History of the choir
Following the success of a singing workshop and performances led by Janet Russell during the 2014 Spring Peace Festival in Leek, Janet kindly agreed to act as Musical Director for the first 6 months to help launch the Peace Through Folk Choir. Thanks to her inspired leadership the choir got off to such a good start and its numbers are now around 25 enthusiastic singers.
Lester Simpson took over as Musical Director from Janet in November 2014, now ably assisted by Penny Barfield on the weekday evening sessions. Janet Russell remains as a guest director.
From 2014 to 2018 the Peace Through Folk choir took part in a series of Folk Gatherings culminating with the final event which was our way of commemorating the centenary of the end of World War One.
As the Peace Through Folk choir, we have performed at several Folk Festivals and many local events. We have also supported other folk acts such as the Young 'Uns, Coope, Boyes and Simpson, Pete Morton and Reg Meuross.
As the final Folk Gathering marked the end of the project relating to the centenary of the First World War, the choir split away from the Peace Through Folk organisation to become autonomous. The new name of the Leek Peace Choir was chosen.
More about the history of Peace Through Folk and the choir can be found at the archive webpages.