Norfolk Camerata is the new incarnation of the North Norfolk Chorale, a choir originally established as the North Walsham Choral Society in 1873. Choirs – like any other organisation – have to adapt to changing times in order to thrive and we see this new identity as a very positive move, allowing us to spread our wings further within the county and to explore a wider range of music than the traditional choral society favourites.
Under new direction, the choir has already risen to the challenge of less familiar works and achieved a higher standard of musical performance. But many features of the choir remain the same. We still sing a wide variety of music, from Purcell to Bach to Gorecki, and new works by composers such as Nick Morris and Charles Damsan have taken their place in our repertoire alongside popular standards such as Haydn’s Nelson Mass and the Vivaldi Gloria.
Although Norfolk Camerata strives for a high standard of performance, there is still no audition and we welcome anyone who enjoys singing to come and try a rehearsal. If you are not a confident sight-reader you will learn as you go along! Most importantly, we are still a friendly and supportive group of singers who derive great joy from our music, and we have fun!
We currently have around 30 members from various parts of north Norfolk.
Become A Member
We are a well-established and friendly choir and while experienced choral singers will find much to inspire them, we also welcome anyone with a desire to sing. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. under the direction of William Falconer at St Benet’s Hall, beside St Nicholas’s Church, North Walsham (every third Wednesday in St Nicholas’s Church: phone 01692 for details).
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Our repertoire
Recent concert programmes have included music from Monteverdi and Schütz to Purcell odes, through Bach motets, Classical masters such as Joseph and Michael Haydn and the impressionism of Duruflé, to the minimalist music of Gorecki and Pärt, as well as premieres of newly written music by composers such as Charles Damsan and Nick Morris.
The chapel, Gresham’s School, Holt, November 2016: Handel ‘Zadok the priest’; Vivaldi ‘Gloria’; Pergolesi ‘Stabat Mater’.
St. Nicholas’ church, North Walsham, April 2017: Handel ‘the Messiah’.
Salle church, June 2017: Duruflé ‘Requiem’; Gorecki ‘Totus tuus’ and instrumental works by Pärt and Martin.
Aylsham parish church, December 2017: Haydn ‘Nelson Mass’, ‘Insanae et vanae curae’, and instrumental works by Mozart.
Salle church, May 2018: Purcell ‘Welcome to all the pleasures’; Bach cantata no. 9; Damsan ‘Proficiscere anima Christiana’; songs by Purcell and Damsan.
Blakeney church and North Elmham church, July 2018: Morris ‘The fox that walked on water’; English choral and solo songs including Warlock, Gurney, Ireland, Grainger and Vaughan Williams.
St. Nicholas church, North Walsham, December 2018: Advent choral music including works by Scheidt, M. Haydn, Fuchs, Morris, Vaughan Williams and plainsong.
The Octagon chapel, Colegate, Norwich, February 2019: come and sing Vivaldi ‘Gloria’.
Salle church, July 2019: Early Baroque masterpieces including works by Monteverdi, Schűtz, Carissimi, F. Couperin, Purcell and Rosenmüller.
Trunch church, December 2021: Music by Candlelight, including works by Haydn Handel and Buxtehude as well as both new and familiar Christmas songs and carols.