Helston Chamber Choir is the present day successor to the Helston and Kerrier Music Society which was founded on 26th October 1971 by a small committee under the chairmanship of the Rev. John Simpson, then vicar of St Michael’s Church, Helston.

The society was formed to educate the public in the art and science of music by giving lectures and performances. One of the first recitals was given by Leon Goossens, the celebrated oboist, and over the years the society has given many outstanding concerts, both instrumental and choral, to large audiences, covering all the major classics of the orchestral and choral repertoires.

The choir values its connection with St Michael’s Church and the town of Helston; the town mayor is an honorary president and attends as many concerts as possible. In 2011 we celebrated our fortieth birthday and were glad to welcome founder Rev. Simpson to the concert in St Michael’s church.

The choir performs an eclectic range of works, including those of contemporary composers like Bob Chilcott, Ola Gjeilo, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Eric Whitacre, Henryk Górecki, James Macmillan and local composers, Russell Pascoe, Judith Bailey and Rico Gerberne. 

Our current Director of Music, Martin Palmer, has presented some ambitious and highly praised performances which have developed quite a following; the recent performances of Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem were both sold out. The choir’s home venue is the beautiful St Michael’s Church in the heart of Helston but their exciting collaboration with Penzance Choral in Spring 2026 for St Matthew Passion brings them to new audiences in St Mary’s, Penzance.

On 25th October 2016 we drank a toast to the choir at a Tuesday rehearsal one day before our 45th birthday.