The A Cappella Singers was founded in 1963 by a small group of enthusiasts to sing madrigals and unaccompanied motets from the 16th century onwards. Our first conductor was Donald Willis, a keen amateur musician who led the choir for many years.
Notable performances during the early years included Monteverdi's Magnificat for Double Choir and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. From the start, concerts were given to raise money for local charities.
Peter Stobart was appointed Musical Director of the A Cappella Singers in July 2007. Originating from Bradford, Peter Stobart is a conductor, singer and organist. He began his career working as the organ scholar of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and as the organ scholar at the College of St. Hild and St. Bede, University of Durham for three years. It was here that he read a degree in music and also directed the Durham University Chamber Choir. After graduating, he sang as a Lay Clerk in Peterborough Cathedral choir and he conducted the chamber choir St. Peter's Singers, and the Peterborough Children's Choir.
In September 2007 he moved to London to study choral conducting for two years at the Royal Academy of Music with Patrick Russill and Paul Brough. He was the winner of the Alan Kirby prize for choir training 2007/8 and the Thomas Armstrong Prize for Choral Conducting 2008/9 and took part in masterclasses with David Hill and the BBC Singers.
He is currently the Head of Extra-Curricular Music at St Dunstan's College, Catford and besides A Cappella Singers of Weybridge he also directs the Southampton University Chamber Choir and the vocal chamber group Novem Altare. He is much in demand as a Tenor, having recently sung solo roles in performances of Handel's Messiah, Bach's St John Passion and Magnificat, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mozart's Requiem and Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers.
A Cappella rehearses at St Mary Oatlands in Weybridge and has performed at various venues in Weybridge and surrounding areas.
