The National Westminster City Chorus began life in 1920 as a choir set up by staff of the National Provincial Bank, as it was then known. It was from the first a significant London musical group, attracting distinguished soloists and performing the core classical repertoire.
After an inaugural performance in Westminster Central Hall of Coleridge Taylor's Hiawatha, the choir went from strength to strength, and in 1922 was honoured to have the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams conducting his own Fantasia on Christmas Carols. The repertoire expanded to include works by Elgar, Brahms and Holst, and one of the choir's concerts was shown on television, a novelty at the time.
In 1965, the choir underwent a fundamental change when it appointed its first ever professional conductor, Ian Humphris. Another change occurred in 1969 when the Provincial's merger with Westminster Bank led to the choir taking on its current name. The Nat West Bank -- now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland -- has subsequently provided much appreciated support throughout the years.
Since then, the choir has celebrated its diamond jubilee, tackled a wide range of works including Orff's Carmina Burana and Britten's St Nicolas, and performed at venues including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the newly renovated Cadogan Hall and the Barbican. It continues to attempt new works, attract talented soloists and sing with enthusiasm and musicality.
In November 2006, the Choir appointed Michael Downes to be its first new conductor for 40 years.
The Nat West City Chorus has performed uninterrupted -- apart from a brief period during World War II -- since 1920. The choir looks forward to more years of providing entertainment to the public -- and its own members -- through its singing.
We give two major concerts and one 'lighter' summer concert each year, in addition to other occasional performances including Christmas carols and collaborations with other musical groups.
