Could our 170th anniversary season be your time to join us?
Love ambitious choral music? So do we.
BFCS brings together around 140 singers to perform inspiring repertoire with outstanding professional musicians. We’re particularly keen to welcome singers with previous choral experience who are looking for high musical standards, rewarding rehearsals and a friendly, supportive choir.
OPEN REHEARSAL — WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
COME AND TRY BFCS →
I was looking for a choir with high musical standards but a welcoming atmosphere. BFCS has given me both.
Join our friendly and exciting Yorkshire choir and experience the power of choral music. Members have opportunities to perform major works by composers such as Bach, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Verdi and Elgar alongside professional orchestras and soloists, including annual appearances in the Bradford Theatres Orchestral Season at St George’s Hall.
To find out what we’re like, come along to one of our Open Rehearsals or to any of our Wednesday rehearsals (please email first to make sure we’re singing that evening).
Our 170th Anniversary Rehearsals start on Wednesday 02 September 2026, and our Open Rehearsal is 09 September.
Please contact us on bradfordfestivalchoralsociety@gmail.com if you would like to check rehearsal details for a particular date; we rehearse in term times every Wednesday at Clock House, Bradford Grammar School unless otherwise advertised.
Find out more about parking, public transport and accessibility for the venue here: Clock House, Bradford Grammar School
What’s BFCS all about?
We are a really friendly and positive choir, with high standards, superb musical leadership and always thinking of the enjoyment of our members.
What do you sing?
Most of our concerts focus on the amazing heritage of classical choral music – music that covers every aspect of emotion and experience! Our programming tries to combine the familiar with the new and unusual, and we’ve sung flamenco with Eduardo Niebla, jazz with Will Todd, a flashmob performance of Bruno Mars, Carmina Burana across two stages in City Park… not to mention Mozart Requiem in Undercliffe Cemetery…
Do I need to be an experienced singer?
No! We’re interested in your potential and our rehearsals are designed to develop our singers musically and vocally. Our members range from people who’ve not sung since primary school through to music graduates, with every level of experience in between.
Do I need to be able to read music?
Some familiarity with music reading is useful, but not essential. Some of our members will learn pieces entirely by ear, some will be able to sight-read anything.
I’m an experienced choral singer… won’t it be a bit slow?
Our rehearsals are engaging and fast-paced, with lots of emphasis on creating an excellent sound and bringing music to life, and we really value the many experience singers in the choir. Our acclaimed and expert musical team are exciting and inspiring – it’s definitely not just note-bashing! We also work with vocal coaches in small sectional groups and work with guest musicians to enrich our performances.
What does it cost?
Our 2026–27 season annual subscription is £200 (less than £5.30 per rehearsal) and can be paid in full in September, half yearly or in installments (10x £20). Membership includes weekly rehearsals, concerts with professional musicians and orchestras, vocal coaching in sectionals and two free Come & Sing days each year.
We also offer a Supporter Member subscription of £250 which also can be paid in full in September, half yearly or in installments (10x £25) for those who feel able to make an additional contribution to the choir’s future. Supporter Members help us continue presenting ambitious performances, supporting young musicians and keeping membership accessible for others.
If you join in January, the subscription is £120. For singers aged 30 and under, the annual subscription is just £80 (£50 if you join in January). Affordability should not be an obstacle to joining the choir and our Membership Secretary can speak with you about what works if you are on a low income.
I’m really busy, do members have to be at all rehearsals to perform in the concerts?
No, members are asked to ensure they attend as many rehearsals as possible in preparation for our concerts so that we can ensure we are able to achieve the high standards that we expect – the guideline is 75% of rehearsals as well as attending the rehearsal on the day of the concert. We do sometimes offer Zoom links into our live rehearsals, which are useful for staying up-to-date if there are some rehearsals you can not attend in person.
I’m still interested…is there an audition?
Come along to a few rehearsals and see if you enjoy it. If you do, there’s a short and informal ‘voice check’ to provide positive and encouraging tips on developing your voice and to check that you’re singing the right part for the range of your voice and don’t have any vocal issues that singing will aggravate. In the voice check our Musical Director will take you through some simple vocal exercises – there is no sight-singing or need to prepare a piece. You don’t have to pay anything until after your voice check.
We have vacancies in all parts, but would particularly welcome tenors and basses. If you’re not sure that we’re the right choir for you, please get in touch and we’ll try and answer your questions.
Rehearsals take place every Wednesday evening during term time from 7.30pm-9.30pm.
Clock House Main Hall at Bradford Grammar School (the Junior School), Keighley Road, BD9 4JP
Car: Excellent parking available on site
Bus: The A3 (Otley-Bradford), 622 (Keighley-Bradford) and 626 (Baildon-Bradford) run along Keighley Road; note buses are less frequent after 9pm
Train: Frizinghall Station is a moderate walk from the school (15 minute walk)
If you are interested in joining us, please email bradfordfestivalchoralsociety@gmail.com to arrange to come to a rehearsal and to check for any venue changes.
What members say…
‘BFCS is my ‘me time’, a break from being ‘Mum’, a great chance to make new friends & to let off steam!’
‘I was looking for a choir with high musical standards but a welcoming atmosphere. BFCS has given me both.’
‘I look forward to BFCS rehearsal on a Wednesday. To be in a room full of people with the same passion and dedication to their music is uplifting.’
‘BFCS is a workout for my lungs, an education and confidence builder, and my little contribution to to the life of Bradford, my adopted home.’
‘What would I do on a Wednesday night if I couldn’t sing with BFCS? I have learned such a lot and my voice and technique have got better and better. Great fun and challenging!’
‘Ultimate stress buster – impossible to think about anything else during a rehearsal, it blows the cares of the day away. It’s therapeutic singing with other people – we’re programmed to do this but usually don’t nowadays. Time just for me doing something I love – not work, not family’
‘I love being in the choir as it gives me the ability to have a sense of fulfilment, to enjoy beautiful music and be proud of being a part of a professional and up and coming choir. I love the challenge and sense of success when the audience has obviously enjoyed our performance – PLUS it’s very good for your health and mental agility!!’
