Past Events

Choral Weekend, London - The Rodolfus Foundation

Join us for four uplifting days of choral singing under the expert guidance of our artistic director Ralph Allwood MBE. The weekend also features a guest appearance by the composer and conductor Sir John Rutter CBE, and optional one-to-one singing lessons with one of our singing teachers.

Whether you’re a seasoned singer or new to choral music, the Choral Weekend is designed for everyone aged 22 and up. You will be immersed in the joy of singing with others while performing in some stunning settings around London.

https://www.therodolfusfoundation.org.uk/choral-weekend-london

3rd - 6th April 2025
St James' Church, Sussex Gardens, London

A New Song: New Year's Eve Concert in London

The Rodolfus Choir is delighted to conclude their Twixmas project with their traditional New Year’s Eve concert, featuring some of the finest choral music written for the season.

Conductor - Ralph Allwood MBE

https://www.therodolfusfoundation.org.uk/tickets/2024/12/31/a-new-song-new-years-eve-concert-in-london

Tuesday, 31th December 2024, 15:00 16:30
St James' Church, Sussex Gardens, London

BBC Choral Evensong Recording

Join The Rodolfus Choir as they record choral evensong for the BBC, to be broadcast on New Year’s Day 2025.

Conductor - Ralph Allwood MBE
Organist - George de Voil

https://www.therodolfusfoundation.org.uk/tickets/2024/12/29/bbc-choral-evensong-recording

Sunday, 29th December 2024, 18:00-19:00
St James' Church, Sussex Gardens, London

Old Royal Naval College Carol Services

The Chapel Carol Service on Sunday, 15 December will be a ticketed (but free) event. Remaining tickets for this service are available from the Chapel Manager, Deborah Robson (drobson@ornc.org). The same service will take place on Monday, 16 December but will be un-ticketed.

After the service on 15 December, a bar will be open in the Queen Mary Undercroft, where mulled wine, soft drinks, and mince pies will be available. Tickets may be purchased from Anthea Larken or Eileen Falconer. The price is £7.50 (cash only). On the night, the price will be £8.00 (card only).

Sunday 15th and Monday 16th December, 19:00

Haydn’s Creation:
Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir with The Brandenburg Sinfonia

Join the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir in a joyful performance of Haydn’s Creation in celebration of the festive season.

Conductor: Dr Ralph Allwood MBE
Chapel Organist: Jonathan Eyre

https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/trinity-laban-ornc-chapel-choir-christmas-concert/

Sunday, 1st December 2024, 19:00
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, The Chapel, Old Royal Naval College

Junior Choral Course 2: Winchester

The Junior Choral Courses offer unique opportunities to children aged 8 - 15 to experience choral singing at a very high level. The course staff are all accomplished singers, and their voices join the young people to enable them to sing some of the great choral repertoire for four voices alongside excellent music written for the students’ higher voices.

19th - 25th August, 2024
Winchester College

Choral Course 4: York

The Choral Courses are for singers aged between 16 - 21, many of who are considering University and other Choral Scholarships, but it is by no means a requirement and we welcome singers who just enjoy choral singing and want to improve.

All Choral Course participants make up the choir which prepares for three main performances or choral evensongs. Preparation for choral scholarships and advice on singing beyond school is given a high priority and there are sessions in sight-reading, aural tests and performance, alongside vocal master-classes, a cappella workshops and sessions with visiting conductors.

12th - 19th August, 2024
St Peter’s School, York

Choral Course 2: Oxford

Choral Course 1: Royal Holloway

A Choral Celebration Of Queen Mary II, Old Royal Naval College

Performed by Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir, The Royal Hospital Chelsea Chapel Choir and the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists.
The Chapel Choirs of the Old Royal Naval College and the Royal Hospital Chelsea combine forces in an historic celebration of the birthday of Queen Mary II (1662-1694).

Instrumental in the founding of the Old Royal Naval College in 1692, now the home of Trinity Laban, Queen Mary was on the throne when the Royal Hospital opened its doors to its Chelsea Pensioners that same year.

30th April, 7:00pm
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich

Adults Choral Course

Following the success of the inaugural course in 2023, Ralph can’t wait to keep singing with you all. The course will rehearse at Holy Sepulchre, The National Musicians' Church in Holborn and singing services at Southwark Cathedral and Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich. There are no auditions - all voices and abilities are more than welcome! Music will be sent out before the course.

