Our next concert will be in Spring / Summer 2025
The Occasion Choir, Dringhouses is Recruiting!
We welcome anyone interested in joining us.
Please ring 01904 701459 or see below for contact details.
Our next concert will be in Spring / Summer 2025
We welcome anyone interested in joining us.
Please ring 01904 701459 or see below for contact details.
Spring / Summer 2025 details will here in due course.
The Occasion Choir, based at St Edward the Confessor Church, Dringhouses, York was founded in 1994 by International Soprano Yvonne Robert who has been our Music Director ever since.
With our feet firmly planted in Classical Music, our aim is to give members of the Choir a platform and opportunity to learn music by our great Classical Composers – to entertain audiences, bring back memories of bygone days and make them feel better – (Handel’s words) – and to help support charities – up to date we have raised over £60,000. We warmly welcome anyone who might be interested in joining the Choir in any of the four voice parts – S,A,T or B. If you would like to come along to one of our rehearsals (every Thursday at 7.15pm at St Edward the Confessor Church, Dringhouses), this is a great way to get to know us a little, and to experience at first hand the varied repertoire that we perform. We are a friendly and welcoming Choir with a “family” ethos.
If you would like to join us on a Thursday please give us a ring (01904 701459) to let us know, or just come along! We would be delighted to see you!
Born in North Wales, International Soprano Yvonne Robert has been the Occasion Choir’s Conductor throughout its life.
A graduate of the Royal College of Music, London she is acclaimed for her work in Oratorio, Lieder and the English Song and has performed Handel’s “Messiah” on more than 100 occasions, in the United States, Canada and Europe as well as in this country. She has broadcast on Radio 3 and 4 and was one of the child singers in the programme “Chapel in the Valley” in the 1960’s.
For eight years Yvonne had the privilege of studying her art with the legendary Dame Isobel Baillie.
Purcell, Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Lully, C. Hubart Parry, Sibelius, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Osian Ellis, Easthorpe Martin, Eric Coats, Ivor Novello, Hugh S. Roberton, Haydn Morris, Vivian Ellis, Gilbert and Sullivan, Ronnie Hazelhurst.
Examples of our repertoire:
Faure - Requiem. Mendelssohn - Hear My Prayer. Handel-Messiah. And from Christmas Oratorio, Bach. Creations - Haydn. Hymm of Praise - Mendelssohn
Our concerts are designed to include the "spoken" word. We are proud to have had Geoff Druett, - Television announcer and Brian Hewlett (Neil Carter in "The Archers") as our Guest readers.
Memorable Performances include:-
Being the Guest Choir at a wedding in York Minster
A three hour Christmas Entertainment at Castle Howard
A Shared Concert with the Llanrwst Male Voice Choir at St Andrews Church, Bishopthorpe.
Having three Lord Mayors of York (Past present and future) in our audience.
Rehearsals - Thursdays 7.15pm - 9.15pm
St Edward the Confessor Church - 304 Tadcaster Rd, York YO24 1QG