Ampthill and District Choral Society has been performing in and around Ampthill for 70 years. The following list provides a near-comprehensive record of the Society’s concerts, singing a range of works with some old favourites appearing on several occasions over the years. Where listed, the Christmas items were part of a varied programme of Christmas music and readings.

5th April 2025
Music from the Habsburg Empire,
Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Alan Childs
Organist: Ian Runnells
Soprano: Philippa Hyde
Choir items included:
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, K.273 & Laudate Dominum, K.339, Mozart; Te Deum in C Major, HOB.XXIIIc:2, Haydn; Psalm 42, As the Hart Pants, MWV A15, Op.42, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Soprano items included: Haec est Regina Virginum, HWV. 235 & Let the Bright Seraphim, HWV. 57, Handel.
Organ recital: Organ Sonata No.4 in Bb, MWV W59, Op.65, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.

15th December 2024
Songs for the Solstice – A Christmas Concert, Maulden Village Hall
Conductor: Alan Childs
Choir items included:
A Christmas Sequence, Paul Harris; A Child of Hope, Ryan Murphy; A New Heart, Ian Assersohn; On This Silent Night, Sarah Quartel; Candle Carol, Alan Bullard; The First Novel, Bob Chilcott.

22nd June 2024
Musicals In Malden, Maulden Village Hall
Conductor: Alan Childs
Pianist: David Beer
Soloists: Oliver Darrington and Heather Fuller
Choir items included: Selections from Show Boat, Jerome Kern arr. Jackie O’Neill; Rodgers and Hammerstein on Broadway, Arr. Mac Huff; Maria (Oliver Darrington) and Tonight [duet] (Oliver Darrington & Heather Fuller) from West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein with lyrics Stephen Sondheim; Medley from Les Misérables (including Empty Chairs and Empty Tables – Oliver Darrington), Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg arr. Ed Lojeski.
Joined by: Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy Flute Ensemble
Conductor: Liz Childs
Flute Ensemble items included: Highlights from Mary Poppins, Richard M Sherman & Robert B Sherman arr. Piet Groenveld; Circle of Life from Disney’s The Lion King, Sir Elton John arr. Gareth McLearnon; You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two from “Oliver!”, Lionel Bart arr. M. Orriss; Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love) from “Paris”, Cole Porter arr. M. Orriss; Selections from The Sound of Music, Richard Rodgers arr. Bill Holcombe and Kris Dorsey, Chitty Chatty Bang Bang, Richard M Sherman & Robert B Sherman arr. M. Orriss; You’ve Got a Friend In Me, Randy Newman arr. M. Orriss.

23rd March 2024
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Alan Childs
Organist: Ian Runnells
Soloists: Heather Fuller and Julian Debreuil
Choir items included: Requiem, Gabriel Fauré; The Sprig of Thyme, Sir John Rutter CBE.

10th December 2023
Christmas Concert, Maulden Village Hall
Choir items included:
A Light in the Stable, Alan Bullard; The Bell Carol, Philip Ledger; Sussex Carol, Trad. English arr. Bob Chilcott; The holly and the ivy, Matthew Owens; The Sparrows’ Carol, Bob Chilcott; Wassail, Jonathan Willcocks; We three kings of Orient are, John Henry Hopkins arr. Paul Leddington Wright

24th June 2023
Songs from the Shows, Maulden Village Hall
Musical Director: Alan Childs
Music from Disney Dazzle, Frozen, Miss Saigon, Broadway Classics, and Phantom of the Opera

25th March 2023
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Alan Childs
Organist: Ian Runnells
Soloists: Clare McCaldin and Katie Trethewey
Te Deum Laudamus and Splendente te, Deus by Purcell
Gloria by Vivaldi

21st May 2022
Spring Concert, St Andrew’s Church, Ampthill
Conductor: Alan Childs
Organist: Ian Runnells
Soprano soloist: Lucy Miller-White
Magnificat by J.C. Bach
Mass in Bb by Johann Hummel
Psalm 150 setting by Cesar Frank

