Past Performances

Below are details of our previous concerts, with testimonials from soloists, orchestras and audience members

Heaven & Earth

It was wonderful working with the choir - please pass on my congratulations to them for a exhilarating performance of the Son of God Mass, and to Helen for a beautifully sung solo. 
Cameron Smith - cello soloist - Heaven & Earth - June 2026

It was a real joy to work with Quintin and the choir - thank you so much for inviting me to this very thoughtfully programmed concert and congratulations for bringing it all together!
Alastair Penman - saxophone soloist - Heaven & Earth - June 2026

Bach - St John Passion

'Thank you so much for having us on Saturday. We had a wonderful day with you, so well-looked after, and the choir sang absolutely beautifully.'  
Tatty Theo - The Brook Street Band - St John Passion - March 2026

Spirit of Christmas - 1:30pm and 4pm

"On behalf of our choir pupils and myself, I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to you, and of course your fellow SWCS members and Quintin, for a fabulous Spirit of Christmas. The organisation was flawless and SWCS sang so beautifully. It is always a very special occasion, but this year really stood out. I know that our pupils thoroughly enjoyed this choral opportunity in such a beautiful setting. "
Music Lead from a participating Primary School - Spirit of Christmas 2025

Mozart - Requiem

Thanks so much for having me at the weekend, it was really a glorious evening; the orchestra were fabulous and I thought the choir upped their - already great - game to a new level in the concert! And how wonderful to have such a full house.
Georgie Malcolm - soprano soloist - Mozart Requiem - November 2025

Thank you for inviting us to join you for such a splendid concert.  Soloists were excellent and the choir sounded excellent. The whole day ran super-smoothly and it was a real pleasure for me to work alongside your team – as we know, that is always a measure of a professional level of organisation. Congratulations again!
Bob Porter - Artistic Director, Brandenburg Sinfonia - Mozart Requiem - November 2025

“Fantastic programme, beautifully performed by everyone and wonderfully directed”
“Excellent. It was nice to see the young people from St. Peter's college. Particularly liked the Lacrymosa with books closed - very moving.”
“Mozart performed brilliantly. Wow that lark ascending!”
Audience feedback - Mozart Requiem - November 2025

An audience member also sent this letter to the Walden Local newspaper:

Haydn - Maria Theresa Mass

"Thank you all for having me to sing at the weekend. It was a wonderful concert and the music making was just so joyous." 
Felicity Hamilton - soprano soloist - Maria Theresa Mass - June 2025
What a pleasure it was to perform alongside SWCS in their magnificent home venue. The choir was extremely welcoming, as well as impeccably prepared, and the whole event was expertly conducted by Quintin. The audience were clearly just as thrilled as we were too!” 
Jamie W Hall - baritone soloist - Maria Theresa Mass - June 2025

Memories of America

"Thank you very much for inviting me to play with SWCS, and at such a beautiful venue! I really enjoyed the concert, and it was lovely to have the opportunity to play a solo to a big and appreciative audience."
Anna Phillips - harpist - Memories of America - March 2025

"The music making was really wonderful and the programme was varied, challenging and exciting to listen to and be a part of. It was especially nice to have some choice in the repertoire"
Sarah Anne Champion - mezzo-soprano soloist - Memories of America - March 2025

Spirit of Christmas 1.30pm and 4.00pm

Benjamin Britten: Saint Nicolas

"SWCS were on fabulous form for our concert together - they sang with incredible commitment and skill in some extremely challenging music. Everyone was so welcoming on the day, and it was a delight to join them. Thanks for having me!"
Nick Pritchard - tenor soloist - Benjamin Britten, St. Nicolas - November 2024

Poulenc - Stabat Mater

Into The Stars

"It was an immense pleasure to perform McDowall's Requiem alongside the dedicated singers of SWCS. Witnessing a choral society embrace a new piece with such skill was truly refreshing. Under the exceptional guidance of Quintin Beer, their sound was impressive. Saffron Hall provided a stunning backdrop, making singing the solos for this concert a genuine delight."
Susanna MacRae - soprano soloist - Cecilia McDowall, Da Vinci Requiem - March 2024

The Spirit Of Christmas 2023

Elgar - The Dream Of Gerontius

140th Anniversary Celebration Concert

Handel - Israel In Egypt

“SWCS are always so welcoming and generous and it was a pleasure to join their most recent committed, energetic performance of Handel's Israel Egypt at Saffron Hall, lead by their fabulous new director Quintin Beer and accompanied by the period instruments of the Brookstreet Band. Thank you so much for inviting me to sing with you for an evening of wonderful music making.”
Grace Davidson - soprano soloist - Israel In Egypt - March 2023

"Thank you for a wonderful day yesterday.........
Thank you for your wonderful singing, bringing Israel in Egypt so vividly to life. It sounded like you were having so much fun in the concert, and it was a pleasure to be a part of the process...."
Brook Street Band - Israel in Egypt - March 2023

The Spirit of Christmas 2022

Haydn - The Creation

Orff - Carmina Burana/Dove - Arion And The Dolphin

"Saffron Walden Choral Society kindly invited me to sing as baritone soloist in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in the incredible Saffron Hall. It's a difficult piece to pull off, and they absolutely rose to the challenge in the concert, led by their brilliant new conductor Quintin Beer. They are a very friendly and expressive choir and I would love to sing with them again in the future."
Julian Chou-Lambert - baritone soloist - Carl Orff, Carmina Burana - July 2022

Fauré - Requiem/Wheeler - The Measure Of A Tree

“Saffron Walden Choral Society sang brilliantly when I joined them for their special concert to mark their last performance with director Janet Wheeler at the wonderful Saffron Hall. It was my pleasure to be invited to join their performance of Fauré’s Requiem and Janet Wheeler’s world premiere of ‘The Measure Of A Tree’ written especially for the choir as a leaving gift. They were kind and welcoming and I very much hope to sing with them again."
Grace Davidson - soprano soloist - Faure Requiem and The Measure Of A Tree - March 2022

The Spirit Of Christmas 2021

Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem

"Many congratulations to you and the choir on a really memorable, splendid concert. I loved playing the Brahms along with Richard and Elsa in this 2-piano+timps version and it was an absolute pleasure to join with you all on Saturday - also in such a wonderful venue and with two utterly fantastic pianos, to boot!"
Simon Howat - pianist - Brahms Ein Deutsches - November 2021

The Spirit of Christmas 2019

Walton - Belshazzar’s Feast with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop

Verdi - Requiem

The Glories Of Venice

The Spirit Of Christmas 2018

Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem

Walton - Belshazzar's Feast

Mozart - Great Mass In C Minor/Wheeler - I Sing And Ever Shall

The Spirit Of Christmas 2017

Britten - War Requiem

Fauré - Requiem

Poulenc - Gloria/Dove - There Was A Child

Christmas Concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra

Handel - Messiah

The Spirit OF Christmas 2016

Mozart - Requiem/Wheeler - The Ceaseless Round Of Circling Planets

Puccini - Messa Di Gloria/Rossini - Stabat Mater

The Spirit Of Christmas 2015

Vaughan Williams - A Sea Symphony

A Night At The Opera

Bach - St Matthew Passion

The Spirit Of Christmas 2014

Orff - Carmina Burana/Saint-Saëns - Carnival Of The Animals

Todd - Mass In Blue/Wheeler - On The Breath Of The Sky

Bach - Magnificat/Handel - Dixit Dominus

Verdi - Requiem

Elgar - The Dream Of Gerontius

Haydn - St Cecilia Mass/Vivaldi - Magnificat