1975-1989: Ian Hare
Lancaster Singers was founded in 1975 when a few like minded individuals gathered together periodically in one of their homes to sing for personal enjoyment and amusement. From this the singers felt that they could perform occasionally at a church service or for a charitable group.
A group then began under the conductor, Noel McKee, of a dozen singers with rehearsals at St Paul’s Parish Hall in Scotforth. This group was named ‘The Lunesdale Linnets’ by the vicar at St Paul’s.
They further developed under the conductorship of Ian Hare, who was at that time a young lecturer in the music department at Lancaster University. He and the singers had similar interests and needs and so was born The Lancaster Singers!
Their first performance was on 20th May 1976 to a ‘Missionary Group at Home’ at St. Christopher’s Church, Bare. The first Carol Concert was in December 1977. The following year, 1978, they performed Bach’s St. John Passion, the first major musical work for the group. This was closely followed by Bach's Mass in B Minor later in the same year. Both of these concerts were in collaberation with the Lancaster University Choral Society, of which Ian Hare was also conductor.
Initially small-scale works were performed to suit the size of the choir with the dominant theme reflecting Ian Hare’s interest in sacred music from the Tudor and Baroque periods, particularly the music of Bach.
The choir grew in size and made links with Lancaster University and St Martin’s College [now University of Cumbria] over the years the choir began to perform across the north west; Preston, Liverpool, Cartmel and Carlisle.
Ian Hare resigned his post with the Lancaster Singers when he left Lancaster in 1989, to become assistant organist at Carlisle Cathedral.
1989-2008: Denis McCaldin
The Director of the Haydn Society of Great Britain, Denis McCaldin is a conductor and a musicologist. Professor Emeritus of Performance Studies in Music at Lancaster University, he has worked with many major British orchestras including the Hallé, Royal Philharmonic, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. He also conducts abroad and has worked in Australia, Africa, Europe and North America. Through his association with the London Mozart Players, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, and other chamber orchestras, he has developed a special interest in this repertoire, commissioning new works and rediscovering forgotten ones. One if his CD recordings of Schubert & Haydn (featuring his edition of the Little Organ Mass) has received a Gramophone Critic’s Choice award.
