{{Short description|United Kingdom parliamentary choir}} {{Infobox choir |name=Parliament Choir |image=Parliament Choir Concert (4154546407).jpg |caption=The Parliament Choir performing at [[York Minster]] in 2009 |president=[[Lindsay Hoyle]] (since 2019)<br>[[John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith|John McFall]] (since 2021) |music director=[[Simon Over]] |choirmaster=[[Nicholas O'Neill (composer)|Nicholas O'Neill]] |rehearsal space=[[Chapel of St Mary Undercroft]] |founding={{start date|2000}} |alias=UK Parliament Choir<br>Choir of the UK Parliament |affiliation=[[Southbank Sinfonia]]<br>[[BT Group]] |founder=[[Simon Over]]|logo=Parliament Choir logo.png|website={{official website|https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/}}|leadership=[[Mike German]] (chair)<br>[[Hugh Merrill]] (vice-chair)<br>[[Bernard Jenkin]] (vice-chair)<br>[[Mary Macleod]] (vice-chair)<br>[[Judith Jolly, Baroness Jolly|Judith Jolly]] (treasurer)|headquarters=[[Palace of Westminster]]}} The '''Parliament Choir''', also known as the '''UK Parliament Choir''' and the '''Choir of the UK Parliament''', is the [[choir]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. Founded by [[Simon Over]] with the support of [[Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin]] in December 2000, it is made up of members of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and the [[House of Lords]] and staff who work at Parliament.
== Founding == The Parliament Choir, also known as the UK Parliament Choir<ref>{{Cite book |last=November |first=Nancy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXf1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT138 |title=Performing History: Approaches to History Across Musicology |date=25 August 2020 |publisher=Academic Studies Press |isbn=978-1-64469-446-6 |page=138 |language=en |access-date=8 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The UK Parliament Choir |url=https://twitter.com/parliamentchoir |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=X (formerly known as Twitter)}}</ref> and the Choir of the UK Parliament,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=about |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Parliament Choir}}</ref> was founded in December 2000 by composer [[Simon Over]] with the support of [[Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Dunnett |first=Roderic |date=3 December 2004 |title=Parliament Choir/Southbank Sinfonia, Westminster Cathedral, London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/parliament-choir-southbank-sinfonia-westminster-cathedral-london-22885.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |date=5 April 2012 |title=The Parliament Choir: cross-party harmony in the House |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/9186785/The-Parliament-Choir-cross-party-harmony-in-the-House.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> Over had run a [[choral society]] at [[Westminster Abbey]] whose members included serving parliamentarians in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and the [[House of Lords]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine |last=Mead |first=Rebecca |date=4 November 2019 |title=In Brexit Britain, the Parliament Choir is in purgatory |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/11/in-brexit-britain-the-parliament-choir-is-in-purgatory |access-date=9 June 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref> These parliamentarians were often unable to attend rehearsals because of voting commitments and the late hours of parliamentary business.<ref name=":3" /> Over discussed the issue with Filkin who proposed establishing a choir in Parliament to address the issue.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 January 2024 |title=The Full Works Concert |url=https://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/full-works-concert/21-january-2014/ |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Classic FM}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Sally |date=22 December 2021 |title=Harmony in the House: the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/harmony-in-the-house-the-parliament-choir |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=PoliticsHome: The House}}</ref> Over then set up a choir in the [[Palace of Westminster]], the Parliament Choir, which enabled parliamentarians to attend votes at short notice with the sounding of the [[division bell]] during rehearsals, returning to rehearse shortly after the vote had concluded.<ref name=":3" /> The choir performed for the first time in December 2000.<ref name=":4" />
== Organisation == [[File:Parliament Choir Concert (4155306942).jpg|thumb|[[Simon Over]] directing the Parliament Choir during a performance in 2009]] The Parliament Choir was initially organised as an [[all-party parliamentary group]] within Parliament.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Committee |first=Great Britain: Parliament: Merits of Statutory Instruments |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7fAkUxzIO0EC&pg=PA15 |title=5th Report of Session 2005-06 |date=7 June 2005 |publisher=The Stationery Office |isbn=978-0-10-485046-6 |page=15 |language=en |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref> As such, the choir could only rehearse when Parliament was in session.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Hurst |first=Greg |date=4 March 2005 |title=All parties in political harmony |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/all-parties-in-political-harmony-kp0p05v5f5w |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Sunday Times}}</ref> Since its early years, it has been sponsored by [[BT Group]], which gives it around £60,000 or £65,000 to maintain the choir every year.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Neil |date=15 November 2011 |title=Behind the scenes at the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/behind-the-scenes-at-the-parliament-choir-rsdnmgz3rgq |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ball |first=James |date=31 May 2013 |title=Patrick Mercer resignation puts spotlight on lobbying |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/31/patrick-mercer-resignation-spotlight-lobbying |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> The choir's internal relationship with Parliament was changed in 2017, after it had to cancel a concert when it was unexpectedly dissolved as part of the [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolution of Parliament]] for the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]].<ref name=":3" /> It is now an [[Autonomy|autonomous body]] of Parliament under the [[patronage]] of the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] ([[Lindsay Hoyle]] since 2019) and the [[Lord Speaker of the House of Lords]] ([[John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith]] since 2021) who serve as its co-presidents.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" />
