Romsey Abbey Choir & George Richford
Biography Romsey Abbey Choir & George Richford
Romsey Abbey Choir
can trace its roots back to 1869 when a robed choir of men and boys was introduced in response to the Tractarian fashions of the time.
A healthy choir, rooted in the Anglican Tradition continued throughout much of the 20th century. In 1997 a top line of Girl Choristers was incorporated into the choirs at the Abbey, and they now sing with the altos (male and female), tenors and basses on alternate weeks. In 2016 the boys’ line enjoyed something of a renaissance, with 24 choristers filling the choir stalls and a separate training choir established to cope with the demand. There are over 120 singers engaged on a weekly basis at Romsey Abbey. These include the Boy Choristers, Senior and Junior Girl Choristers, choir adults, the Quavers training choir and the Abbey Consort.
The choir has broadcast on BBC Songs of Praise and has toured widely. The 2016 CD release of Adoration, celebrating 20 years of the girl choristers at Romsey Abbey, won widespread critical acclaim.
The choristers of the choir are drawn from schools in the local area and are generously supported by the PCC of Romsey Abbey and the Friends of Romsey Abbey Music.
George Richford
is a multi award-winning composer and conductor, living and working in Hampshire. He has been Director of Music at Romsey Abbey since September 2015. George was born and raised in South London and studied at Durham University and Christchurch Canterbury. George has held MD posts at Newcastle Cathedral, St John’s College, Durham, St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark and Dartford Parish Church. He has directed choirs to wide critical acclaim and has recorded and broadcast widely earning a reputation for reinvigorating and transforming choirs and for his success recruiting boys and girls. He is also the Director of Southampton University Chamber Choir.
His compositions have been performed and broadcast around the world, and have received premières on television and radio, at the 300th Anniversary of the Three Choirs’ Festival and for the Commonwealth Service of Remembrance for WW1 from Glasgow Cathedral. His music is published by Universal Editions, Music Sales Novello and Shorter House, London.
