Top praise for choir

February 21 2025: CMVC has won high praise from one of the leading figures of British choral music.

Ben Parry: "They sound awesome"

Ben Parry is a distinguished musician, composer, conductor and singer.  He directs London Voices, an acclaimed professional choir, and was previously artistic director of the National Youth Choir.

Ben recently saw a video of the choir singing Angels at our concert in Old Coulsdon on February 1. “Everyone is giving 100%,” he said.  “They sound awesome.”

Ben made these remarks to his daughter Freya, who sang soprano in the solo spot at the concert, after she showed him the video.   “He absolutely loved it,”  Freya added.

Ben was also delighted to hear the story of how a video of the choir singing Angels during a Friday Beer & Ditties session at the Westow House in Crystal Palace went viral, scoring over one million hits and being liked by none other than its composer, Robbie Williams.  “He thought that was hilarious,” Freya said.

During his long and varied career, Ben Parry was  a singer and arranger with The Swingle Singers, touring with the group and working with musicians such as Pierre Boulez and Stephane Grapelli.  He has been director of choral music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and assistant director of music at King’s College, Cambridge. He was director of the National Youth Choir from 2012 to 2023.

Freya hopes that her father will be able to attend a CMVC concert soon.  “I know he would like to do so.” 

The choir is currently celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with several major concerts and a tour to South Wales ahead.