The Parliament Choir is legally organised as a [[registered charity]] and a [[company limited by guarantee]].<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Parliament Choir: Harmony in Westminster |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/ |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=The Parliament Choir}}</ref> It is managed by a [[board of trustees]] which is led by a chair and also includes three vice-chairs and a treasurer.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=officers |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Parliament Choir}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=THE PARLIAMENT CHOIR: Charity number: 1085042 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3977137/trustees |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Charity Commission for England and Wales}}</ref> [[Mike German, Baron German]] is the chair of the choir. [[Hugh Merrill]], [[Bernard Jenkin]] and [[Mary Macleod]] are the vice-chairs. [[Judith Jolly, Baroness Jolly]] is the treasurer.<ref name=":7" /> Other trustees include [[Oliver Heald]], [[Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock]] and [[Michael Prisk]].<ref name=":8" /> The choir also has a music team which includes Simon Over as music director and [[Nicholas O'Neill (composer)|Nicholas O'Neill]] as choirmaster and composer in residence.<ref name=":7" /> [[Southbank Sinfonia]] serves as the choir's resident orchestra; the orchestra was also founded by Simon Over in 2002.<ref name=":6" />
== Membership == Since its founding, the choir has upheld a policy of keeping its membership open to anyone who has a [[UK Parliament|parliamentary pass]] or works in the Palace of Westminster; membership is open to all parliamentary staff including police and security personnel, caterers and transcribers for ''[[Hansard]]'', as well as to journalists with access to the [[press gallery]] and parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including senior [[Government of the United Kingdom|government ministers]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite news |date=13 July 2016 |title=Political Harmony: Inside the Parliament Choir |url=https://www.classical-music.com/articles/political-harmony-inside-parliament-choir |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Classical Music: BBC Music Magazine}}</ref> [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) have also invited their constituents to join the choir.<ref name=":1" /> [[Audition]]s are not required to join the choir; anyone who wishes to join may do so.<ref name=":2" /> However, there is a membership fee ranging from £60 to £120 depending on members' salaries.<ref name=":9" /> Membership is cross-party and its members have included [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] politicians.<ref name=":4" />
=== Lords === The following Lords or former Lords have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Parliamentarians |url=https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=parliamentarians |access-date=14 June 2024 |website=Parliament Choir}}</ref><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Alastair Bruce, 5th Baron Aberdare]] * [[Robin Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman]] * [[Mike German, Baron German]] * [[Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin]] * [[Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur]] * [[Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock]] * [[Judith Jolly, Baroness Jolly]] * [[David Lea, Baron Lea of Crondall]] * [[Genista McIntosh, Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall]] * [[Wilf Stevenson, Baron Stevenson of Balmacara]] * [[Martin Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gresford]] * [[William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire]] * [[Joan Walmsley, Baroness Walmsley]] * [[Patricia Hollis, Baroness Hollis of Heigham]] * [[Jean Corston, Baroness Corston]] * [[Paul Strasburger, Baron Strasburger]]
=== MPs === {{multiple image | perrow = 2 | total_width = 250 | image1 = Nick Clegg official portrait.jpg | image2 = Official portrait of Edward Miliband crop 2 retouch.jpg | image3 = Apvienotās Karalistes parlamenta Pārstāvju palātas priekšsēdētāja oficiālā vizīte Latvijā (39361465685) (cropped).jpg | image4 = Alun Michael official portrait.jpg | align = | direction = | caption1 = [[Nick Clegg]], [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] (2010–2015) | caption2 = [[Ed Miliband]], [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]] (2010–2015) | caption3 = [[John Bercow]], [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] (2009–2019) | caption4 = [[Alun Michael]], [[First Secretary of Wales]] (1999–2000) }} The following MPs or former MPs have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Alun Michael]] * [[David Lammy]] * [[Bernard Jenkin]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2025 |title=VE Day 2025: All the celebrations that marked the 80th anniversary |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ve-day-2025-what-are-the-four-day-celebrations-to-mark-80th-anniversary-13344461 |access-date=17 July 2025 |work=Sky News}}</ref> * [[Helen Jackson (politician)|Helen Jackson]] * [[Jeremy Lefroy]] * [[David Lidington]] * [[Mary Macleod]] * [[David Madel]] * [[Fiona Mactaggart]] * [[Mark Prisk]] * [[Caroline Spelman]] * [[Alan Beith]] * [[Robert Jackson (Wantage MP)|Robert Jackson]] * [[Sarah Teather]] * [[Ed Miliband]] * [[Nick Clegg]] * [[John Bercow]]
=== Others === The following notable individuals have also been members of the Parliament Choir but have never served as MPs or Lords.
* [[David Leakey]]<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=John |date=7 July 2017 |title=Sacred Music and St Stephen's: Listening to Ludford |url=https://www.virtualststephens.org.uk/blog/sacred-music-and-st-stephen%E2%80%99s-listening-ludford |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=St Stephen's Chapel, Westminster}}</ref> * [[Alan Moses]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 May 2015 |title=BBC Radio 3: Private Passions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wynls |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=BBC Radio 3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2024 |title=Programme Information |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/search?medium=radio-and-sounds&week=22&year=2015 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=BBC |at=Private Passions}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.parliamentchoir.org.uk/ Parliament Choir website]
[[Category:Parliament of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2000 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Choirs from London]]