Choir

The Oriel Singers are a dynamic, ambitious, mixed voice  - and mixed age - classical choir of about 25 voices.

Based in Liverpool, England, we rehearse in Holy Trinity Church Wavertree on Tuesdays at 7pm.

Our programs usually alternate in being accompanied or unaccompanied, including some out of the ordinary programming as well as known favourites. 

The choir attracts singers from a wide variety of backgrounds, all of whom enjoy singing together. While as a chamber choir, the level of concentration within rehearsals is high, after concerts or the rehearsal there is usually a friendly group who continues to socialize in the pub and the choir has created many friendships over the years.

The Oriel Singers have a long standing history, having started as the Gerald Brown Singers in 1977 in Liverpool Parish Church (St Nick's). We were later renamed and have had a range of Musical Directors over the years, some of whom with outstanding careers and calling in Liverpool and beyond. 

Some more details about the illustrious history and promising future of this group will soon be added.

Musical Director

Our Musical Director, Rüdiger Ruwe, joined us in 2024.

Rüdiger Ruwe (bass) started his musical career as an ensemble singer in 2005 when he was invited to sing counter tenor in the student acappella group "Die Singer Vokalensemble" while studying Engineering in Aachen. Courses and masterclasses with Stephen Connolly and The King's Singers furthered his resolve to change careers to become a professional musician.

In 2023 he came to the UK as a Choral Scholar in Liverpool.

He conducts the Oriel Singers in Liverpool, The Acappella Singers in Yorkshire and is a founding member of the acappella group subito mf. Alongside that he has a thriving practice as music tutor.

From 2018 to 2023 he studied Schulmusik at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, specializing in Choral Conducting and Oratory Singing where he also co-founded the Vocoder Ensemble Hamburg. He has sung solos in Rachmaninov's St John Chrysostomos Liturgy with the SHMF choir in St Michaelis Hamburg, transmitted live on national radio. He's also sung Mozart and Bach in St Peter's, Rome and to have been asked with other members of his ensemble to provide the solos for the RLPC's performance of the Chichester Psalms.

As singer he was trained in the Rabine method by Rainer Thomsen and his most influential teacher is Michael Connaire.

Previous Musical Directors

The Oriel Singers have been blessed by engaging with a multitude of highly skilled MDs over the years. Such as (in the recent past): 

Lee Ward, now a freelance Organ Recitalist based in Yorkshire

Richard Lee, organist at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Liam Owens, current director of the Renaissance Singers

History

The Oriel Singers have a long standing history, having started as the Gerald Brown Singers in 1977 in Liverpool Parish Church (St Nick's). We were later renamed and have had a range of Musical Directors over the years, some of whom with outstanding careers and calling in Liverpool and beyond. 

Some more details about the illustrious history and promising future of this group will soon be added.