Cantores is a choir based in Lyminge, Kent of over 50 members with mixed singing ability - we do not hold auditions.  We have a long and varied history and over the years have built up a good reputation, combining high standards with a warm and friendly social life.  

We present three main concerts and one or two carol concerts each year.  We have a diverse range of choral repertoire and often engage professional soloists and musicians.  Spring and Autumn concerts are a blend of religious and secular music, demonstrating the choir's versatility with a summer prom offering a more light hearted programme.  Our Carol Concerts are held in local churches and we also sing at weddings by appointment.

Our Musical Director and Committee endeavour to plan programmes which help to promote musical variety, growth and development and which challenges but remains within the capabilities of the group.   We have a busy and varied diary with events planned a year in advance.

Adrian Bawtree, our Musical Director, has developed standards within the choir since joining us in 2011. He makes rehearsals fun whilst being challenging and brings out the best in the group, with his patience and determination for us to achieve excellence in performance.  Adrian's musical expertise is second to none and we have been delighted to peform his especially composed pieces.  

We make donations to our chosen charity which is different each year - see our Charities Gallery  for more information.  The Lyminge Prom is now an annual event and we have enjoyed this community venture.  Money raised from the proms in previous years was donated to the Village Hall maintenance fund.

On Trafalgar Day 2017, we performed Adrian Bawtree's composition of 'Make More Sail' in front of HMS Victory, Portsmouth Dockyard. Our collaboration with Four Villages and Portsmouth choirs gave us an unforgattable experience that we were all proud to be part of.  

In Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday 13 November 2016, we joined with Whitstable Oyster Singers, Portsmouth Festival Choir and Canterbury area musicians, for an evening service of remembrance which featured newly composed music 'Remembrance' by Adrian Bawtree.  The piece is deliberately unfinished as Adrian will continue to develop it to reflect the progress of the war, reaching a conclusion on 11 November 2018 to commemorate the Armistice and reconciliation.   Please click on events for more information.  

We have undertaken several tours both at home and in Europe.  In 2001 the choir hosted an exchange visit by Coro Vetta, a male voice choir from Ponte-in-Valtellina in the Italian Alps. The two choirs performed three concerts in Dover, Egerton and Wye. Cantores spent a week in Italy in 2002 and performed in four highly successful concerts.

New members are always welcome - rehearsals are intensive but friendly.