11th - 14th April, 2024
London

J.S. Bach, St John Passion, Old Royal Naval College

The Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir and the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists perform J.S. Bach: Passion according to St John (in English).

It tells the story of Jesus' last days, but is appropriate for people of all faiths and none to attend.

The Brandenburg Baroque Soloists will use instruments as close as they can to those used by Bach in his first performance in Leipzig.

27th March, 2:30pm
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich

24 Hour ‘Drop In’, Mozart Requiem

Starting the promptly at 16:00 on Thursday 22 February 2024 with whoever is there and we’ll work our way through the choruses and the solo TUBA MIRUM until we get to the end. And when we get to the end, we’ll start all over again and repeat this non-stop for 24 hours until we finish at 15:59 on Friday 23 February 2024.

In aid of the Pimlico Musical Foundation

https://www.labradorevents.com/mozart-24-hour-drop-in-february-2024

22nd - 23rd Feburary,
St Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico, London

New Year's Eve Concert at Douai Abbey

The Rodolfus Choir are delighted to be performing at the National Musician's Church of Holy Sepulchre, Holborn. This concert will present some of the finest choral music written for the season including Giovanni Gabrieli’s Jubilate Deo, Cornelius’s The Three Kings and Howells’s A Spotless Rose, as well as music by J.S. Bach, Arvo Pärt, Imogen Holst and Tomas Luis de Victoria. The choir will also sing contemporary carols by Lucy Walker, James Burton, Jan Sandström and Ralph Allwood.

Conductors: Ralph Allwood MBE and Elinor Cooper

31st December, 15:00 - 16:30
Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, RG7 5TQ

The Morning Star: Holy Sepulchre, Holborne

The Rodolfus Choir are delighted to be performing at the National Musician's Church of Holy Sepulchre, Holborn. This concert will present some of the finest choral music written for the season including Giovanni Gabrieli’s Jubilate Deo, Cornelius’s The Three Kings and Howells’s A Spotless Rose, as well as music by J.S. Bach, Arvo Pärt, Imogen Holst and Tomas Luis de Victoria. The choir will also sing contemporary carols by Lucy Walker, James Burton, Jan Sandström and Ralph Allwood.

Conductors: Ralph Allwood MBE and Elinor Cooper

30th December, 19:00 - 21:00
Holy Sepulchre, Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2DQ

Carol Services at The Chapel of St Peter and St Paul at the Old Royal Naval College

The Chapel Carol services will take place on Sunday, 10th and Monday, 11th December at 6.00pm. These services are free and open to the public. To secure tickets, please contact the Chapel Manager by email at d.robson@ornc.org.

Mulled wine, soft drinks, and mince pies will be served after the service in the Queen Mary Undercroft: refreshment tickets will be available at the bar for £7.50 (card only).

10th December, 18:00
11th Decembeer, 18:00

Chapel of St Peter and St Paul,
College Row, London SE10 9LW

Preparing for Evensong

A singing workship with Ralph Allwood in St Mary's Church Swanage. Ralph comes to Swanage to lead a very special workshop for singers of all ages who would like to prepare for a Choral Evensong. Ralph will teach vocal technique and everything you need to know about singing evensong.

Introit: Locus Iste - Bruckner
Responses: Byrd
Canticles: Stanford in C
Anthems: Geistliches Lied - Brahms, Ave Maria - Lindley

23rd September, 10:00 - 17:15
St Mary's Church, Swanage, BH19 1HU

BBC Radio 3, Choral Evensong

Ralph Allwood conducts the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir for a live broadcast of Choral Evensong.

Conductor: Ralph Allwood
Organist: Jonathan Eyre

4th October, 15:30 - 16:30
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich, SE10 9LW

Evensong at St John's College, Cambridge

The Rodolfus Choir return to one of the most prestigious college chapels in the country to sing evensong.

Introit: Consider the lilies of the field – Ralph Allwood
Response: William Byrd
Canticles: St Paul’s Service - Herbert Howells
Anthem: Give unto the Lord - Edward Elgar

Conductor: Ralph Allwood
Organist: Alex Robson

16th September 2023, 18:00 - 19:00
St John's College Cambridge

24 Hour Messiah, St George’s Hanover Square

RCSM and Labrador Events invite singers and instrumentalists to a “24 hour Drop-In” performance of MESSIAH at St. George’s Church.

