About Polymnia

We collaborate regularly with the professional Alina Orchestra, as we did with its predecessor the Milton Keynes City Orchestra, and we are the local choir of choice to work with visiting musicians such as Glyndebourne Opera (‘Behind the Curtain’ at Milton Keynes Theatre) and Tenors Unlimited (at The Stables).

(Photo: on stage with Glyndebourne at Milton Keynes Theatre)

Polymnia is a classically-trained chamber choir of about 20 voices based in Milton Keynes, presenting concerts with a core classical repertoire, from the Renaissance to the present.

Recent concerts have included works by William Byrd, Leonard Cohen, Aaron Copland, Edward Elgar, George Gershwin, Orlando Gibbons, Ola Gjeilo, Claudio Monteverdi, Laura Mvula, John Rutter, Heinrich Schutz, Carly Simon, Sting, Thomas Tallis, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Bill Withers.

(Photo: concert at Stony Stratford, 2022)

As well as performing in the Milton Keynes – Leighton Buzzard – Bedford – Luton area, we have also given concerts further afield: at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (four times between 2010 and 2023), as part of the Istria Music Festival in Croatia (2013), and as part of the Mantova Chamber Festival in Mantua, Italy (2016), We have also performed in the cathedrals of Granada (2014) and Prague (2018).

(Photo: after the concert at St Vitus Cathedral, Prague)

Named after the Greek muse of sacred song, Polymnia was formed in 2006 when a group of friends wished to expand their horizons and sing in a small choir to a very high standard.

John Byron, a local pianist and composer, was invited to become our first Musical Director. We have received training from the choral directors Michael Kibblewhite and Stephen Cleobury, then the Director of Music at King’s College Cambridge.

(Photo: with Stephen Cleobury, after singing in King’s College Chapel, 2014)

John Byron stepped down as Musical Director Polymnia at the end of 2019. The soprano and choral conductor Suzzie Vango was appointed to replace him – just as the country went into Covid lockdown, during which time she provided us with remote vocal training. In 2021 she stepped down for practical logistical reasons, and we were very pleased to appoint Jessica Norton as Polymnia's Musical Director.

(Photo: busking outside our Fringe venue in Edinburgh, 2023)

In 2016 we gave our first concert with Lesley Garrett as guest star, following which she agreed to be our patron. We gave a second concert with her in 2019.

(Photo: after the concert with Lesley Garrett, 2016)

Since Jessica became Musical Director, our concerts have included two in partnership with the professional Alina Orchestra, a sequence of three concerts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and one each at the towns of Asola and Sabbioneta in the neighbourhood of Mantua, Italy. We were honoured to be asked to sing at her wedding in April 2024 and were delighted to do so. We look forward to discovering where her leadership can take us.

(Photo: singing at Jessica’s wedding, 2024)