Chanctonbury Chorus is a choir of enthusiastic singers who enjoy rehearsing together each week, and performing major concerts two to three times a year.
Since the Chorus performed for the first time in 1982 it has built a reputation as a choir with high standards, not afraid to tackle complex music, but equally welcoming to experienced singers and those new to choral singing. From the start of 2026 our Musical Director is Liz Kirkland, our former associate conductor. Liz is lively and fun but coaxes the same high standards from us that has always been our aim.
Each concert has a retiring collection in aid of a charity nominated by a member of the choir. Our last concert raised £500 for Parkinsons UK.
Rehearsals take place from 7.00 to 9.00 pm every Wednesday evening (during term time) at either St Andrew’s Church in Steyning or The Towers campus of Steyning Grammar School, Upper Beeding.
Genesis
It was during a chance encounter in 1981 that two parents suggested to a young Steyning Grammar School music teacher that she should start an adult choir in the town. On 15th January 1982 Chanctonbury Chorus gave its first concert: a performance of Schubert’s Mass in G at St Andrew’s Church, Steyning, which is our home and main performance space.
Since 1982 the choir has staged 86 major concerts, performed at events from carol concerts to the Steyning Festival, and sung more than 200 different works, including masses by Beethoven, Dvořák, Gounod, Mozart, Schubert and Vaughan Williams, requiems by Brahms, Fauré, Mozart, Rutter and Verdi, oratorios by Bach, Haydn and Handel as well as two Bach Passions.
In the past 40 years and more, hundreds of singers have been part of the Chorus and thousands have been in the audience. Siobhan Denning, our first musical director, retired in December 2025. Our associate director, Liz Kirkland, is now our second musical director. She leads us with great energy and draws out the very best from us. Join us! Or, if you are not able to join us, come and hear us!
Chanctonbury Chorus is registered as a charity in England and Wales, charity number 287739.
Our registered address (for correspondence only) is 31 St. Lawrence Avenue, Worthing, BN14 7JG.