The Edinburgh Festival Chorus gives voice to the International Festival’s choral programme.

Each year, singers from across Scotland come together to perform cornerstone works of the classical repertoire with some of the world’s greatest soloists, conductors and orchestras.

For 60 years, The Edinburgh Festival Chorus has been the backbone of the International Festival’s choral programme. Over that time, its singers have had the opportunity to perform alongside the likes of Leonard Bernstein and the London Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan’s Berlin Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Brought together by a shared love of singing, the Chorus is made up of over 160 volunteer members.

Edinburgh Festival Chorus scores are supported by Risk Charitable Fund.

A little history...

The Edinburgh Festival Chorus was founded in 1965, and made its debut with the Scottish National Orchestra for the Opening Concert, performing Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 8. Since then, it has been at the heart of the International Festival, performing annually with internationally renowned orchestras, soloists and conductors.

The Chorus has performed virtually all the great standard works of the 19th and 20th centuries, continuously broadening its repertoire under the Festival Director’s programming.

Interested in joining the Edinburgh Festival Chorus?

Edinburgh Festival Chorus is always keen to hear form singers who are interested in auditioning to join the Chorus.

Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings (7-9.30pm) and occasional weekends at the Hub in Edinburgh between October - June and throughout August. A small number of rehearsals take place in Glasgow for singers based in the West of Scotland, who take part in selected performances each August. There is no charge to be a member of the Chorus, there is a high level of commitment and members have the opportunity to work with the world’s finest orchestras and conductors. 

If you have choral experience, know how to read music and would like to audition to join the Chorus, then we want to hear from you. The next round of auditions will take place in October 2026. Auditions last approximately 10 minutes and are guided by Chorus Director, James Grossmith, where singers are asked to bring a short song or aria of their choice along with vocal exercises and aural tests to assess your vocal range and listening skills. 

Complete the online form to register your interest in auditioning to join the Chorus.

If you have any questions, please contact Kirsten Hunter, Chorus Manager [email protected] 

Chorus Director – James Grossmith

James Grossmith took up the position of Chorus Director in September 2023. James studied conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland after studying music as organ scholar of Clare College, Cambridge. From 2005 he worked as Chorus Master and staff conductor at Scottish Opera, Director of Choral Music at the RCS and Director of Chapel Music at the University of Glasgow. In 2014, James was appointed Principal Chorus Master of Kungliga Operan (Royal Swedish Opera), one of Europe’s foremost full-time professional opera choruses, collaborating with many of Europe’s leading conductors. Whilst in Stockholm, James conducted the music for the Nobel Prize Banquet in 2018 to a global TV audience of half a billion viewers, and was conductor for the Royal Swedish Opera's flagship opera commissions, known as ‘Short Stories’, which are televised annually in Sweden.

As a choral and orchestral conductor, James has worked, amongst others, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, The London Sinfonietta, The Paragon Ensemble, The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, The St Magnus Festival Chorus, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus and the Aberdeen Sinfonietta as well as the Hermitage Orchestra in St Petersburg, the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and the Royal Swedish Orchestra in Stockholm.

James returned to the UK in 2022 where he is now Chorus Director of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir, a role which he combines with his role in Edinburgh.