Recently the church has suffered serious damage to its portico and they are fundraising to meet the costs of the repair.

We’ll start at 15:00 on Thursday 7 September 2023 with AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD with whoever is there and we’ll work our way through the choruses until we get to the end. And when we get to the end, we’ll start all over again and repeat this for 24 hours until we finish at 15:00 on Friday 8 September 2023.

7th September, 15:00 - 8th September, 15:00
(Ralph conducts 8th September, 11:00 - 13:00)
St George’s Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Brandenburg Choral Cruise

Ralph will be setting sail on a choral cruise through the Fjords in August. You may have been to a number of choral concerts hosted by Brandenburg over the years. Their choral cruise will have a similarly high quality of music and organisation. Repertoire isn’t yet decided. Ralph is open to suggestions and demands!

30th August - 7th September

Choral Course 4, Rodolfus Foundation

The Choral Courses are for singers aged between 16 - 21, many of who are considering University and other Choral Scholarships, but it is by no means a requirement and we welcome singers who just enjoy choral singing and want to improve.

The main focus of each Choral Course is the choir made up of all participants, which prepares for three main performances or choral evensongs. Preparation for choral scholarships and advice on singing beyond school is given a high priority and there are sessions in sight-reading, aural tests and performance, alongside vocal master-classes, a cappella workshops and sessions with visiting conductors.

Saturday 19th August - Saturday 26th August 2023

Oxford

Choral Course 2, Rodolfus Foundation

The Choral Courses are for singers aged between 16 - 21, many of who are considering University and other Choral Scholarships, but it is by no means a requirement and we welcome singers who just enjoy choral singing and want to improve.

The main focus of each Choral Course is the choir made up of all participants, which prepares for three main performances or choral evensongs. Preparation for choral scholarships and advice on singing beyond school is given a high priority and there are sessions in sight-reading, aural tests and performance, alongside vocal master-classes, a cappella workshops and sessions with visiting conductors.

Monday 7th August - Monday 14th August, 2023

Cambridge

Ralph Allwood MBE:
My favourite 10 chords

As a choral and musical leader in the UK for many years, Ralph Allwood has always been obsessed with chords.What is it about this chord or that chord which “strikes a chord” with the listener? Where do they come from?Which chords and why?Which is Ralph’s absolute favourite?

Come along to a relaxed and informal conversation with Ralph at the piano where he will play and discuss
his 10 Favourite Chords with Mark Strachan.

7:30pm, Saturday 29th July, 2023

Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square

Junior Choral Course 1, Rodolfus Foundation

Adult Choral Course, Rodolfus Foundation

Come and join us for our first ever Rodolfus Foundation Choral Course for adults of all ages as we explore some of the best liturgical music under the expert direction of three inspirational choral directors – Ralph Allwood MBE, John Rutter CBE and Ben Parry.

You’ll sing services at Holy Sepulchre, The National Musicians' Church in Holborn and Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich. Rehearsals will be hosted at St Gabriel's Church in Pimlico and the Garry Weston Library within Southwark Cathedral. There are no auditions but some choral singing experience is helpful. Music can be sent out before the course.

Thursday 13th April - Sunday 16th April, 2023

London

Brandenburg Choral Festival - Sing Joyfully!

The Rodolfus Choir perform a programme inspired by William Byrd as part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London. Including music by Tallis, Purcell, Elgar, Parry and Ralph Allwood. Conducted by Ralph Allwood and Elinor Cooper.

18:00, Saturday 18th Feburary, 2023

St Stephens Gloucester Road, Kensington London SW7 4RL

Evensong at Holy Sepulcre

The Rodolfus Choir will sing evensong at Holy Sepulchre. The service is enitirely free to members of the congregation and will include Parry’s Magnificat, Emendemus in Melius by William Byrd and Byrd responses. Supporters are invited to join us for a drinks reception after the service.

17:15, Thursday 16th Feburary, 2023

Holy Sepulchre, Holborn Viaduct, EC1A 2DQ

Truth From Above: Festive Choral Concert
Rodolfus Choir

Ravishing choral music with a Christmas theme, including Vaughan Williams, Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Tallis, Bach and Howells presented by the exceptionally talented Rodolfus Choir.

