Over the past eleven years, The Bavarian English Singers have given concerts in a whole number of venues including baroque churches, castles and culture centres spread over a wide area in and around Munich and Salzburg including regular performances in Traunstein, the Bavarian town twinned with Haywards Heath.

Members of the vocal ensemble represent a variety of different nationalities – Austrian, British, German, Hungarian, Norwegian and Swedish – and come from diverse walks of life, e.g. the teaching and medical profession, travel and tourism, computer engineering … there is even a professional Salzburg geologist in the ensemble. All are experienced vocalists sharing similar musical and cultural interests and reside on either side of the border linking Bavaria with Austria.

On a tour of Kent and Sussex, the Bavarian English Singers will be giving a concert of sacred music at St Wilfrid’s Parish Church, Haywards Heath on Saturday 21 July at 7.30 pm with music by Palastrina, Bach, Hassler, Byrd, Batten, Amner, Attwood, Stanford and Statham. A cordial welcome is extended to everyone.

The ensemble is directed by Dr Thomas Ball, a native of Britain who has held several full-time appointments in Bavaria, culminating in the post of Organist and Choir Director of Tittmoning Collegiate Church. Since official retirement last year, he still finds time to accompany church services and conduct the Collegiate Church Choir in addition to giving recitals. Tittmoning is the former childhood parish of Pope Benedict XVI. Both Benedict (Joseph Ratzinger) and his elder brother Georg (formerly Master of the Choristers at Ratisbon Cathedral) attended school and church here. While Archbishop of Munich, Benedict frequently revisited his former parish to conduct services and was created a Freeman of Tittmoning in January 2007.