Welcome to BEC's homepage
The British Embassy Choir Tokyo was formed in the late 1980s by Sir Stephen Gomersall (Her Majesty's Ambassador to Japan 1999-2004) who was at the time a member of the diplomatic staff of the British Embassy. The group was initially known as the Ichibancho Singers in reference to the Embassy's location in the Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo. After Sir Stephen's departure in the early 1990's, the choir was taken on by Sir John Boyd (Ambassador to Japan, 1992-1996) at which time its name was changed to the Embassy Singers and the ensemble truly became a choral group within the British Embassy. Since then the choir has spread its wings far beyond the serene surroundings of the British mission in Ichiban-cho to become the premier international choir in Tokyo.
Styles and Venues
BEC sings a wide variety of music from sacred and secular choral repertoire, as well as ballads, light opera, folk and popular songs. Venues have included: the Tokyo American Club, Ishibashi Memorial Hall, Kyu-Sogakudo, Otsuma Hall, Toita Hall, Rikkyo University All Saints' Chapel, Meiji Gakuin University Chapel, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Tokyo Union Church, Reinanzaka Church, St. Ignatius Church, Imperial Hotel, Westin Hotel, the Canadian Embassy, and the British Embassy.
International Members
Whilst it is an amateur choir, many of its members have a formal music background. Its international members hail from a wide range of countries across all continents and regions and take delight in donating their time and energy to support worthy causes through their love of singing. Under the musical direction of Steven Morgan, concerts are performed twice a year: at Christmas and during the spring/summer and there are no costs involved. We ask that donations are awarded to a charity of choice.