York Musical Society (YMS) is a large and friendly choral society that rehearses in central York and performs popular and less-known works from the classical choral repertoire.

We perform three or four concerts a year, usually in the glorious venue of York Minster – memorable for performers and audience alike. We also give smaller, more informal concerts at Christmas.

The choir rehearses on Monday evenings at St Peter’s School (8-13), Bootham, York. We always welcome new members and Friends of YMS

YMS is twinned with a similar-sized choir in Germany, the Philharmonischer Chor Münster. It’s always a great pleasure to invite our friends from Münster to join us in a concert, or to travel to sing with them.

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Our musical director is David Pipe who, besides running YMS and working as a freelance organist, is increasingly in demand as a conductor, workshop leader, and adjudicator. Read his biography on our 'About Us' page.

We look forward to seeing you at our concerts, annual workshop and other events.    

OUR Next Concert:

Saturday 15 March 2025, 7.30pm
York Minster

Bach: B minor Mass
With the YMS Orchestra

A truly epic choral work that brings together magnificent choruses, resplendent fugues and moving arias

TICKETS AVAILABLE IN JANUARY - SAVE THE DATE

YMS Community Events

We believe in encouraging more people to enjoy singing. We organise an annual choral workshop to which all singers are welcome.

Our next workshop will be on Saturday 18 January 2025, 10am to 5pm
St Lawrence’s Church, Lawrence Street, York

Choral workshop – Rutter: The Sprig of Thyme

YMS welcomes singers to our ever popular workshop to learn Rutter’s The Sprig of Thyme, a sequence of traditional songs of the British Isles such as 'Willow Song' and 'The Miller of Dee' with lesser known gems as 'O Can Ye Sew Cushions' and 'The Sprig of Thyme'.

Singers of all ages and abilities are welcome.

Under 18s must be accompanied by their parent or guardian, who must remain present to act as chaperone at all times

There will be an informal concert for family and friends at 4pm. Tickets will be available on the door (£5)

Booking fee includes score hire -  £20 plus £1.79 Eventbrite fee (Students £5 plus eventbirite fees)

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

We also take part in the Festival of Ideas run by the University of York, usually by holding an open rehearsal.