The Leith Hill Music Festival (LHMF) is one of England's leading choral events established in 1905 by Margaret Vaughan Williams, sister of Ralph, and her friend Lady Evangeline Farrer. Its aim now as then is to promote and facilitate choral singing in the villages and towns of Surrey. Choirs, to this day, have to be unauditioned and open to all. Music-making for the amateur was very much a passion for Ralph Vaughan Williams, and he was the first conductor of the Festival, retiring in 1953. The Festival is held annually in the Dorking Halls, which were built to accommodate the Festival, opening its doors for the first time in 1931.
LHMF Competitions
Oxshott Choral Society was one of the first choirs to become part of the Festival, and the Competition Day is the focus of Oxshott's choral season. The main Festival takes place over two days in the middle of April, at Dorking Halls. There are currently two 'divisions' - historical and not indicative of talent! Each division performs on one day during which member choirs compete in the morning performing a 20 minute recital of pieces of their own choosing. At lunchtime (and a celebration or commiseration iin a local restaurant), choirs put aside friendly rivalry to rehearse together with the Festival Conductor in the afternoon ready for the evening's concert.
LHMF Concerts at Dorking Halls
There are two annual concerts in which we have the opportunity to get together as a large choir with professional musicians including singers, orchestras and jazz groups, to enjoy works that we may not be able to perform as a single choir.
In March, there is a performance of a major choral work such as Bach’s St John Passion, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah and Verdi’s Requiem. There are specific rehearsals for these performances and many independent singers (i.e. those who do not sing regularly with an LHMF choir) are invited to take part.
Music for the concert given by each division in the main Festival in April is chosen by the LHMF Music Committee and rehearsed in individual choirs. The Festival conductor, currently Neil Ferris, rehearses the choirs at three 2-hour 'combined' rehearsals early in the year (so we're all singing from the same hymn sheet). In 2025 this concert was Elgar's vast Dream of Gerontius. In 2026 the music selected is Cecilia McDowall's Da Vinci Requiem and RVW's Five Mystical Songs.
October - Come and Sing, open to all
The first event in the Leith Hill calendar held in the middle of October and led by the Festival conductor. In 2025 this will be 'Highlights from Bach's St John's Passion'.
