The Creation
2024-10-19 19:00 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Halifax Minster, Causeway, Halifax, HX1 1QL
We are most grateful to Walker Singleton, Charnock Bates, Sellers International and Ramsdens Solicitors for their support of our Autumn Concert

The Creation
Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)
Conductor: James Savage-Hanford
Organ: Alan Horsey
With principals and soloists from the National Festival Orchestra
In February this year David Armitage expressed a wish to contribute towards the sponsorship of the Choir’s autumn concert through his company Sellers International Ltd and gave us a generous donation. Very sadly, David will not be able to see us perform The Creation as he died on 6 April, but we are so grateful to him for his generosity to the Choir over many years and dedicate this concert to his memory.
For our Autumn concert we are delighted to present the choral masterpiece that is Haydn’s Creation. Combining texts from Genesis, the Psalms and Milton’s Paradise Lost, it tells the story of that most audacious of subjects; creation itself.
The oratorio opens with an extended instrumental passage where Haydn conjures primordial disorder and nothingness in sound; truly memorable and arresting. The work plays out almost like a musical panorama – changing landscapes and scenes summoned one after the other. We meet a whole host of angels, as well as Adam and Eve, who in turn take delight in introducing all of creation, from dazzling light, billowing seas and uplifted land, to the whole animal kingdom. Listen out for the ‘musical jokes’ of the great whale, leaping tiger and sinuous worm.
The architecture of Haydn’s music is breath-taking, from the vast sweep of immense themes to tiny details that only emerge on closer inspection. It’s also a work that does unbounded joy and celebration better than almost any other; a spiritual masterpiece for a secular age.
Please see the Tickets page for details of how to book tickets…

Carol Concert 2024
2024-12-21 19:00 - 21:30 | Halifax Minster, Causeway, Halifax, HX1 1QL
We are most grateful to Ramsden’s Solicitors for their support of our Carol Concert.
This concert has also been generously supported by The Bearder Charity.

A Calderdale Christmas is not complete without the Overgate Hospice Choir Christmas Carol Concert. Set in the magnificent Minster, with flickering candles, twinkling lights and a forest of fragrant firs, it is a festive delight for all the senses.
A traditional Carol concert for all the family; special carols by the choir – a number of which involve audience participation – enhanced by exciting festive works from our famous guest band, Hammonds.
The choir are particularly looking forward to performing a wonderful arrangement, with brass band, of O Holy Night (the UK’s favourite Carol) by local musician Darius Battiwalla. Another highlight is the hauntingly beautiful O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen.
Hammonds Band, under the expert baton of their conductor, Morgan Griffiths, will be performing Christmas medleys and arrangements from their extensive repertoire including Midnight Sleighride, Meditation from Thais by Massenet and Frosty the Snowman.
This concert will sell out so get your tickets now.
Please see the Tickets page for details of how to book tickets…

Messiah
2025-03-22 19:00 - 21:30 | All Saints Church Elland, All Saints Church, Savile Road, Elland, HX5 0NH
We are most grateful to Symphony Financial Services, Elland, The Robin Hood Inn, Cragg Vale and individual choir members for their generous support of this concert.

Messiah
George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759)
Conductor: James Savage-Hanford
Organ: Alan Horsey
With principals of the National Festival Orchestra
Leader: Sally Robinson
Handel’s Messiah has become one of the most celebrated and performed works in the classical canon.
Messiah traces the story of Jesus Christ based on three concepts: the story of the nativity and it’s prophecy; that of the crucifixion and redemption of mankind; and a commentary on the Christian soul and its victory over death.
Handel uses his consummate skill as an opera composer to inject vivid colour and intense drama into his score. Arias of sublime beauty and triumphant courage sit alongside soaring choruses of stunning power, including the iconic ‘Hallelujah Chorus’.
Be part of a wonderful choral tradition and join us to experience some of Handel’s most heart-stopping music – dramatic, profoundly touching and spiritual.
Please see the Tickets page for details of how to book tickets…