13th December 2021
Christmas Concert, Parkside Hall, Ampthill
Choir items included:
Night of Miracles, John W. Peterson, soloists Lucy Miller-Wright and Neil Ryden; Gaudete trad, arr. Ben Parry; Linden Tree Carol, German trad, arr. Ben Parry; Il est né, French trad, arr. Ben Parry; O Mary, where is your baby?American trad, arr. Gwyn Arch; Fum, Fum, Fum, Spanish trad, arr. Gwyn Arch; Silent night, Franz Gruber, arr. Gwyn Arch; Just a tale, Howard Goodall, words Stephen Clark; We wish you a merry Christmas, English trad, arr. Gwyn Arch

9th December 2019
Christmas Concert, Parkside Hall, Ampthill
Choir items included:
Born a King, William Lloyd Webber – Soloists: Jack Cornwell & Ruth Cornwell; A Fanfare for Christmas, Robin Wells; Joseph and The Angel, R R Terry; I Saw three Ships, English Carol arr. Humphris; Shepherds Farewell, Berlioz; Adam Lay Y Bounden, Boris Ord; Away In a Manger, Kirkpatrick arr. William Llewellyn; Joy To The World, Handel arr. Llewellyn; The Little Road to Bethlehem, M Head; The Kings Birthday, R R Terry; In The Bleak Midwinter, William Llewellyn; In Dulci Jubilo, Pearsall arr. Westbrook; Ding Dong Ding ,Woodward; We Wish You a Merry Christmas

18th May 2019
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Karen Beer
Organ/piano: Justin Wells
Mass in C major by Josef Rheinberger
Soprano: Alison Chambers; Alto: Helen Rotchell; Tenor: Gordon Hodges; Bass: Chris Williams
Londonderry Air (Traditional Irish, arr. Bob Chilcott)
Nelson Mass (Missa in Angustiis) by Joseph Haydn
Soprano: Alison Chambers; Alto: Helen Rotchell; Tenor: Gordon Hodges; Bass: Chris Williams

23rd March 2019
A ‘Bring and Sing’ performance of Handel’s Messiah
Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Karen Beer
Organ: Justin Wells
Soprano: Alison Chambers; Alto: Helen Rotchell; Tenor: Derek Archer; Bass: Richard Cowling

10th December 2018
Christmas Concert, Parkside Hall, Ampthill
Choir items included:
Ding Dong! Merrily on high trad, arr. William Llewellyn, words G.R. Woodward; I Saw three Ships trad, arr. Ian Humphris; How Soft Upon the Evening Air Thomas F. Dunhill, arr. William Llewellyn, words Irene Gass; I Wonder as I Wander trad. adapted John Jacob Niles, arr. Kevin Norbury; Love Came Down at Christmas Ivor Bosanko, words Christina Rosetti; Darkness fell on the weary earth Joseph Barnby, words William Chatterton Dix; Away In a Manger W. J. Kirkpatrick, arr. William Llewellyn; Joy To The World arr. William Llewellyn, words Isaac Watts; Lullay my Liking trad, Gustav Holst; Hush You My Baby William Llewellyn, words Timothy Dudley-Smith; Gabriel’s Message trad, arr. William Llewellyn, words S. Baring-Gould; What Child Is This? Joseph Barnby, words William Chatterton Dix; Christmas Is Coming trad, Walford Davies.

12th May 2018
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Karen Beer
Organ: Justin Wells
Requiem by John Rutter
Soprano: Elizabeth Bottone, Cello: Luke Howard, Oboe: Karen Beer
No. 1 of Trois Pièces by Nadia Boulanger
Scherzo Op. 12 Daniel van Goens
Cello: Luke Howard; Piano: Justin Wells
How lovely are thy dwellings by Johannes Brahms
Gloria by Francis Poulenc
Soprano: Elizabeth Bottone

18th December 2017
Christmas Concert, Parkside Hall, Ampthill
Choir items included:
Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten, Up! good Christian folk, and listen G.R. Woodward; A Maiden Most Gentle French traditional, arr. Andrew Carter; O Little Town of Bethlehem H Walford Davies, words Phillips Brooks; Sussex Carol English traditional, arr. David Wilcocks; Still, Still, Still Traditional, arr. Philip Ledger; Myn Liking R.R. Terry; Christmas Night John Rutter; Crudites Melody traditional, 15th century, Lyrics by Pat Goodacre, Jessica Abraham, Blanche Rowen, Mike Gulston; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas H. Martin & R. Blane, arr. D. Beer; We Wish You a Merry Christmas traditional, arr. Arthur Warrell

