Conducted by Mark Forkgen, the choir regularly appears with leading British orchestras at all the major London concert venues and is notable for its diverse repertoire and the conviction and expressiveness of its performances.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010 the choir gave two performances of Britten's War Requiem. Major works in recent seasons include Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Mozart's Requiem and Mendelssohn's Elijah. Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony was the main work in a concert given in June, in aid of maritime charities and to commemorate those who died at sea during the First World War.

In 2014 the choir sang Haydn's oratorio The Seasons in the Basilica at Assisi. A London performance of Verdi's Requiem with the Augsburg Basilica Choir in 2011 was followed by a joint concert at the Augsburg Peace Festival. The choir has also toured to France, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Performances of Baroque music include Handel's Messiah and Bach's St Matthew Passion. On a smaller scale, the choir has sung Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 and Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. Operas in concert performance have ranged from Gluck's Orfeo to Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. LCC recently performed Will Todd's Mass in Blue as part of a jazz concert.

MARK FORKGEN

Mark Forkgen has been Music Director of London Concert Choir since 1996. He is also Music Director of Canticum chamber choir, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of Kokoro (the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's New Music Group) and Director of Music at Tonbridge School. He has conducted major UK orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, English Chamber Orchestra, English Northern Philharmonia and Manchester Camerata, appearing at major concert halls, including the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall. Outside the UK he has conducted in Denmark, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Eire, the Czech Republic, Italy, Bulgaria and Hong Kong.

A specialist in the field of choral and contemporary music, Mark Forkgen has premiered more than 100 works, including theatre works and contemporary operas. His wide range of conducting also includes performances of rock music classics. Mark has been Conductor and Artistic Advisor for a number of highly acclaimed festivals.

Recent highlights include a programme based on the theme of ‘Light', a series inspired by Shakespeare, and Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony. Mark also enjoys an active life as a pianist focusing on 20th Century and contemporary music, including Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio and works by Stravinsky, Bartok and Debussy.

On 8th July 2016 at 19:15, the Choir is to deliver a concert in the Collegium Maius courtyard, performing blues and jazz songs with the accompaniment of Mark Forgen (piano).