Applications from new singing members will be welcomed in all voice parts.  For further information about any of Chorale’s activities please 'phone (01274)-594659 or email:  o.j.downing@btinternet.com