Alan Bullard
Colchester Choral Society has an established relationship with local composer Alan Bullard and has commissioned several pieces from him over the years, including Dance of the Universe (1979), Canticle of Freedom (2000) and most recently Images of Peace which the choir premiered and recorded in 2018.
Alan was born in London, and moved to Essex in 1975 to take up a teaching post at what is now the Colchester Institute. Since 2005 Alan has worked full-time as a composer. His choral music has been performed by, among others, The Sixteen, the BBC Northern Singers and the choirs of King’s College Cambridge and Bath Abbey.
You can read more about Alan and his compositions on his website or follow his Facebook page.
Peter Holman MBE
Peter has regularly provided continuo on the harpsichord and chamber organ, and guidance on performance practice for Colchester Choral Society's performances of baroque music.Another local resident, Peter is a renowned performer, conductor and musicologist, best known as one of the pioneers of 'authentic performance practice'. In 1979 he co-founded the Parley of Instruments to explore the repertory of Renaissance and Baroque string consort music.
Peter has written extensively on the early history of the violin family, European instrumental ensemble music of the Renaissance and Baroque and on English 17th and 18th century music. He has published several editions of early music and is in demand both as a performer and a teacher.
As part of his busy schedule, Peter is the Artistic Director of the annual Suffolk Villages Festival.
Local events, organisations and venues
- Charter Hall, Colchester
- Colchester Arts Centre
- Colchester Chamber Choir
- Colchester Institute - FE courses; HE courses
- Colchester Symphony Orchestra
- Colchester Waits
- Essex Music Education Hub (Colchester)
- Lion Walk Church - Wednesday lunchtime concerts
- Moot Hall organ - about and recitals
- Roman River Music/ Wild Arts
- St Botolph's Music Society
- Stour Valley Arts & Music
- University of Essex Choir
Social media