13th May 2017
70th Anniversary Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Conductor: Karen Beer
Organ/Piano: Justin Wells
Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
Soprano solos: Kirsten Burt, Karen Beer, Kirsty Williams, Victoria Wray
Ave Verum by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
I Waited for the Lord (from Hymn of Praise) by Felix Mendelssohn (Conductor: David Beer)
Sopranos: Kirsty Williams and Karen Beer
Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabriel Fauré
Requiem by Gabriel Fauré
Soprano: Kirsten Burt
Baritone: Jack Cornwell
Ave Verum by Edward Elgar
Soprano: Kirsten Burt and Kirsty Williams
Messiah by George Frideric Handel
And The Glory of the Lord
He Trusted in God
Hallelujah

12th December 2016
Christmas Concert, Firs Lower School
Choir items included:
Sussex carol English traditional, arr. David Willcocks; The crown of roses P. Tchaikovsky, words A.N. Pleshcheev; Still, still, still Traditional, arr. Philip Ledger; Shepherd’s pipe carol words and music by John Rutter; New year carol Benjamin Britten; Behold the great Creator makesThomas Pestel, arr. James Gibb; Nativity carol words and music by John Rutter; A maiden most gentleFrench traditional, arr. Andrew Carter; In the bleak mid-winter Harold Darke, words Christina Rossetti; Longfellow’s carol Allen Percival, words H.W. Longfellow; Unto us is born a Son from Piae Cantiones, arr. David Willcocks; Jingle bells J. Pierpont, arr. David Willcocks; Ding Dong! merrily on high French melody, arr. David Willcocks; Christmas Song Bob Wells and Mel Tormé; White Christmas Irving Berlin; While Shepherds watched their flocks by night Traditional, tune: Cranbrook; Have yourself a merry little Christmas Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane; We wish you a merry Christmas Traditional, arr. Arthur Warrell

21st May 2016
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Mass in C (Coronation Mass) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Stabat Mater by Gioachino Rossini
Helen Neeves – Soprano (more)
Helen Anne Gregory – Alto (more)
Mark Chaundy – Tenor (more)
Robert Gildon – Bass (more)
Conductor: Angela Doughty
Organ/Piano: Bill Fudge

14th December 2015
Christmas Concert, Firs Lower School
Choir items included:
Glory to the Christ child Alan Bullard; In dulci jubilo Trad German carol arr. Bob Chilcott; Candlelight Carol John Rutter; What child is this Thomas Hewitt, words William Chatterton Dix; Carol of the bells Trad; Rise up shepherdtrad arr. Rogie Clark; Voices in the mist Jussi Chydenius, words Alfred, Lord Tennyson; It came upon a midnight clear trad. adapted Arthur Sullivan, John Scott; Ding dong merrily on high 16th century French melody, arr Mack Wilberg; New Year John Rutter; While shepherds watched trad; We three kings of Orient are John Henry Hopkins arr. Paul Leddington Wright; Have yourselves a merry little Christmas Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane

16th May 2015
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Petite Messe Solennelle by Gioachino Rossini
Helen Neeves – Soprano (more)
Anna Harvey – Alto (more)
Mark Chaundy – Tenor (more)
Robert Gildon – Bass (more)
Conductor: Angela Doughty
Piano: Martin Hart
Harmonium: Bill Fudge
The concert started with a set of four popular songs: I do like to be beside the seaside (arr. Andrew Carter), Christopher Robin is saying his prayers (arr. Andrew Carter), Londonderry Air (arr. Bob Chilcott) and Old MacDonald had a farm (arr. George Mitchell).

