The Parliament Choir
The Parliament Choir
Twenty Years of Political Harmony
2021 | ISBN: 978-1-914002-14-4 | 200pp colour hardback
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This book offers a celebration of the life and history of the Parliament Choir. Written by the Choir’s members and friends, it benefits from the Choir’s ethos of inclusivity and collaboration. Historical accounts, personal reminiscences and special memories come together to tell the story of the first 20 years of the Parliament Choir.
Anyone at Westminster, from Peers to kitchen porters, can join; but there’s nothing ragtag about the sound they produce: joyful and disciplined, lifting every spirit.
Matthew Parris
This book is a celebration of the Parliament Choir and its success over the last 20 years. As Lord Speaker, I am the Co-President of the Parliament Choir – something I consider to be a great honour. The Choir has always been an exceptional body, but it was not until 2019 that it was established as a unique entity under the direct patronage of the two Speakers. It remains the only group in Parliament to be granted this status, something which says a great deal about how much the Choir is valued.
Lord Fowler, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords until 2021
Who would have known, when the Parliament Choir started late in 2000, that, over the next 20 years, it would go on to become renowned for its singing, with concerts in exciting and historic venues featuring world-famous soloists; to be involved in diplomacy; to be generous in supporting young musicians; to gain unique status as a Special Entity within Parliament, under the direct patronage of the Speaker and the Lord Speaker; and to contribute so much to the harmony of political life, with politicians from all parties coming together to make music on an equal footing?
This book, specially commissioned to mark the 20th anniversary of the Choir but a year late because of lockdown, not only tells the story of that journey but reaffirms the Choir’s commitment to its mission of making beautiful music while supporting young musicians and representing Parliament as the country and the world emerge from the difficult times that we have all endured in the past 20 months. It tells the story of how the vision of one musician, conductor Simon Over, and a handful of musical Peers led to the creation of a unique Choir, and it introduces not just those characters but the many singers who love being part of it, with many illuminating photos from the different places where it has sung – not just in Britain but in other countries.
Martin Luther said, “As long as we live, there is never enough singing.” Parliament Choir members, who come from all parts of the Parliamentary estate, can only agree, as they look back on their first 20 years in this book, and look forward to the next 20 years. After all, while we may not always be in unison, we are certainly always in harmony, and long may that continue.