Hope Springs in Song
2025-06-21 19:00 - 21:30 | All Saints Church Elland, All Saints Church, Savile Road, Elland, HX5 0NH
Hope Springs in Song
We held our first Hope Springs concert last year and it was so well received that we now have an eye to make it an annual event.
We are delighted to be joined once again by the Hospice Hi-Notes. The Hi-Notes choir is made up of staff, volunteers and supporters from Overgate Hospice and provides an opportunity, not only to enjoy the music, but to support each other through personal highs and lows as well as through the inevitable challenges of hospice work. They see themselves very much as a family! They enjoy a wide range of musical styles, some of which you will hear during the concert.
The different repertoires of the two choirs are contrasting but compliment each other very well. The music has been selected to be uplifting, positive and life-affirming which we hope you will find inspiring, energising and above all enjoyable.
Please see the Tickets page for details of how to book tickets…

A German Requiem
2025-10-18 19:00 - 21:30 | Halifax Minster, Causeway, Halifax, HX1 1QL
This concert has been generously supported by Walker Singleton, Charnock Bates and individual choir members

A German Requiem
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Conductor: James Savage-Hanford
Pianists: Alan Horsey & Robert Sudall
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Dr Simon Lindley who died on 25th February 2025 aged 76. Simon joined the choir as accompanist in 1994, and took over as conductor in 1997 until he retired in 2021. He is sadly missed by his many friends in the choir.
This substantial work is originally scored for a large orchestra, but Brahms also produced an arrangement for piano duet which we will be using for our performance. This will give it a more intimate feel which is very much in keeping with the nature of the work.
Brahms chose not to set the traditional liturgical texts in his Requiem, instead selecting various passages from the Bible with a general theme of comfort and consolation. There are certainly none of the references to wrath and judgment found in many other Requiems. In fact there is often more focus on the living than on the dead!
The result is a piece of sublime and beautiful choral music which is understated and positive.
Please see the Tickets page for details of how to book tickets…

Carol Concert 2025
2025-12-20 19:00 - 21:30 | Halifax Minster, Causeway, Halifax, HX1 1QL
We are most grateful to Simpson Wood and Sellers Textile Engineers for their sponsorship of our Carol concert.
This concert has also been generously supported by the Bearder Charity.

A Calderdale Christmas is not complete without the Overgate Hospice Choir Carol Concert.
Set in the magnificent Minster with flickering candles, twinkling lights and a forest of fragrant firs, it is a festive delight for all the senses. A traditional Carol concert for all the family; special carols by the choir – a number of which involve audience participation – enhanced by exciting festive works from our famous guest band, Hammonds, under the expert baton of their conductor, Morgan Griffiths. This year we are pleased to announce that there will be a guest appearance by the Anne Lister Dancers.
This concerts always sells out so make a note in your diary now and book your tickets early.

On With The Show!
2026-03-07 19:00 - 21:30 | All Saints Church Elland, All Saints Church, Savile Road, Elland, HX5 0NH
We are most grateful to Symphony Financial Advisers and The Robin Hood Inn, Cragg Vale for their support and sponsorship of this concert.

On With The Show!
An evening of music from light opera and musical theatre.
The choir will be performing, among other items, medleys from Les Misérables and The Lion King and dipping into the songbook of Steven Sondheim.
We are excited to be joined, for this concert, by our special guest, Adam Lacey, an acclaimed musical theatre actor and concert vocalist with over 20 years of professional experience.

Adam Lacey’s professional career includes appearances in major musical theatre works such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, South Pacific and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, alongside extensive work as a featured soloist in concerts with choirs, orchestras and live ensembles.

Feel The Spirit
2026-06-13 07:00 - 21:30 | St Paul’s Church, St Paul's Church, Queen's Road, Halifax, HX1 3NU
An evening of music centred on the American Deep South spiritual tradition. We will be joined by our special guests, the famous Hammonds Band under the expert baton of their conductor Morgan Griffiths.
Among other items, the choir will be performing ‘Feel the Spirit’, a cycle of seven familiar spirituals expertly arranged by Sir John Rutter.
The vivid and expressive arrangements bring new life to such well loved titles as Steal Away, I got a Robe and When the Saints go Marching In.
Make a note in your diary.
More details to follow…

Magical Mozart
2026-10-24 07:00 - 21:30 | Halifax Minster, Causeway, Halifax, HX1 1QL
An evening of music featuring the sublime works of W A Mozart, including the Requiem.
Make a note in your diary.
More details to follow…

Carol Concert 2026
2026-12-19 19:00 - 21:30 | Halifax Minster, Causeway, Halifax, HX1 1QL
Our much loved annual traditional Carol Concert featuring our special guests, the famous Hammonds Band.
Make a note in your diary.
More details to follow…
