About Us

Just before the Lockdown crisis, and after over 40 years as Barclays House Choir, we were advised by Barclays PLC that they could no longer support the group financially as they were formerly disbanding the Barclays Arts Council, through which our funding had been secured. We are grateful to Barclays for enabling us to sing together for so long.  Undeterred, we are now re-named as The Quayside Choir and continue to offer a great musical and social activity for the people of Poole and the surrounding area.

Helen Brind, our musical director since 2014, remains at the helm. Rehearsals have moved to St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Wimborne Road, Poole, where we meet on Tuesday evenings from 7.30-9.30pm.  The choir is going through the process of applying for charitable status and aims to continue to stage its own concerts and to participate in other community events in the area. Repertoire, as always, will consist of a wide variety of music both sacred and secular. Watch this space for information of our events and activities!

Barclays House Choir was founded in 1976. The original choir was named the Barclays House Sports and Social Club Musical Society, and had ten founder members who all worked for the bank. In 1977 James Grocott was appointed musical director of Barclays House Choir, and would remain for some 35 years. Under his direction the choir’s membership grew, rising as high as 70. Membership was gradually extended to others outside of the bank who wanted to sing in a friendly & relaxed atmosphere, and the choir became a combined workplace & community choir, serving the Poole and Bournemouth areas.

The choir has performed many major choral works under James Grocott’s direction, including Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Brahms German Requiem, as well as more modern compositions such as John Rutter’s Magnificat and Requiem. The choir has performed with soloists Kate Royal, Gareth Malone and cellist Natalie Clein, all of whom are now in great international demand.

At the end of 2011 James Grocott retired as Musical Director, and was succeeded by James Eaton. His first concert with the choir marked the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by performing music from her coronation to great acclaim, in the presence of the Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset, one of the Queen’s personal representatives. Due to personal reasons James had to step down from the position in August 2014. In early September 2014, Helen Brind assumed responsibility for the choir as musical director. She conducted her first very successful concert in December 2015.

Today, the choir rehearses at United Reform Church Higher 1 Blandford Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 9HQ. The choir’s rehearsal accompanist is Ewa Irek.