Drawn from Britain’s very finest young choral singers, The Rodolfus Choir “perform throughout with clarity, flawless intonation and an ideal blend, in repertoire that would tax the resources of a professional choir.“ BBC Music Magazine.

Friday, 30 December 2022, 7:30pm

St Mary's Bathwick, Bath

Nine Lessons and Carols,
Pimlico Musical Foundation and Inner Voices

Join us for an evening for a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with Pimlico Foundation Scholars and Teacher-Singers and Inner Voices.

Tuesday 13th December, 7pm

St Gabriel’s Church Pimlico

Earth, Sun and the Stars,
Pimlico Musical Foundation

Join us for PMF's spectacular winter concert Earth, Sun and the Stars joined with over 200 performers and professional musicians singing a selection of winter choral favourites including Schutz’ Magnificat, Essenvalds’ Stars, LaBarr’s The Wisdom of the Moon and others.

Featuring Foundation Scholars, Pimlico Chorus, Pimlico Children's Choir and local schools.

Wednesday 30th November, 7pm

St Gabriel’s Church Pimlico

Brandenburg presents Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir

An Autumn Bouquet including Harris, Britten, Swayne, Lassus, Pärt, Tallis, Allwood, Elgar, and Purcell

Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir
Ralph Allwood - Conductor

Saturday 19 November, 5.30pm

St Bartholomew the Great, W Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS

Ralph’s 70th Birthday Concert, 30th April, St Gabriel’s Church Pimlico

Requiem op 48, Gabriel Fauré
Symphony no 4 in E minor op 98, Johannes Brahms

Brandenburg Sinfonia conducted by Ralph Allwood, who says

“My favourite of the wonderful Brahms Symphonies is no 4, but it is the only one I haven’t conducted. So I thought I would indulge myself on my birthday! Guest of Honour is the superb teacher who first introduced me to it in 1966, David Nield, who was Director of Music at Tiffin School, Kingston for his whole career. The choir will simply be those in the audience who sing. They will sit in a special area. There will be drinks after, and the whole thing is in aid of the Pimlico Musical Foundatin”

3.15-4.30 Rehearsal for those wishing to sing.
5.30 Concert.

Choir of the Earth - National Anthem

In this Platinum Jubilee year, Choir of the Earth would like to present Her Majesty The Queen with a new recording of God Save The Queen on June 1st 2022

Ralph has written a new arrangement specially for this course. To accompany the Choir of the Earth, Luke Bond, Assistant Director of Music, will play the organ at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The rehearsal tracks are sung by members of The Rodolfus Choir.

At the end of these rehearsals, you are invited to record and send your own voice which will be combined in the studio to create the full choir.

https://choiroftheearth.com/god-save-the-queen

Self Isolation Choir - Hymns

Following the success of the ABBA course, Ralph partned with SIC to unite 1000 people in the perforamce of eight hymns.

The organs of Llandaff Cathedral, Peterborough Cathedral, Washington Cathedral, Belfast Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, All Saints Episcopal Church (TX, USA) and St Paul's Cathedral accompanied the peices.

Each hymn was introduced by familar faces including Stephen Fry, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Katherin Jenkins OBE.

Profits from this project were donated to the RSCM, Cathedral Music Trust, The Choral Evensong Trust, and the Rodolfus Foundation.

https://www.theselfisolationchoir.com/hymns

Self Isolation Choir - ABBA

Launced in March 2020 to provide choral opportunities during the pandemic, the Self Isolation Choir has seen 12,000 participants since its inception.

Ralph and Lora Sansun have arranged five ABBA pieces for SATB voices. Over the course of three weeks Ralph taught these pieces which participants then recorded for a final concert on 13th March 2021. The final choir amounted to over 600 singers.

More information about the course can be found here.

https://www.theselfisolationchoir.com/abba

Virtual Evensong

Ralph directed the Rodolfus Foundation’s #VirtualEvensong on the 19th May 2020. The broadcast, made of of 900 submissions, saw over 8,000 viewers during the premiere on YouTube. The full service can still be viewed below.

The project, in association with ChoralEvensong.org, is in aid of the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund, set up by the Friends of Cathedral Music and the Ouseley Church Music Trust.

Telegraph Review - ‘Bedroom singing taken to a whole new level’

https://www.therodolfusfoundation.org.uk/virtual-evensong

Ralph Allwood