London Docklands Singers
About LDS

ABOUT LDS

In late 1992, Andrew Campling founded the London Docklands Singers with a small group of friends and colleagues who enjoyed making music together. The choir soon grew and the first performance in April 1993 saw about 30 singers on the stage. Today, the choir numbers some 50 singers, aged from 20 to 70+ from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions, living and working all over London and beyond.

Live classical music of a high artistic standard at affordable prices

The aim of the London Docklands Singers is to provide live classical music of a high artistic standard at affordable prices. The inclusive joining policy of the choir welcomes experienced choristers and sight-singers as well as those with more limited skills and experience. Weekly rehearsals as well as the high level of commitment, enthusiasm, mutual support and a friendly atmosphere help all singers attain the musical standard required to perform in concert. LDS gives three formal concerts each year, often accompanied by the Marcel Sinfonia.

The choir performs mainly in churches in London’s Docklands and East London as well as in St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden and – every few years – at Southwark Cathedral. When possible, concerts help raise money for a variety of charitable causes. The choir’s annual Christmas events are generally in aid of the homeless charity CRISIS and have raised more than £17,000 since the year 2000.

Supporting our community

The choir’s highlights to date have been its concerts at Southwark Cathedral, staged in aid of The Lin Berwick Trust, particularly a concert of Verdi’s Requiem in 2007, which raised £12,680 for the charity, and Mozart’s Requiem in 2010, which raised almost £11,000 for the trust. Premières constitute further highlights, such as the choir’s performance of Andrew Campling’s oratorio Dona nobis pacem in November 2011 at St. Paul’s, Covent Garden. The concert, a sell-out, raised almost £2,300 for Help for Heroes.

Andrew Campling : Musical Director Andrew is a graduate of Keble College, Oxford and directs the Marcel Sinfonia, the London Docklands Singers and the Thames Chamber Choir; he is also chorus master of the Choir of the London School of Economics. Five CDs of his music have been released and his works have been performed in venues including St. Paul's Cathedral, the Purcell Room and the Royal Albert Hall andrewcampling.com

© London Docklands Singers 2022