About Us

Burnham Music Group

The Burnham Music Group consists of a number of amateur singers, some trained and very experienced, others less experienced, but all excited by choral music. The Group has existed since 1977, always aiming to explore and perform a wide range of choral music. It prides itself on the breadth of its repertoire and often chooses to sing pieces that are less familiar to its potential audience and especially choral music of the present and although much of what the choir produces is challenging, we hope that it proves satisfying to choir and audience alike.

To augment its performances, Burnham Music Group often engages professional soloists, and where an accompanist is needed, be it just organ or an orchestral group, these too are established and high calibre professionals. Naturally, the cost of putting on these high-profile concerts is considerable and, because of this, we can afford them less frequently than we would like.

Burnham Music Group aims to perform in public twice a year, spending several months learning and preparing pieces for concerts in June and December. We have a faithful body of Friends of Burnham Music Group to which anyone can belong. We are also happy (for a modest fee!) to sing at weddings and other celebrations and even funerals where we can.

Although we expect high standards of ourselves in responding to the music we perform, we do not hold auditions, and anyone who is willing to commit themselves to the music week by week is most welcome to join us on Tuesday evenings at St. Mary’s School in Marsh Road, Burnham-on-Crouch at 7.45 p.m. If you would like to know more, please telephone Pat Potten on 01621-783444.

In addition to the two major concerts, the Group normally holds an annual Garden Party at which visiting musicians perform.

The Burnham Music Group has twice been winner of a Performing Right Society Award for innovative programming.

The Burnham Music Group is a member of Making Music (Formerly the National Federation of Music Societies), Eastern Region.

If you are interested in joining the group please click here.

If you are interested in becoming a friend of the group please click here.

If you would like to consider sponsorship please click here.

OUR CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR :-
Terry Saunders: Terry Saunders studied at Bristol University and with John Carol Case (voice) and Pamela Speed-Andrews (piano). He has pursued a varied musical career over the last 30 years, as an opera & oratorio singer, music theatre & cabaret performer, organist & choirmaster, composer and conductor. As well as many roles in Mozart operas, he has sung Escamillo (Carmen), Dulcamara (L'Elisir d'Amore), Kecal (The Bartered Bride), Uberto (La Serva Padrona) and the title role in Don Pasquale. Terry has appeared as an oratorio soloist in more than 100 concerts - including 16 performances of Stainer's Crucifixion - and he has had the privilege of working with Sir David Willcocks on several occasions. In music theatre, Terry's favourite role is Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady. He has performed this role in three productions, one of which - at Richmond Theatre - won him an Arts Council award. He has conducted several musicals, including South Pacific at Epsom Playhouse and Sweet Charity at The Secombe Theatre, Sutton. Terry regularly acts as an accompanist to other singers, and is a senior house pianist at the Ardingly International Music School . Terry was Director of Music at St John’s , Stoneleigh, from 2000 to 2006, for whom he composed liturgical settings and several hymns. Terry also appeared for nine years as one of the 'boys with the obedient feet' in the cabaret group Vamp 'til Ready; now he performs his own one-man shows, including "An Evening with Noel Coward" and "I Get A Kick Out Of Cole". King Arthur was his first concert as musical director of the Burnham Music Group.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of

Burnham Town Council

Maldon District Council

Essex County Libraries