15th December 2014
Christmas Concert, Firs Lower School
Choir items included:
Joy to the World arr. William Llewellyn; Donkey plod and Mary ride E.H. Thiman arr. William Llewellyn; The Song of the Birds Trad Catalan carol arr. Enrique Ribo; Carol of the Christ-child Philip Riley, words by G.K. Chesterton; Bright and joyful is the morn Trad; A babe is born Robin Wells; London Waits (past three o’clock) Quodlibet arr. William Llewellyn; While shepherds watched Malin Bridge; Puer Nobis Piae Cantiones arr. William Llewellyn; Lullay my liking Holst; Il est ne, le divin enfant trad French carol arr. William Llewellyn; A Gallery Carol arr. Robin Wells; I saw three ships arr. Ian Humphris; God rest you merry, Gentlemen arr. William Llewellyn; The twelve days of Christmas arr. Ian Humphris; Christmas is coming Walford Davies

17th May 2014
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Samson by G.F. Handel
Helen Neeves – Soprano
Cari Searle – Alto
Sheridan Edward – Tenor
Neil Bellingham – Baritone
Conductor: Angela Doughty
Organ: Martin Hart

16th December 2013
Christmas Concert, Firs Lower School
Choir items included:
Adam lay y bounden Howard Skempton; In dulci jubiloarr. Bob Chilcott; Of a rose John Rutter; There’s a song in the air John Hearne; A heavenly song Cecilia McDowall; Hark, hark what news; It came upon the midnight clearWills/Burnap arr. Mack Wilberg; O little town of Bethlehem Bob Chilcott; Away in a manger; What child is this? Thomas Hewitt Jones; Wassail Jonathan Willcocks; O holy night Adolphe Adam; We three kings J. H. Hopkins arr. Paul Leddington Wright; Ding dong merrily on high arr. Mack Wilberg; We wish you a merry Christmas Warrell

18th May 2013
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church
Magnificat by John Rutter
Elizabeth Powell (Soprano)
Messa di Gloria by Giacomo Puccini
Sheridan Edward (Tenor)
Peter Collins (Bass)
Conductor: Angela Doughty
Organ: Martin Hart

10th December 2012
Christmas Concert, Firs Lower School
Choir items included:
God rest ye merry, gentlemen arr. Sirrett; O come, O come, Emmanuel arr. Paul Leddington Wright; Blest Mary wanders through the thorn arr. Stephen Cleobury; Scots Nativity Alan Bullard; Ding Dong merrily on higharr. Mack Wilberg; Silent Night Franz Gruber arr. Bob Chilcott; I saw a stable Alan Bullard; See amid the winter’s snow John Goss arr. Paul Leddington Wright; A little child there is yborn Malcolm Archer; Joy to the world Mason/Handel arr. Mack Wilberg; Good King Wenceslas arr. Bob Chilcott; Candlelight Carol John Rutter; New Year John Rutter; Bell Carol Philip Ledger.

26th May 2012
Spring Concert, Ampthill Methodist Church, 7.30pm
English Folk Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Merrie England by Edward German
Celena Bridge (Soprano)
Carris Jones (Mezzo Soprano)
Jack Cornwall (Tenor)
Ian Boughton (Baritone)
Conductor: Angela Doughty
Piano: Martin Hart

(The following list compiled by Bryden Keenan)

21 May 2011
Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise and Fauré Requiem

15 May 2010
Haydn The Seasons

16 May 2009: Brahms Requiem and Rutter  Requiem

2007-08
Christmas: Bizet Te Deum
17 May 2008: Rossini Stabat Mater; Mozart Requiem

2006-07
Christmas: Haydn Te Deum
12 May 2007: Handel Messiah (60th Anniversary concert)

2005-06
Christmas: Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine
13 May 2006: Haydn Creation

2004-05
Christmas: Schütz The Christmas Story
23 April 2005: Handel Samson

2003-04
20 March 2004: Vivaldi Gloria; Britten Rejoice in the Lamb; Borodin Polovtsian Dances; Poulenc Gloria

2002-03
Christmas: Britten Ceremony of Carols
5 April 2003: Mozart Mass in C; Haydn Nelson Mass

2001-02
Christmas: Haydn Te Deum
27 April 2002: Elgar Elijah

2000-01
Christmas: Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine
31 March 2001: Rossini Petite Mess Solennelle; Brahms Liebelieder Walzes

