The Occasional Singers

About Us

The Occasional Singers are an enthusiastic choir based in Dorchester, Dorset. We draw on a membership of approximately 60 to sing on 4 or 5 occasions a year. There are usually 3 or 4 rehearsals in the weeks leading up to a performance which are mainly held in St. Marys Church, Dorchester. The Occasional Singers are directed jointly by Rick Birley and Richard Hall and new works and original arrangements from the directors are often performed


	Rick Birley		Richard Hall

The Occasional Singers have a commitment to singing new music primarily because the choir was formed with the express purpose of trying out new music by Rick Birley. Over the years therefore the choir has built up a reputation for tackling new works. In addition to Rick's music it has performed compositions by other Dorset composers: Aidan Fisher, Will Hutchinson, Paddy Milner, Lemon Otter, Paul Coles, and others.

Rick's music falls into various categories: small pieces, mostly unaccompanied (folksong arrangements, Carols etc); large-scale works for the choir on its own (Motets, The Birds’ Mass etc); and full-sized compositions such as Songs of Time and Fern Hill. These works always pose a challenge, but it is the singing of new music that has always attracted new singers to the choir.

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