We are thrilled to share our recent accolades, which underscore our dedication to musical excellence and community engagement.
Making Music UK Diverse Programming Award – Winner 2025
In September 2025, Bradford Festival Choral Society was named the winner of the inaugural Making Music UK Diverse Programming Award.
This new national award, presented by Making Music — the UK’s membership body for over 4,000 choirs, orchestras and music societies — celebrates ensembles whose repertoire reflects the breadth and richness of today’s world.
BFCS was recognised for its adventurous and inclusive programming, with judges praising the choir as “living and breathing diverse programming” and noting its “authentic and fully integrated approach.”
Every multi-work concert includes music by female composers – from historical figures such as Fanny Hensel and Ethel Smyth to contemporary trailblazers including Roxanna Panufnik, Judith Weir, Lillie Harris and Reena Esmail.
A highlight of the year was the Northern premiere of Reena Esmail’s This Love Between Us: Prayers for Unity, performed with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra and an outstanding line-up of soloists – Natasha Agarwal, Shivani Rattan, Sandeep Gurrapadi, Oscar Castellino, Kirtan Kaur Virdee (sitar) and Mehar-Jot Singh Sagoo (tabla) . The project also included a Come and Sing day with Esmail herself, opening up her music to local singers and communities.
Our musical team
This award is a fitting tribute to our musical leadership Thomas Leech – Musical Director, and Christopher Pulleyn – Assistant Musical Director
Together they shape the choir’s sound and adventurous programming. You can read more about their work on our Musicians page »
We were honoured to be nominated for the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Inspiration Award 2023. This nomination recognised our longstanding commitment to serving both our local community and our members, a tradition we have upheld for over 150 years. We have been focusing on reducing physical and financial barriers to concert attendance, making our performances more accessible than ever. Our ongoing support of the Bradford Friendship Choir, a choir for refugees, asylum seekers, and their friends, has been a highlight, showcasing our commitment to inclusivity through heart-warming collaborations, such as our joint virtual concert and participation in Bradford’s Lantern Parade. Additionally, we’ve organized community events including a singing workshop and concert at Bradford’s Ukrainian Centre and our Sing! Course, which provided entry points for adults interested in choral singing. We continue to honour our tradition of performing choral classics, while also investing in the future of choral music. In 2022 we welcomed young singers from the Bradford Catholic Youth Choir for a memorable performance of J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion, provided vocal coaching and music-reading classes for our members, and maintained our pledge to include music composed by women in all our multi-work concerts. Our nomination for the RPS Inspiration Award is a testament to the vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking community we have built. As one of our members, John, a tenor, expressed:
“In my 25 years of membership, BFCS has transformed from a traditional choral society to a joyful, inclusive choir under visionary leadership. We’ve welcomed new members, collaborated with children’s choirs, and supported the Bradford Friendship Choir, all while maintaining excellence in our performances.”
Making Music Awards We were equally delighted that our Musical Director, Thomas Leech was shortlisted for the Best Musical Director award by Making Music in 2022. This nomination reflects his outstanding leadership and musical vision that has guided us through numerous successful performances and community initiatives; this nomination was in particular recognition of his exceptional efforts to keep our choir singing during lockdown in 2020-2021 – read more here: Digital BFCS Moreover, in October 2022, we were proud to receive the Group Hero Award from Making Music. This accolade recognised the collaboration of six of our team in their collective efforts in fostering a strong sense of community, promoting inclusivity, and achieving musical excellence. Read more about this award here: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/news/group-hero-vote?utm_source=Solus&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=MMAwWinnersPR_Sep22 Zoe, one of our sopranos, captures the spirit of our choir perfectly:
“Our choir is connected by our love of singing and the strong community spirit we share. From supporting the Bradford Friendship Choir to regular collections for local food banks, and offering ‘no proof of status’ concession ticket pricing, we strive to make music accessible to all.”
