Holmfirth Choral Society.

is a mixed choir singing a range of styles, but enjoying most oratorios and masses. We don’t audition new members – we are open to anyone wishing to sing with us who feels able to be part of our friendly group of singers. We do try to reach a high standard of musicianship, and some of our concerts are accompanied by the Valley Sinfonia, a very competent group of local orchestral players.

New members welcome!

We practise on Thursday evenings in Holmfirth Methodist Church from 7.30 pm until about 9.00 pm (sometimes later when a concert is imminent!). Our concerts traditionally were held in Holmfirth Civic Hall, but more recently we have given some concerts in local churches.

You are welcome to try us out with no obligation. We sing mostly oratorios and masses or similar, often in Latin, but a wide range of other styles too. We don’t usually audition members – in that sense, we are really a community choir, but we do sing moderately difficult music, so although there’s no requirement to be able to read music, it does help if you have some reading experience.

Our history

There was a Holmfirth Choral Society back in the 19th century, but it eventually wound up in the 1930s. The present Society started life as Holmfirth Parish Church Choral Society, which was basically the choir of the church that was augmented by singers from other churches and chapels specifically to put on a concert to raise money for the relief of victims of a serious flood which occurred in Holmfirth on Whitmonday in 1944. The concert was successful, and the singers decided to continue as a group, which soon was renamed as Holmfirth Choral Society, and it has staged at least 3 concerts each season since then, apart from during the covid period.

Holmfirth Choral Society has very occasionally made recordings, and there are still some copies of the CD recorded in 2002 available, which can be ordered online.

We are delighted to welcome Leonard Sanderman to lead our choir. Leonard is the sixth Musical Director of Holmfirth Choral Society, and succeeded Geoffrey Lockwood at the start of 2026. Geoff had been our Musical Director since 2009 and was our accompanist for many years before that. Here are Leonard and Geoff pictured together at our Christmas Concert in 2025, an event that allowed the choir to say a big “thank you” to Geoff and his wife Jane for their service over many years. A big welcome to Leonard!

 

This was a short concert in Holmfirth Methodist Church, on Saturday December 13th, which was followed by a Buffet Tea in the Community Room.

The event allowed the choir to say a big “thank you” to Geoffrey and Jane Lockwood. Geoffrey has been our Music Director since 2009 (and previously accompanist for many years) and retired from this position at the end of the concert. Jane has coordinated many teas for the choir, the Valley Symphonia and our supporters for many years.

On November 29th 2025, we presented Verdi’s Requiem – the second time we have sung this. Our first was in 2019, when it proved to be so popular with both choir and audience that we decided to repeat it this year.

And again, it proved to be a great success, with excellent soloists, the Valley Sinfonia on top form, and a really enjoyable evening.

Welcome to our new conductor

We are pleased to welcome Leonard Sanderman as our new conductor from the beginning of 2026. He will be only the sixth conductor of Holmfirth Choral since it was founded, and we look forward to his term at the helm as the society evolves through the last years of its first century. You can find more about Leonard from his website.