What people say about us ... - Fairhaven Singers

A fine chamber choir

I enjoyed working with this fine chamber choir: they sang Bach stylishly, displaying good tuning and blend, and had been very thoroughly prepared by Ralph Woodward. They were quick to respond to ideas and suggestions in relation to the music, vocal technique and enunciation of the text, and this made for a stimulating evening’s work.

Stephen Cleobury | Director of Music, Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

A joy to collaborate with the Fairhaven Singers

It was a joy to collaborate with the Fairhaven Singers and Ralph Woodward. As well as singing beautifully, they were wonderfully responsive to all my ideas, and gave everything to make the premiere of Sappho Sings memorable and thrilling.

Jonathan Dove | composer

Expressive feeling

The Fairhaven Singers were conspicuous for vivacity, unanimity of ensemble, sweetness and fulness of tone, flawless intonation, and, when the music called for it, expressive feeling. Long may they flourish!

Robin Holloway | composer and Professor of Music, University of Cambridge

Beautifully poised and tranquil final section

One of the leading chamber choirs in East Anglia, the Fairhaven Singers presented a carefully collated recital under their musical director, Ralph Woodward. ...The singers caught the mysteriousness of the antiphonal, quasi-plainsong opening and brought spirit to the driving central episode before calm was restored in the beautifully poised and tranquil final episode.

Musical Opinion Quarterly (January – March 2017) | Read full review

Committed to imaginative programming

I have known Ralph Woodward for nearly 30 years, and I’ve worked with the Fairhavens frequently since he took over the choir in 1997. They are a fine (and ever-improving) group of singers, committed to imaginative programming and passionate performances.

Will Todd | composer

A large and varied repertoire

The Fairhaven Singers is a very accomplished chamber choir, undertaking a busy schedule of concerts and encompassing a large and varied repertoire. I much enjoyed the rehearsal I took; they are able to respond to ideas immediately and sing with a rounded, warm tone. Their intonation is excellent and the training they enjoy on a regular basis is of the highest order.

David Hill

An impressive group of singers

It has been a complete pleasure to compose for and record with Ralph Woodward & the Fairhaven Singers. The choir is an impressive group of singers who all share a passion and enthusiasm which really comes across in the music, and they are lovely people too. Led by Ralph’s stellar musicianship they sang with a wonderful sense of performance. I very much look forward to hearing them premiere Formation in November. It has been a privilege to work with Ralph and the Fairhavens and I look forward to hearing them on the radio very soon!

Thomas Hewitt Jones | composer

Very exacting for choir and orchestra alike

What a wonderful evening I had in St John’s! In the first half I really enjoyed partnering with the Sinfonia and the Fairhavens; what a joy to see the voice ranges mingled! You could see the pleasure and hear the lively results. I was so happy to listen to “Ave verum Corpus”: its depth and grandeur in that place took my breath away, and brought all of us I think close to tears. But for me the greatest experience, which I will never forget, was to hear the MacMillan piece; extraordinarily courageous writing, very exacting for choir and orchestra alike, but I cannot imagine it better realised than it was that night.

Emma Kirkby

Flexible, responsive, versatile

The very model of what a good chamber choir should be – flexible, responsive, versatile in its repertoire and a pleasure to listen to.

John Rutter, CBE | composer and conductor

Beautifully presented… Fairhaven Singers left us gasping for more

The singers’ standards were of the highest... They have a strong muscular sound equally at home with powerful musical drama as with tender harmony.

The Cambridge Critique | Read full review