Weave a Garland - Early 20th Century English partsongs
Sat, 4 Jul 2026
Moeran's Songs of Springtime celebrate the return of good weather and look forward to summer in a fresh and original language based heavily upon the inflections of native folk music.
The Five Mystical Songs by Vaughan Williams are settings of texts by the priest and poet George Herbert, spriritual in nature but nevertheless revelling in earthly imagery.
The Six Choral Folksongs , by Vaughan Williams' great friend and co-collector of native music, Gustav Holst, celebrate the joys of nature, good food and drink, and friendly company, perfect for the early days of summer..
The concert also included three Shakespeare songs by Gerald Finzi.
"I was absolutely blown away, and so were my friends! I do hope the MD was pleased...."
"It was a treat to be able to hear you all... I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish, and I was also particularly impressed by the soloist! Thank you all! 👏"
The Five Mystical Songs by Vaughan Williams are settings of texts by the priest and poet George Herbert, spriritual in nature but nevertheless revelling in earthly imagery.
The Six Choral Folksongs , by Vaughan Williams' great friend and co-collector of native music, Gustav Holst, celebrate the joys of nature, good food and drink, and friendly company, perfect for the early days of summer..
The concert also included three Shakespeare songs by Gerald Finzi.
"I was absolutely blown away, and so were my friends! I do hope the MD was pleased...."
"It was a treat to be able to hear you all... I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish, and I was also particularly impressed by the soloist! Thank you all! 👏"
Handel: Dixit Dominus & Zelenka: Miserere
Sat, 7 Mar 2026
In this fascinating and exciting concert, we sang Handel's Dixit Dominus, an explosive statement of intent by the 22-year-old composer then living and working in Italy, and a Miserere by his contemporary Jan Dismas Zelenka, one of the great rediscoveries of the past fifty years. We were joined once again by Sinfonia Smith Square following our successful Handel collaboration with them in 2025.
Quote from a young audience member: "That was way better than Apple Music”
Quote from a young audience member: "That was way better than Apple Music”
Christmas concert
Sat, 20 Dec 2025
A concert of Christmas music, readings and audience carols based around the theme of "A Spotless Rose". The concert was followed by a reception in the church hall where refreshments were served for concertgoers and choir members.
"An absolutely wonderful Christmas Concert
Thank you so much. Beautiful singing, and lovely readings..."
"An absolutely wonderful Christmas Concert
Thank you so much. Beautiful singing, and lovely readings..."
Mozart Requiem K.626 (and other works by Mozart and Haydn)
Sat, 25 Oct 2025
Haydn: Insanae et vanae curae
Mozart: God is our refuge, K.20
Piano Sonata in D major for four hands, K.381
Ave verum corpus, K.618
Requiem in D minor, K.626
This lovely programme included a short motet composed very early in Mozart's life (he was 9) and his very last composition on which he was still working as he lay dying. Haydn's text seemed particularly appropriate for our times though does go on to offer hope for the future: "Insane and vain concerns invade our minds, and often fill with fury the soul deprived of hope."
"I just wanted to say how much we all enjoyed your concert. It was truly wonderful. Thank you."
"Your concert last night was excellent. Well done to all, especially those valiant tenors!"
"Want to congratulate you all for a magnificent performance of Mozart Requiem on Saturday. Your ensemble and dynamics were excellent....It was quite delightful. You raised my spirits.
We are lucky and privileged to have such a choir in Guildford!"
Mozart: God is our refuge, K.20
Piano Sonata in D major for four hands, K.381
Ave verum corpus, K.618
Requiem in D minor, K.626
This lovely programme included a short motet composed very early in Mozart's life (he was 9) and his very last composition on which he was still working as he lay dying. Haydn's text seemed particularly appropriate for our times though does go on to offer hope for the future: "Insane and vain concerns invade our minds, and often fill with fury the soul deprived of hope."
"I just wanted to say how much we all enjoyed your concert. It was truly wonderful. Thank you."
"Your concert last night was excellent. Well done to all, especially those valiant tenors!"
"Want to congratulate you all for a magnificent performance of Mozart Requiem on Saturday. Your ensemble and dynamics were excellent....It was quite delightful. You raised my spirits.
We are lucky and privileged to have such a choir in Guildford!"
Come and Sing - Mozart Requiem
Sat, 2 Aug 2025
"The Silver Swan" - Madrigals and anthems by Orlando Gibbons and his contemporaries
Sun, 29 Jun 2025
Handel: Messiah
Sat, 8 Mar 2025
With our fine professional soloists and an orchestra drawn from the excellent Sinfonia Smith Square (formally known as The Southbank Sinfonia) this was memorable indeed.
