Leighton Buzzard Festival Singers Early History
The Festival Singers was formed by Denis Bignell to celebrate the Festival of Britain and perform a Concert Version of ‘Merrie England’ by Edward German. This took place on May 17th, 1951 at the Old Vic in Hartwell Grove, Leighton Buzzard. The Old Vic no longer exists.
Concerts continued at the Old Cedars School Hall , now Leighton Middle, after the closure of the Old Vic. Denis Bignell continued to lead the Festival Singers until his retirement due to ill health in 1981.
Richard Burrell took up the baton from 1981 to 1988 when the baton was passed to Tony Philpott who held the role until his retirement in 1998. The choir then continued successfully under Alan Childs who held the post of Music Director until 2020 when Covid struck and the activities of the choir came to an abrupt halt but is now in full swing again.
The Festival Singers has achieved much in the last 70 years. The choir has given Leighton Buzzard at least two concerts every year, with music ranging from the sublime to the frivolous, Bach to Gilbert & Sullivan, from Grand Masses to Christmas Carols.
The choir has made four European Tours – Paris, Salzburg, Bruges & Cologne. These tours give rise to much fun and pride, especially when singing in such places as Notre Dame Paris and Chartres Cathedral.
The Festival Singers was formed by Denis Bignell to celebrate the Festival of Britain and perform a Concert Version of ‘Merrie England’ by Edward German. This took place on May 17th, 1951 at the Old Vic in Hartwell Grove, Leighton Buzzard. The Old Vic no longer exists.
Concerts continued at the Old Cedars School Hall , now Leighton Middle, after the closure of the Old Vic. Denis Bignell continued to lead the Festival Singers until his retirement due to ill health in 1981.
Richard Burrell took up the baton from 1981 to 1988 when the baton was passed to Tony Philpott who held the role until his retirement in 1998. The choir then continued successfully under Alan Childs who held the post of Music Director until 2020 when Covid struck and the activities of the choir came to an abrupt halt but is now in full swing again.
The Festival Singers has achieved much in the last 70 years. The choir has given Leighton Buzzard at least two concerts every year, with music ranging from the sublime to the frivolous, Bach to Gilbert & Sullivan, from Grand Masses to Christmas Carols.
The choir has made four European Tours – Paris, Salzburg, Bruges & Cologne. These tours give rise to much fun and pride, especially when singing in such places as Notre Dame Paris and Chartres Cathedral.
The very first concert May 17th 1951
