Parliament Choir

The Parliament Choir, also known as the UK Parliament Choir{{Cite book |last=November |first=Nancy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXf1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT138 |title=Performing History: Approaches to History Across Musicology |date=25 August 2020 |publisher=Academic Studies Press |isbn=978-1-64469-446-6 |page=138 |language=en |access-date=8 June 2024}}{{Cite web |title=The UK Parliament Choir |url=https://twitter.com/parliamentchoir |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=X (formerly known as Twitter)}} and the Choir of the UK Parliament,{{Cite web |title=About the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=about |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Parliament Choir}} was founded in December 2000 by composer Simon Over with the support of Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin.{{Cite news |last=Dunnett |first=Roderic |date=3 December 2004 |title=Parliament Choir/Southbank Sinfonia, Westminster Cathedral, London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/parliament-choir-southbank-sinfonia-westminster-cathedral-london-22885.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Independent}}{{Cite news |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |date=5 April 2012 |title=The Parliament Choir: cross-party harmony in the House |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/9186785/The-Parliament-Choir-cross-party-harmony-in-the-House.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph}} Over had run a choral society at Westminster Abbey whose members included serving parliamentarians in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.{{Cite magazine |last=Mead |first=Rebecca |date=4 November 2019 |title=In Brexit Britain, the Parliament Choir is in purgatory |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/11/in-brexit-britain-the-parliament-choir-is-in-purgatory |access-date=9 June 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}} These parliamentarians were often unable to attend rehearsals because of voting commitments and the late hours of parliamentary business. Over discussed the issue with Filkin who proposed establishing a choir in Parliament to address the issue.{{Cite news |date=21 January 2024 |title=The Full Works Concert |url=https://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/full-works-concert/21-january-2014/ |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Classic FM}}{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Sally |date=22 December 2021 |title=Harmony in the House: the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/harmony-in-the-house-the-parliament-choir |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=PoliticsHome: The House}} 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. The choir performed for the first time in December 2000.

File:Parliament Choir Concert (4155306942).jpg directing the Parliament Choir during a performance in 2009]]

The Parliament Choir was initially organised as an all-party parliamentary group within Parliament.{{Cite book |last=Committee |first=Great Britain: Parliament: Merits of Statutory Instruments |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7fAkUxzIO0EC&pg=PA15 |title=5th Report of Session 2005-06 |date=7 June 2005 |publisher=The Stationery Office |isbn=978-0-10-485046-6 |page=15 |language=en |access-date=9 June 2024}} As such, the choir could only rehearse when Parliament was in session.{{Cite news |last=Hurst |first=Greg |date=4 March 2005 |title=All parties in political harmony |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/all-parties-in-political-harmony-kp0p05v5f5w |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Sunday Times}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Neil |date=15 November 2011 |title=Behind the scenes at the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/behind-the-scenes-at-the-parliament-choir-rsdnmgz3rgq |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=The Times}}{{Cite news |last=Ball |first=James |date=31 May 2013 |title=Patrick Mercer resignation puts spotlight on lobbying |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/31/patrick-mercer-resignation-spotlight-lobbying |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=The Guardian}} 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. 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.

The Parliament Choir is legally organised as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.{{Cite web |title=The Parliament Choir: Harmony in Westminster |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/ |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=The Parliament Choir}} It is managed by a board of trustees which is led by a chair and also includes three vice-chairs and a treasurer.{{Cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=officers |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Parliament Choir}}{{Cite web |title=THE PARLIAMENT CHOIR: Charity number: 1085042 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3977137/trustees |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Charity Commission for England and Wales}} 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. Other trustees include Oliver Heald, Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock and Michael Prisk. The choir also has a music team which includes Simon Over as music director and Nicholas O'Neill as choirmaster and composer in residence. Southbank Sinfonia serves as the choir's resident orchestra; the orchestra was also founded by Simon Over in 2002.

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.{{Cite news |date=13 July 2016 |title=Political Harmony: Inside the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.classical-music.com/articles/political-harmony-inside-parliament-choir |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Classical Music: BBC Music Magazine}} Members of Parliament (MPs) have also invited their constituents to join the choir. Auditions are not required to join the choir; anyone who wishes to join may do so. However, there is a membership fee ranging from £60 to £120 depending on members' salaries. Membership is cross-party and its members have included Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians.

The following Lords or former Lords have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers.{{Cite web |title=Parliamentarians |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=parliamentarians |access-date=14 June 2024 |website=Parliament Choir}}

• Alastair Bruce, 5th Baron Aberdare
• Robin Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman
• Mike German, Baron German
• Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin
• Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur
• Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock
• Judith Jolly, Baroness Jolly
• David Lea, Baron Lea of Crondall
• Genista McIntosh, Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall
• Wilf Stevenson, Baron Stevenson of Balmacara
• Martin Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gresford
• William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire
• Joan Walmsley, Baroness Walmsley
• Patricia Hollis, Baroness Hollis of Heigham
• Jean Corston, Baroness Corston
• Paul Strasburger, Baron Strasburger

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The following MPs or former MPs have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers.

• Alun Michael
• David Lammy
• Bernard Jenkin
• Helen Jackson
• Jeremy Lefroy
• David Lidington
• Mary Macleod
• David Madel
• Fiona Mactaggart
• Mark Prisk
• Caroline Spelman
• Alan Beith
• Robert Jackson
• Sarah Teather
• Ed Miliband
• Nick Clegg
• John Bercow

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

• David Leakey{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=John |date=7 July 2017 |title=Sacred Music and St Stephen's: Listening to Ludford |url=https://www.virtualststephens.org.uk/blog/sacred-music-and-st-stephen%E2%80%99s-listening-ludford |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=St Stephen's Chapel, Westminster}}
• Alan Moses{{Cite news |date=31 May 2015 |title=BBC Radio 3: Private Passions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wynls |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=BBC Radio 3}}{{Cite web |date=August 2024 |title=Programme Information |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/search?medium=radio-and-sounds&week=22&year=2015 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=BBC |at=Private Passions}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/ Parliament Choir website]

Category:Parliament of the United Kingdom

Category:2000 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:London choirs