Commotio was formed in August 1999 to promote neglected contemporary choral repertoire. Performances have included the second UK performance of Alfred Schnittke’s mighty Requiem and other rarely heard works including Paul Hindemith’s Mass and Kenneth Leighton’s Mass for Double Choir, and the world premiere of Pierre Villette’s Inviolata. Commotio also promotes and performs the works of a younger generation of composers including, most recently, Grace-Evangeline Mason, Sarah Cattley, and Kerensa Briggs.
Their début CD of South African choral music was released in February 2006, followed by a CD for choir and cello in February 2008. A track from the latter disc, Richard Allain’s Ubi caritas, was chosen to feature on the Classic FM core playlist and appears in the compilation CD Smooth Classics – the Ultimate Collection. The choir recorded a disc of the music of James Whitbourn which was released on the Naxos label (8.572103) in February 2010 and reached no.2 in the Specialist Classical Chart. Their second Naxos CD, In the Heart of Things (8.572739), the choral works of Francis Pott, was released on the Naxos label in February 2012. In August 2013 Commotio featured as a gala choir at the Association of British Choral Directors’ Convention. In November 2013, the choir’s fifth CD The Rose in the Middle of Winter – Carols by Bob Chilcott was released and reached no.1 in the Specialist Classical Chart.
Commotio’s sixth recording, featuring jazz-inspired choral works by Bob Chilcott, was released in September 2017 and reached no.11 in the UK Jazz Charts. The choir gave the first UK performance of Rolande Falcinelli’s Messe de Sainte Dominique in June 2018 and in March 2019 they embarked on their seventh recording featuring Francis Pott’s Word and his new work for cello and double choir, At First Light (released July 2020). Commotio recorded works by the late Martin Read in Keble College Chapel in July 2023, including The Death of Colonel Boles, with the cellist Joseph Spooner and baritone Paul Sheehan with the CD launched on the Prima Facie label in January 2025.
Commotio celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2019, with a reunion concert of current and past choir members. Works included the 24-part In Nomine by Bo Holten, Pierre Villette’s Attende Domine, and the world premiere of Richard Allain’s Music, commissioned and written for the occasion. The 25th anniversary concert in September 2024 featured works by Alfred Schnittke, Knut Nystedt and Ernest Walker.
Membership is derived from students and professionals from around the local area. Turnover is low with only a handful of places available each year. Although not affiliated with The University of Oxford, we structure our performances around the university term, rehearsing weekly during term time and performing around 5 concerts per year.
Auditions are usually held once a year and the timing of this will be advertised on this website and also via social media. However, we are always interested in hearing from strong singers of all voice parts at any time of year so please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Their début CD of South African choral music was released in February 2006, followed by a CD for choir and cello in February 2008. A track from the latter disc, Richard Allain’s Ubi caritas, was chosen to feature on the Classic FM core playlist and appears in the compilation CD Smooth Classics – the Ultimate Collection. The choir recorded a disc of the music of James Whitbourn which was released on the Naxos label (8.572103) in February 2010 and reached no.2 in the Specialist Classical Chart. Their second Naxos CD, In the Heart of Things (8.572739), the choral works of Francis Pott, was released on the Naxos label in February 2012. In August 2013 Commotio featured as a gala choir at the Association of British Choral Directors’ Convention. In November 2013, the choir’s fifth CD The Rose in the Middle of Winter – Carols by Bob Chilcott was released and reached no.1 in the Specialist Classical Chart.
Commotio’s sixth recording, featuring jazz-inspired choral works by Bob Chilcott, was released in September 2017 and reached no.11 in the UK Jazz Charts. The choir gave the first UK performance of Rolande Falcinelli’s Messe de Sainte Dominique in June 2018 and in March 2019 they embarked on their seventh recording featuring Francis Pott’s Word and his new work for cello and double choir, At First Light (released July 2020). Commotio recorded works by the late Martin Read in Keble College Chapel in July 2023, including The Death of Colonel Boles, with the cellist Joseph Spooner and baritone Paul Sheehan with the CD launched on the Prima Facie label in January 2025.
Commotio celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2019, with a reunion concert of current and past choir members. Works included the 24-part In Nomine by Bo Holten, Pierre Villette’s Attende Domine, and the world premiere of Richard Allain’s Music, commissioned and written for the occasion. The 25th anniversary concert in September 2024 featured works by Alfred Schnittke, Knut Nystedt and Ernest Walker.
Membership is derived from students and professionals from around the local area. Turnover is low with only a handful of places available each year. Although not affiliated with The University of Oxford, we structure our performances around the university term, rehearsing weekly during term time and performing around 5 concerts per year.
Auditions are usually held once a year and the timing of this will be advertised on this website and also via social media. However, we are always interested in hearing from strong singers of all voice parts at any time of year so please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Charity Trustees: Matthew Berry, Kate Smith, Hugh Conway Morris
Committee Members:
Matthew Berry - Musical Director/Chairperson
Tim Robson - Assistant Director
Moray McConnachie - Secretary
Michael Hosking - Treasurer
Tim Ambrose - Librarian
Kate Smith - Social Media & Marketing, and Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding
Anne-Marie Boylan - Friends of Commotio
Hugh Conway Morris - Social Secretary
Gris Sherlaw-Johnson - Ordinary Member
Committee Members:
Matthew Berry - Musical Director/Chairperson
Tim Robson - Assistant Director
Moray McConnachie - Secretary
Michael Hosking - Treasurer
Tim Ambrose - Librarian
Kate Smith - Social Media & Marketing, and Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding
Anne-Marie Boylan - Friends of Commotio
Hugh Conway Morris - Social Secretary
Gris Sherlaw-Johnson - Ordinary Member
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