Main Choir

Cantamus, a choir consisting of 43 girls aged between 13 and 19 and based in Nottinghamshire, has achieved unprecedented acclaim from critics and adjudicators throughout its career. Formed in 1968 by Pamela Cook, who is still its director, Cantamus has been praised consistently for its amazingly mature style, impeccable technique and unfailing ability to captivate its audiences. The choir has won 21 first prizes in international choral competitions, including the Grand Prix award at the Riva del Garda Festival, Sainsbury's Choir of the Year (twice), Choir of the World at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and twice Olympic Champions at the World Choir Olympics (Bremen 2004 and Xiamen, China, 2006). It has represented Great Britain in several overseas choral festivals and at the World Symposium in Choral Music. Overseas tours have included China, Japan, Israel, the USA and Canada, and most countries in Eastern and Western Europe.

Cantamus is considered by many leading musicians to exemplify all that good choral singing should be; its private recordings have been studied at the Sofia and Warsaw Conservatoires and at choral courses held throughout Great Britain. Composer Howard Goodall stated: "Only very few musicians and performers at any given time manage to combine absolute world-class excellence of technique and style with the ability to express themselves from the bottom of their hearts. Cantamus, miraculously, are amongst this select few." Ventures into jazz, ethnic music and opera have also been widely acclaimed and the Performing Rights Society has awarded the choir prizes on four separate occasions for its enterprising programmes.

The choir has broadcast on television and radio both at home and abroad, and the Radio Times described it as "A choir that could stand comparison with anything in the world - a unique, sublime choral quality." The girls are in great demand for concerts all over the country and abroad and amongst others have sung with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of Ancient Music. After a performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Carl Davis wrote "Cantamus is one of the most gifted groups of singers I have had the experience to work with. Conducting Cantamus was one of the high points of my concert career."

A Japanese record company has included Cantamus (the only British choir) singing a capella English pieces in a set of 25 CDs and the choir's first commercial CD - on the Warner Classics label featuring the music of Sarah Class - was released in April. It was subsequently launched in Japan. The conductor of the 40-piece orchestra on the album, David Angus, told a reporter: "I was totally bowled over by the choir; they are professional with a capital 'P'; they are world class - I've never seen anything like it." The choir's second commercial CD "Cantamus" was released in 2006 to rave reviews and a single from that album, "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" was released for Christmas 2006.

The choir's Christmas 2006 concert from Southwell Minster was webcast over the Internet on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It included messages from the girls to relatives and loved ones who could not be at home over the Christmas period.

The unique quality of Cantamus is due largely to the fact that every girl has singing lessons with Pamela Cook or one of her assistants who were trained by her - Ann Irons, Elaine Guy and Joy Nicol.

Training Choir

The Training Choir was formed in 1992 with the purpose of preparing girls from the age of 10 for singing in the Main Choir. The number of girls varies between 30 and 35, as older girls move on to the Main Choir and new girls join. Here, the girls learn the Cantamus repertoire and are taught the very high standards which are expected of them when they appear on stage. The choir usually gives one main concert each year and always takes part in Christmas concerts with the Main Choir. Over the years, the choir has taken part in various choral events and competitions.

	1994
	Sang at Southwell Minster in a choir festival with Cantamus and choirs from Belgium and the Czech Republic.
	Excerpts from a concert also at Southwell Minster broadcast on BBC Radio Nottingham.
	1995
	Broadcast on Classic FM in the Crosse & Blackwell Master Class series.
	Selected from hundreds of choirs to take part in the National Festival Of Youth And Music at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Some of their items were subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 2.
	1997
	Sang in "The Life Of Queen Victoria" with Cantamus and guests at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield.
	Gave a "Summer Serenade" concert at the Nottingham Road Methodist Church, Mansfield.

	Won 3rd prize in the Children's Choir Class at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
	Sang with the Sydney Children's Choir and Cantamus at the Palace Theatre, Newark.
	Performed in Benjamin Britten's "Saint Nicolas" with the East of England Singers and the New Classical Players at St. Paul's Church, Daybrook, Nottingham.
	1998
	Sang in "An Evening with Cantamus - Choir of the World" with Cantamus and the Chesterfield Male Voice Choir at The Winding Wheel, Chesterfield.

	Awarded "Summa Cum Laude" (highest award) at the 46th European Youth Music Festival in Neerpelt, Belgium.
	Gave a concert with Cantamus at the Queen Elizabeth School, Mansfield.
	1999
	Performed in Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" with the East Of England Orchestra at the Mansfield Leisure Centre.
	Sang in "Eve Of Holland And Belgium" concert at St. Philip Neri church, Mansfield.

	Sang in the children's chorus in "The Sound Of Music" with Cantamus and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carl Davis at the Barbican, London and the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham.
	2000
	Sang with Cantamus in the "Mansfields World-Wide" concert at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield.
	Performed in "Carmina Burana" with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carl Davis at the Royal Albert Hall, London and the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham.
	Performed in Benjamin Britten's "Saint Nicolas" (second time) with the Mansfield Choral Society and the Mansfield Handel Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth School, Mansfield.
	2001

	Took part in the "National Festival Of Youth Choirs" at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.
	Sang in the "Three Choirs" concert with Cantamus and Amabile at St. Philip Neri church, Mansfield.
	2003

	Gave a concert with 4 Cantamus soloists at Edwinstowe parish church.

	Sang with Cantamus, Louise Collett (mezzo) and the Trelight Brass Quintet in "A Jubilee Celebration Of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation" at St. Philip Neri church, Mansfield.
	2004
	Performed in "Animal Antics", choreographed by Wendy Cook, at St. Mark's church, Mansfield.
	Sang in the "Going For A Song" sponsored fund-raising event at Queen Elizabeth School, Mansfield

	Sang with Cantamus and two visiting Australian choirs: the Young Voices of Melbourne and the Barker College Senior Choir at St. Philip Neri church, Mansfield.
	2005

	Sang with Cantamus and 14-year-old pianist Julian Clef in "Midsummer Music" at St. Philip Neri church, Mansfield.
	Performed in "The Circle Of Life" at St. Mark's church, Mansfield.
	2007

	Sang with Cantamus at Michael Neaum's farewell concert at St. Mark's church, Mansfield.
	Gave a concert at St. Mark's church, Mansfield.

Training Choir Auditions

Auditions for the Training Choir are held in January and June for girls (minimum age 10) who:

love to sing

would like to be part of a prestigious, dynamic organisation

want to develop their musical skills in a positive and caring environment

are prepared to commit themselves for training for possible entry into Cantamus at a later stage

The audition requires the applicant to:

sing a song, e.g. a hymn, carol or classical piece (copy of music required, accompanist provided)

sight-read a short piece of prose

do some simple aural tests

An adult needs to accompany the girl and will be given further details then.

Group singing lessons and choir rehearsals take place on Friday evenings during school term-time at Sherwood Hall School, Forest Town, near Mansfield.

Membership of Cantamus provides:

the joy of being surrounded by musically talented friends who strive for excellence

a firm foundation for a life-long love of music

preparation and guidance for University or Music College entry, if desired

Please e-mail Mrs Sheila Haslam sheilahaslam@ntlworld.com or phone 01623 627764 for an application form.

Main Choir

Training Choir

1994

1995

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2003

2004

2005

2007

Training Choir Auditions