Celebrating Music
Ipswich Chamber Choir welcomes new members. Come and try a few rehearsals. We sing satisfyingly challenging music, our conductor is sensational and we are super friendly. We have spaces in particular for tenors. More information on how to join here
If you are a young singer we have a Choral Apprenticeship Scheme. More information here
Our Next Event
Matthew Jorysz - piano
Ashley Harries - double bass
8th June 2024 at 4.00pm St Andrew’s Church, Rushmere
with a buffet tea after the concert to celebrate the start of our 40th Anniversary Year
Tickets £15, Students £5, 18 and under free
Mass - Steve Dobrogosz
Jazz standards arranged by Benedict Collins Rice:
Bye bye Blackbird
Hello Mary Lou
Java Jive
A Suffolk Song - Composed by BCR
Summer Time
s’Wonderful
It’s almost like being in love
An exciting concert of opera choruses with tea and cake at Rushmere St Andrew in June 2023 - The sun shone and we smiled!
St Luke Passion conducted by Benedict Collins Rice, with Amici Voiecs and The Geldart Ensemble on 16th March 2024 to rousing applause
“I was enthralled by the story as if I’d never heard it before” enthused one audience member after ICC performed the third in their Passion Cycle - Bach’s St Luke Passion, conducted by Benedict Collins Rice, with Amici Voices and The Geldart Ensemble at St Mary-le-Tower on 16 March 2024
Jane Knott said, “We loved being at your Luke's Passion and found it really beautifully sung and played. It was also a treat to be sitting right up front, so near to all the players as well as singers - really great to be in the thick of it! I thought the talk was very interesting and personal too. I do wonder why no one wanted to put their name to such a work - unless it was perhaps written by a woman, who wanted to slide it in under the name of a Bach!! I rather liked the suggestion that Bach's cello suites were actually written by one of his wives -not just copied by her!! Luke's Gospel is certainly very strong on female content, so who knows?!”
Ipswich Chamber Choir has embarked on a inspirational project to perform J S Bach’s Passions over four years with Amici Voices and The Geldart Ensemble. Click here for more details.
We are fundraising for this exciting project with members taking on The 250 Challenge from 2022. You can help by sponsoring us or by joining our Friends, Patrons and Sponsors scheme. From £30 a year for Friends, the benefits include termly newsletters, complimentary programmes and an invitation to see the choir in rehearsal. Click here for more information.
Since its formation in 1984, Ipswich Chamber Choir has established a reputation for a high standard of performance. We employ a professional Music Director and Assistant Music Director and engage professional soloists and instrumentalists. We enjoy a varied programme of musical and social events, including at least three concerts a year.
Benedict Collins Rice is our Music Director.
We are delighted to welcome Caroline Finlay as our Assistant Music Director.
Our President is Martyn Bagnall who founded the choir.
We also have an annual Friends, Patrons and Sponsors scheme
Photographer Marco Borggreve
16th November 2024 - ICC 40th Anniversary Concert
14th December 2024 - Handel The Messiah - Joint Anniversary Concert
in collaboration with Ipswich Choral Society
17th December 2024 - Christmas Crackers
St Peter’s by the Waterfront
5th April 2025 - Bach St Matthew Passion
with The Geldart Ensemble and Amici Voices
“The St Luke concert was a tour de force by all performers. The choir knew their stuff and were able to focus on ensemble and dynamics, and the effect was passionate and moving. Their baying crowd scenes were positively vicious! Very high quality orchestra and highly expressive soloists too.”
“Huge congratulations on the Chamber Choir’s concert last night. It was a tour de force of unaccompanied singing - I don’t think many choirs could sing with such passion for 2 hours! Particular highlights for me were the Agnus Dei and, of course, the incomparable Abendlied.
It was a real treat to have a whole concert of Rheinberger and I congratulate the choir on responding so beautifully to Benedict’s superb direction.
I think that the choir is perfectly positioned to enter its 40th anniversary year!
