Alan Vincent founded Kent Chamber Choir in 1983. With some six concerts a year we bring high quality choral singing to towns and villages throughout Kent, occasionally elsewhere in the UK and abroad. Drawing on membership of forty or so singers our repertoire ranges from simple miniatures to complex music for two or more choirs. We programme all kinds of sacred music from the 15th to the 21st centuries and often include a diverse mix of secular items. Although much of what we sing is unaccompanied, a large-scale work with orchestra is a regular feature. Many of our concerts are in support of local charities. Over the years we have raised thousands of pounds for good causes such as Kent Music Bursary Fund, and have recently set up the Kath Topping Award for Vocal Studies which gives financial assistance to talented young singers.
The future – a message from Elizabeth Jenkins, Chair
Following Alan’s decision to step down as our Music Director at the end of this year, we faced the task of finding his successor with some trepidation. However, I’m delighted to announce that we’ve appointed Daniel Gethin as our new Music Director from 1st January 2024. Daniel writes: 'I am so pleased to be joining Kent Chamber Choir as only their second ever Music Director and I am looking forward to building on Alan's work over the past 40 years. The quality and passion of the choir is plain to see, and I hope to use my own experience as a singer and director to bring the best out of the choir. From my personal perspective, I can't wait to be introduced to the beautiful Kent churches the choir has made home and to introduce new repertoire as we begin a new chapter in 2024.'
KCC recording
A CD, containing twenty tracks and recorded over 2 days in June and September 2012 is available. It was the culmination of months of hard work by Alan Vincent and the choir, and shows the diversity of music for which the KCC is renowned. For further information and audio clips of the songs, click here
The Kath Topping award for vocal studies
Each year the choir awards a bursary of £500 to a promising young singer from Kent, in memory of Kath Topping, a former member of the choir who died suddenly in 2002. We are delighted to announce that the winner of the Kath Topping Award for Vocal Studies 2023 is Joshua Dickin. Joshua's home town is Gillingham and at present he is studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. He has just completed the second year of a BMus degree. Over the summer he is undertaking a tour of South Devon and Cornwall with the choir that he is founding member of, 'Origin Voices' - an 8-part a capella ensemble. His plans for the future are to take full advantage of the Welsh National Opera's opportunities and, whilst maintaining his strong choral footing, hopefully continue to become an opera singer. On the road to achieving this ambition he wants to complete the BMus degree followed by 2 year Post Graduate studies and finally a Masters degree.
KTA 2024
Thanks to financial support from Gravesham Choral Society, we are able to continue the award for one more year. The application form for the Kath Topping Award for Vocal Studies 2024 will be available to download from January 2024.
