The Sitwell Singers were originally formed in 1966 by a group of friends who gathered to sing on Sunday evenings in each other's homes. One of these was Stainsby Hall, then a poultry farm previously owned by Sitwell family hence the name.
Since then the choir has gone from strength to strength. There have been nine resident, and some guest, conductors. The choir has worshipped and performed in Cathedrals, Churches, Stately Homes and Village Halls in Derbyshire and further afield. Currently there are over 20 members with a few of the original members still singing with the group.
The repertoire is wide ranging from the Renaissance to the present day, and is performed either a cappella, with organ, or on occasions, with orchestra. In addition to a large number of smaller pieces the Singers' repertoire has included Copland's In the Beginning, Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli, Britten's St. Nicholas, the Duruflé Requiem and memorable performances of Rachmaninov's Vespers, Bach's dramatic St. John Passion and Hadyn's beautiful Stabat Mater.
The Sitwell Singers celebrated their fortieth anniversary in 2006 with events including a concert entitled Venice by candlelight in Derby Cathedral with the English Cornett and Sackbut Enemble and a highly successful short tour in Germany, whilst last season closed in a triumphal performance of Handel’s Messiah with baroque accompaniment, joined by vocal soloists from EXAUDI.
Malcolm Goldring has been the conductor of the Sitwell Singers since January 2008. He studied the oboe at the Royal College of Music before undertaking postgraduate studies at the Universities of Durham and Nottingham.
His career has been rich and varied: teaching and
lecturing in schools and colleges, Music Inspector for the Metropolitan Borough
of Solihull, Assistant Principal at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
in Cardiff. He has represented the UK at competitions in Germany, Catalonia, Slovenia
and Flanders as well as conducting the closing concerts at
two triennial Europa Cantat festivals in Austria and France.
In 1990 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship and travelled in the United States and Canada studying the development of youth and children’s choirs. On his return he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Since 1999, he has been Chief Executive of the British Federation of Young Choirs as well as conductor to the Midland Festival Chorus and an Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He continues to be in demand as a conductor, examiner and consultant both in the UK and abroad.
His work to support young people singing was rewarded in 2006 with an Honorary RSCM (Royal School of Church Music)