”
“The music and singing were fantastic, I can’t imagine how much rehearsal time went into the performance.”
“Wonderful, wonderful performance. I was entranced throughout. Your choruses were spot on - lots of vigour and viciousness when required and the chorales were beautiful.
I really liked the tenor - lovely high lyrical and he put the message across to the audience. My favourite by far though was the mezzo Helen Charleston - what a voice - powerful - full - nuanced - passionate. I loved her “Es ist volbracht!” Best I’ve heard - floored me in its strength, depth and finality. She sang every word with meaning.
……….the bass section in “Ruht wohl” coming down in those low arpeggios - to die for!
Sympathetic orchestra - lovely nuanced playing.
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“ What an amazing performance, the best I have ever heard. The audience was spellbound. Congratulations to all the performers and everyone involved
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“ “There are so many areas I want to comment on. Firstly to say how every aspect of the event was so thought out – the professionalism on each level was a joy to experience.
The high standard of musicianship emanating from Benedict through all the elements – the musicians, the soloists and all the choir were outstanding. The choir were strong in all the chorales – the blend of the voices – no jarring voices, just perfect harmonies, singing as one glorious voice.
Then, the incredible soloists; the differences in their styles (not only in their performances – but in their colourful and varied personalities.)
The same excellence was evident in the performances of the individual members of The Geldart Ensemble.
What a feast; engaging the ears, eyes the heart and the soul.
The evening will stay with me for a long time, sustaining and counteracting the awfulness of events taking place in our world at this time.
Thank you Ipswich Chamber Choir for a truly wonderful evening.”
”
“I thought the choir were sounding better than ever so we have exciting times ahead! ”
“I really enjoyed singing with you again, I thought the choir were superb and definitely hope to be rejoining you soon.”
“We were delighted to listen to the concert by the Ipswich Chamber Choir online this evening. We were impressed by the choir, the soloists and the baroque sounding ensemble. We were calling for an encore from our box seats in the kitchen! Thank you; it was truly excellent.”
“Benedict’s Suffolk Song was delightful, with some very expressive word painting; moving, joyous but also contemplative.”
“Thank you for the pleasure you gave with last night’s concert. I was moved to tears listening to your voices with that wonderful accompaniment. The two soloists had such beautiful voices. What a joy to be able to share Bach’s music live again. Thank you! Congratulations to you all for a delightful, too short, event. ”
“An incredible concert. I must admit that I was approaching the performance of the MacMillan more out of interest than anything else. I was not prepared for the huge emotional impact of the music and I can vouch for those around me who were similarly moved. Great singing by the choir and Façade, and very fine and sensitive direction from Benedict. He is to be applauded for his brave programming.”
“ I really enjoyed singing with you and would love to come back and do so again! I thought the chorus did a fantastic job.
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“The choir was terrific, and I was blown away by the period instrumentalists. I still have the sound of the baroque flutes ringing in my ear!”
“A wonderful concert at St Mary le Tower with some challenging pieces that the choir and organist accomplished with real verve. A great evening.”
“Ipswich Chamber Choir were extremely impressive, and managed to pull off a diverse programme of emotional music with aplomb. The strong rapport between them and Benedict was palpable in the rehearsal and concert, and they were a pleasure to sing with.
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“It was a great pleasure to work with such a talented musician as Benedict. Ipswich Chamber Choir performed with great musicality and impressively brought to life their challenging concert repertoire. I am sure that there are many exhilarating concert seasons to come under Benedict’s assured baton.
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“The Ipswich Chamber Choir’s high standards make working with them a pleasure.”
“It has been my great pleasure to sing with them on several occasions. They are extremely friendly and welcoming and perform with great passion and musicianship.”
““I really enjoyed singing for Ipswich Chamber Choir. The programmes are always fantastic. I am increasingly impressed by the musicality with which the choir sings.””
“They are one of the most enthusiastic, well-drilled and vibrant choirs that I have had the pleasure to stand in front of.
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