"...the whole concert was great - the choir really are excellent. Can't believe they still had the energy for the final Amen - properly thrilling!"
“...congratulations!! That was an excellent concert! Wonderful singing and the musicians were amazing - talented youngsters - and the soloists were ace 👍 we really enjoyed it!”
“It was absolutely spectacular! So pleased we came. You were all extraordinary ❤🙏”
“It was a beautiful performance of an incredible piece of music - so lovely to be there.”
Open the file, below for a short excerpt taken from the Hallelujah Chorus.
Christmas Concert
Sat, 21 Dec 2024
Music and readings for Advent and Christmas, notably by Elizabeth Poston, Reginald Jacques, Malcolm Williamson, Richard Rodney Bennett, Benjamin Britten, William Mathias, Harold Darke and Rafaele Aleotti not to mention our very own conductor Nicholas O'Neill.
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Sat, 19 Oct 2024
"Many congratulations on the performance. It was really touching and a pleasure to be part of. I hope you feel all the hard work paid off - to my ears it did! It was a bonus to play for a conductor and performers who were so invested in the work, caring about it and sensitive to it, while also fully trusting of one another."
“Yesterday’s concert was absolutely lovely. I hadn't heard the work in that format and was surprised how much intensity and drama was created even with those smaller forces . Well done to Nick for masterminding such a good choice and such a well-paced performance and to all the Occam's for a performance to be proud of.”
“Yesterday’s concert was absolutely lovely. I hadn't heard the work in that format and was surprised how much intensity and drama was created even with those smaller forces . Well done to Nick for masterminding such a good choice and such a well-paced performance and to all the Occam's for a performance to be proud of.”
Dvořák: Mass in D
Sat, 22 Jun 2024
We performed Antonín Dvořák's Mass in D and other choral works by Anton Bruckner, Josef Rheinberger and Mel Bonis. While the music of the three male composers featured is representative of Central European late romanticism, and has remained known to varying degrees, that of the French composer, Mélanie Bonis, is only now being rediscovered.
Bruckner: Christus Factus Est
Locus Ist
Os Justi
Rheinberger: Abendlied
Bonis: Ave Verum
Tantum Ergo
Dvořák: Mass in D
Bruckner: Christus Factus Est
Locus Ist
Os Justi
Rheinberger: Abendlied
Bonis: Ave Verum
Tantum Ergo
Dvořák: Mass in D
Choral Classics from the British Isles
Sat, 9 Mar 2024
Parry - Blest Pair of Sirens
Smyth - Prelude on a Traditional Irish Air (Organ Solo)
Stanford - Three Motets
Finzi - Lo, The Full Final Sacrifice
Bridge - Adagio in E (Organ Solo)
Smyth - Prelude on a Traditional Irish Air (Organ Solo)
Stanford - Three Motets
Finzi - Lo, The Full Final Sacrifice
Bridge - Adagio in E (Organ Solo)
Music and Readings for Advent and Christmas
Sat, 16 Dec 2023
A festive sequence of seasonal music and readings. There were carols to sing with us, choral pieces old and new, anniversaries celebrated, new voices heard, moments of reflection and celebration, and more than enough cheer to see us through the last days before Christmas arrived.
Motets and Organ Works by JS Bach
Sat, 21 Oct 2023
In this challenging programme, we performed three of the six motets now generally accepted to be by JS Bach while our conductor, Nicholas O'Neill, played two of the composer's best-known organ pieces. For the listener, this is music that wears its technical difficulties lightly and set feet tapping and spirits soaring.
Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle
Sat, 8 Jul 2023
A Gathering of Friends: music by Brahms, Schubert and Elgar
Sat, 4 Mar 2023
A concert of intimate, even cosy, music making with a small group of singers and two pianists and music by Brahms, Schubert and Elgar.
Christmas Concert 2022
Sat, 10 Dec 2022
Mozart & Haydn
Sat, 22 Oct 2022
Mozart Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339
Haydn Mass No. 12 in B flat : 'Theresienmesse'
40th Anniversary Concert, A Summer Miscellany
Sat, 2 Jul 2022
A selection of part songs to celebrate of 40 years of The Occam Singers.
Songs of Hope
Sat, 26 Feb 2022
Our lovely Songs Of Hope programme included the Faure Requiem, with Herbert Howell’s “Behold O God Our Defender” and John Ireland’s “Greater Love Hath No Man"
