In May 2011 the Lea Singers recorded “JubiLEA” to commemorate our 50th Anniversary season. The CD features a selection of choir favourites, including works by Bingham, Howells, Leighton, Monteverdi, Pearsall, Pickard, Sullivan, Taverner, Tippett and Whitacre.

Peter Hopkins, organist and Director of Music at St. Nicholas’ Church, Harpenden, reviewed “JubiLEA” as follows.

“The Lea Singers’ latest CD – ‘Jubilea’ – features almost exclusively English music (with the exception of the final item – the ‘Ave maris stella’ from the Monteverdi Vespers); and the English music represented ranges from sacred and secular favourites – Howells’ ‘Like as the hart’ and Sullivan’s ‘The long day closes’ – to works commissioned from contemporary composers (Judith Bingham’s 1997 work ‘Gleams of a remoter world’  and a setting of the Nunc Dimittis, written in 2010 by one of the choir’s own basses, John Pickard). The CD is expertly conducted by the choir’s musical director, James Sherlock and guest instrumentalists are 17-year old Edward Picton-Turbevill on the organ and award-winning  young cellist James Barralet playing the solo part in Sir John Tavener’s ‘Svyati’ for cello and choir. The vocal blend throughout is first-rate and the choral sound is refined. There are a number of vocal solos on offer in many of the pieces and all are performed with aplomb – I particularly enjoyed Chris Lemar’s bass solo in ‘Go down, Moses’. The CD has been issued to celebrate the Lea Singers’ fiftieth anniversary; and, on this evidence, the choir is good for at least another fifty years – and beyond! All-in-all a joy to listen to – also a few surprises in the choice of repertoire.”

Copies of ”JubiLEA” are available for sale at £10, from Karen Cardy at kempcardy@btinternet.com.