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Parliament Choir
Choir
The Parliament Choir performing at York Minster in 2009
Also known asUK Parliament Choir
Choir of the UK Parliament
Founded2000 (2000)
FounderSimon Over
PresidentLindsay Hoyle (since 2019)
John McFall (since 2021)
Music directorSimon Over
LeadershipMike German (chair)
Hugh Merrill (vice-chair)
Bernard Jenkin (vice-chair)
Mary Macleod (vice-chair)
Judith Jolly (treasurer)
ChoirmasterNicholas O'Neill
HeadquartersPalace of Westminster
Rehearsal spaceChapel of St Mary Undercroft
AffiliationSouthbank Sinfonia
BT Group
WebsiteOfficial website
Logo of Parliament Choir

The Parliament Choir, also known as the UK Parliament Choir and the Choir of the UK Parliament, is the choir of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Founded by Simon Over with the support of Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin in December 2000, it is made up of members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and staff who work at Parliament.

Founding

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The Parliament Choir, also known as the UK Parliament Choir[1][2] and the Choir of the UK Parliament,[3] was founded in December 2000 by composer Simon Over with the support of Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin.[4][5] Over had run a choral society at Westminster Abbey whose members included serving parliamentarians in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.[6] These parliamentarians were often unable to attend rehearsals because of voting commitments and the late hours of parliamentary business.[6] Over discussed the issue with Filkin who proposed establishing a choir in Parliament to address the issue.[7][8] Over then set up a choir in the Palace of Westminster, the Parliament Choir, which enabled parliamentarians to attend votes at short notice with the sounding of the division bell during rehearsals, returning to rehearse shortly after the vote had concluded.[6] The choir performed for the first time in December 2000.[8]

Organisation

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Simon Over directing the Parliament Choir during a performance in 2009

The Parliament Choir was initially organised as an all-party parliamentary group within Parliament.[9] As such, the choir could only rehearse when Parliament was in session.[10] Since its early years, it has been sponsored by BT Group, which gives it around £60,000 or £65,000 to maintain the choir every year.[4][11][12] The choir's internal relationship with Parliament was changed in 2017, after it had to cancel a concert when it was unexpectedly dissolved as part of the dissolution of Parliament for the snap 2017 general election.[6] It is now an autonomous body of Parliament under the patronage of the Speaker of the House of Commons (Lindsay Hoyle since 2019) and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords (John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith since 2021) who serve as its co-presidents.[8][3]

The Parliament Choir is legally organised as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.[9][13] It is managed by a board of trustees which is led by a chair and also includes three vice-chairs and a treasurer.[14][15] Mike German, Baron German is the chair of the choir. Hugh Merrill, Bernard Jenkin and Mary Macleod are the vice-chairs. Judith Jolly, Baroness Jolly is the treasurer.[14] Other trustees include Oliver Heald, Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock and Michael Prisk.[15] The choir also has a music team which includes Simon Over as music director and Nicholas O'Neill as choirmaster and composer in residence.[14] Southbank Sinfonia serves as the choir's resident orchestra; the orchestra was also founded by Simon Over in 2002.[10]

Membership

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Since its founding, the choir has upheld a policy of keeping its membership open to anyone who has a parliamentary pass or works in the Palace of Westminster; membership is open to all parliamentary staff including police and security personnel, caterers and transcribers for Hansard, as well as to journalists with access to the press gallery and parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including senior government ministers.[8][6][16] Members of Parliament (MPs) have also invited their constituents to join the choir.[4] Auditions are not required to join the choir; anyone who wishes to join may do so.[5] However, there is a membership fee ranging from £60 to £120 depending on members' salaries.[11] Membership is cross-party and its members have included Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians.[8]

Lords

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The following Lords or former Lords have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers.[6][10][8][17][11][16][5]

MPs

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Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2010–2015)
Ed Miliband, Leader of the Opposition (2010–2015)
John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons (2009–2019)
Alun Michael, First Secretary of Wales (1999–2000)

The following MPs or former MPs have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers.[6][10][8][17][11][16][5]

Others

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The following notable individuals have also been members of the Parliament Choir but have never served as MPs or Lords.

References

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  1. ^ November, Nancy (25 August 2020). Performing History: Approaches to History Across Musicology. Academic Studies Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-64469-446-6. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  2. ^ "The UK Parliament Choir". X (formerly known as Twitter). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "About the Parliament Choir". Parliament Choir. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Dunnett, Roderic (3 December 2004). "Parliament Choir/Southbank Sinfonia, Westminster Cathedral, London". The Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Sweeting, Adam (5 April 2012). "The Parliament Choir: cross-party harmony in the House". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Mead, Rebecca (4 November 2019). "In Brexit Britain, the Parliament Choir is in purgatory". The New Yorker. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ^ "The Full Works Concert". Classic FM. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Dawson, Sally (22 December 2021). "Harmony in the House: the Parliament Choir". PoliticsHome: The House. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b Committee, Great Britain: Parliament: Merits of Statutory Instruments (7 June 2005). 5th Report of Session 2005-06. The Stationery Office. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-10-485046-6. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Hurst, Greg (4 March 2005). "All parties in political harmony". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Fisher, Neil (15 November 2011). "Behind the scenes at the Parliament Choir". The Times. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  12. ^ Ball, James (31 May 2013). "Patrick Mercer resignation puts spotlight on lobbying". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  13. ^ "The Parliament Choir: Harmony in Westminster". The Parliament Choir. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Board of Trustees". Parliament Choir. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  15. ^ a b "THE PARLIAMENT CHOIR: Charity number: 1085042". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Political Harmony: Inside the Parliament Choir". Classical Music: BBC Music Magazine. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Parliamentarians". Parliament Choir. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  18. ^ Cooper, John (7 July 2017). "Sacred Music and St Stephen's: Listening to Ludford". St Stephen's Chapel, Westminster. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  19. ^ "BBC Radio 3: Private Passions". BBC Radio 3. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Programme Information". BBC. August 2024. Private Passions. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
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