The Singers
The St Giles Consort was founded in 2016. by Julian Parkin-Haig and Cathy Langdale (Director of Music at the Parish Church in Chalfont St Giles). The group is made up of experienced choral singers who either live in Buckinghamshire or have a strong connection to the county or to the village of Chalfont St Giles where they rehearse and often perform. For a typical concert, rehearsals take place during the day on the two Saturdays leading up to each concert. We would be interested to hear from local singers who would like to find out more about what we do. If you are interested in singing with us please complete the contact form.
The St Giles Consort was founded in 2016. by Julian Parkin-Haig and Cathy Langdale (Director of Music at the Parish Church in Chalfont St Giles). The group is made up of experienced choral singers who either live in Buckinghamshire or have a strong connection to the county or to the village of Chalfont St Giles where they rehearse and often perform. For a typical concert, rehearsals take place during the day on the two Saturdays leading up to each concert. We would be interested to hear from local singers who would like to find out more about what we do. If you are interested in singing with us please complete the contact form.
Recent performances
In December 2024 we began our collaboration with composer and conductor Dominic McGonigal with a Christmas concert under the title Noël, Noël!, a concert with a strong French flavour. In April 2025 we presented an 'Extended Compline' in Chalfont St Giles Parish Church, followed in June 2025 with an early evening concert to raise money for local charity The All Together Community and the Alzheimers Society. Our Christmas concert in December 2025, Gaudete Omnes!, being early in Advent featured music composed for the period of the liturgical year. In March 2026 we presented a programme of music under the title 'Out of the Deep', an hour of music and readings for Passion Sunday.
Dominic McGonigal - Director
Dominic read music at King’s College, Cambridge where he sang bass in King’s Chapel Choir. He then combined a career in the music business with performing and conducting, including appointments as musical director of W11 Opera, COMA Voices, Stoneleigh Choral Society, the Church of St Anselm & St Cecilia in Holborn, Opera Spezzata and EJMS Big Band. As a conductor, singer and instrumentalist (cello and tuba), he is regularly engaged to perform in London and Brussels. More recently he has found his voice as a prize-winning composer. In 2023, he was commissioned by the London Medical Orchestra to write a symphony. The Cathedral Symphony (inspired by cathedral architecture) was well received by audience and players at its première by the orchestra on 7 July 2024. Other recent projects include Chazal, written for Vittoria Ecclesia to explore the unique sounds of the early clarinet (première, Tallinn, April 2024) and Dialogues with Ancestors, a major song cycle for indigenous South American tenor Rafael Montero (première, Cologne, October 2024).
www.dominicmcgonigal.com
www.dominicmcgonigal.com
Julian Parkin-Haig, Founding Director
Julian began his music career as a chorister in Melbourne and a choral scholar at Trinity College, Melbourne University. After spending a year as choral scholar at Winchester Cathedral, he became a vicar choral at Wells Cathedral. Returning to Australia, he sang with the choirs of St James’s, King Street, Sydney and Cantillation before forming and directing the parish choir of St Bartholomew’s in Melbourne. Resident in England since 2006, he has sung regularly with the choirs of Norwich and Guildford Cathedrals, and New College and Magdalen College Chapel Choirs in Oxford.. He currently lives in Hanover where he teaches in an international school. He directs the Alleyn Singers and Praeclari Cantores who regularly sing services in cathedrals around the country.
Julian began his music career as a chorister in Melbourne and a choral scholar at Trinity College, Melbourne University. After spending a year as choral scholar at Winchester Cathedral, he became a vicar choral at Wells Cathedral. Returning to Australia, he sang with the choirs of St James’s, King Street, Sydney and Cantillation before forming and directing the parish choir of St Bartholomew’s in Melbourne. Resident in England since 2006, he has sung regularly with the choirs of Norwich and Guildford Cathedrals, and New College and Magdalen College Chapel Choirs in Oxford.. He currently lives in Hanover where he teaches in an international school. He directs the Alleyn Singers and Praeclari Cantores who regularly sing services in cathedrals around the country.