1999-2000
Christmas: Poulenc Gloria
8 April 2000: Mozart Requiem; Bizet Te Deum

1998-99
Christmas: Vivaldi Gloria
29 March 1999: Brahms Requiem

1997-98
Christmas: Britten Ceremony of Carols
23 March 1998: Mozart 12th Mass; Stainer The Crucifixion

26 April 1997
Bach St John Passion and the previous Christmas  Schütz The Christmas Story

23 March 1996
Haydn The Creation

3 April 1995
Haydn 2nd Mass
Maxwell Davies Lucy
Purcell Dido & Aeneas
Bernstein West Side Story
and the previous Christmas Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast

19 March 1994
Philips Cantantibus Organis
Purcell Welcome to all the Pleasures
Handel Ode on St Cecilia’s Day
Britten Hymn to St Cecilia
The previous Christmas Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas carols and Christmas music from the Messiah

12 June 1993
Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes   Elgar From the Bavarian Highlands

14 March 1992
Haydn Spring (The Seasons)  Monteverdi Beatus Vir   Beethoven Mass in C

27 April 1991
Fauré Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine
Mozart Ave Verum
Elgar Ave Verum
Joubert Anthem

31 March 1990
Purcell Dido and Aeneas
Britten Choral Dances
Handel The King shall rejoice
And the previous Christmas  Bach Christmas Oratorio

13 May 1989
Elgar Anthems
Vaughan Williams In Windsor Forest
Haydn Missa Sancti Nicolai
and the previous Christmas Bach The Peasant Cantata

26 March 1988
Haydn Creation
Handel Dettingen Te Deum

11 April 1987
Handel 9th Chandos Anthem
Britten Rejoice in the Lamb
Howells Te Deum

15 March 1986
Haydn Te Deum
Mozart Credo Mass
Elgar From the Bavarian Highlands

16 March 1985
Handel Messiah

31 March 1984
Fauré  Requiem

26 March 1983
Rossini  Petite Messe Solennelle

4 April 1981
Vivaldi Gloria
Schubert Song of Miriam
Christopher Le Fleming Five Psalms

29 March 1980
Haydn  Creation

3 April 1978
Mendelssohn  Hymn of Praise
Haydn  Passion

2 April 1977
Handel  Messiah

10 April 1976
Fauré  Requiem

26 March 1971
Handel Judas Maccabaeus

24 April 1970
Fauré Requiem & Handel Zadok the Priest

28 March 1969
Vivaldi Gloria & Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise

29 March 1968
Handel Samson

7 December 1966 (in Clophill Methodist Church)
excerpts from Messiah and Elijah

9 April 1965
Messiah

14 December 1963
light opera excerpts  “A Grand Concert”

17 May 1963
Mendelssohn St Paul

2 January 1961
carols in Steppingley Church

6 December 1960
carols in Maulden Church

20 December 1959
carols

20 March 1959
Merrie England (in Redborne School hall)

9 May 1958
Mozart’s 12th Mass & Parry Blest pair of sirens

17 May 1957
Mendelssohn Elijah

27 April 1956
Haydn Creation  (St Andrew’s Church Ampthill)

30 April 1955
Carmen  (with Patricia Laslett, in the hall of the Ampthill/Flitwick Secondary School)

20 December 1954
Christmas concert  (in the Methodist Church Ampthill)

30 April & 1 May 1954
Handel Messiah

14 December 1953
carols  (in the Entertainment Hall Ampthill)

1 & 2 May 1953
German Merrie England

28 & 29 March 1952
The Rebel Maid by Montague F. Philips  (in the Methodist Schoolroom)

26 February (1950?)
concert of sacred music in the Union Church Ampthill

16 March 1951
Edward German Tom Jones accompanied by the Woburn Sands Symphony Orchestra and in the Methodist Schoolroom Ampthill

15 December 1949 or 1950?
Christmas music and From the Bavarian Highlands

13 December 1948
varied programme inc. 2 pianos played by George Goode and Dorothy Shepherd

1947 foundation and Merrie England  Edward German