My Bristol Favourites: Hilary Campbell

Hilary Campbell is the award-winning musical director of Bristol Choral Society.

Hilary is currently nominated in the innovation category in the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards, which this year is being chosen by the public for the first time.

“It’s not just Hilary’s deeds that make her outstanding,” reads her citation. “It’s her spirit, athleticism and sheer joy which are instantly, irresistibly apparent from the performances and rehearsals she has led online the last year.”

These are Hilary’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Bristol Cathedral

“I took over as musical director of Bristol Choral Society in 2016, and we gave our first performance together at Bristol Cathedral, a venue we’ve since returned to on numerous occasions. The wonderful acoustics and atmospheric sense of space and light in the building suited Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil perfectly, and highlighted some of the choir’s rich choral colours, which we’ve worked hard to harness further ever since.”

Bristol Beacon

“Bristol Choral Society has a tradition of performing Handel’s Messiah each December, often off copy, and frequently with a family-friendly element. Before the Bristol Beacon closed for refurbishment, we were lucky to give several performances there, none more memorable than our first Mini Messiah, where young people were introduced to various elements in Handel’s music. With my back to the audience, conducting the performers, I was surprised to feel something pressing against the back of my leg. On turning around, I discovered a small boy dancing and fervently offering me his purple dinosaur! Meanwhile, whilst the concert hall isn’t quite ready to reopen yet, the lovely Bristol Loaf cafe is still going strong.”

Brandon Hill

“I live in London, and drive over to Bristol each week for rehearsals, accompanied by my faithful two-year-old cavapoochon, Fizzy. She sits quietly in rehearsals as long as I’ve given her some fresh air and a walk beforehand, so we’ve gradually got to know some of Bristol’s lovely green spaces. A favourite is Brandon Hill, and its wonderful views.”

Mansion House

“Before working with Bristol Choral Society, I didn’t have many connections with the area, but I was very quickly made to feel welcome. A number of local dignitaries have supported our concerts, and during my first term with the choir, I was even invited for afternoon tea with the lord mayor in the striking surroundings of the Manion House in Clifton.”

All Saints’ Church

“At the start of 2020, shortly before the pandemic brought live music to a crashing halt, Bristol Choral Society and I were fortunate to record our first disc together, The Big Picture. The recording takes its title from Judith Weir’s eponymous work, which explores various aspects of colour, so we wanted to find an image for the cover which reflected this whilst simultaneously maintaining links with Bristol. The arresting stained glass window of All Saints’ fulfilled this perfectly, and we look forward to performing there in the future.”

Main photo: Bristol Choral Society

Read more: How a centuries-old choir are coping with Covid-19

Listen to the latest episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: