We are delighted to have received positive feedback from so many music experts and enthusiasts. Here is a flavour of the comments we have received from collaborators and concert-goers.
What people say about us …
Bags of energy and vitality
Fine, well-blended singing, and bags of energy and vitality.
Christopher Hogwood | Founder of the Academy of Ancient Music
A bloody good performance
A bloody good performance. You did me proud. The choir were excellent, band excellent, conductor excellent. What more can I ask?
Howard Goodall | Composer, Invictus: A Passion (performed by Fairhaven Singers in September 2021)
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
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
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
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
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
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