On this site you can read Ralph Vaughan Williams' fascinating reminiscences of the Festival during this period. There is also a short biography of his wife,Ursula,who died in October 2007.

Today around 600 singers from 12 local choirs compete over the Festival's 3 days.

In the morning the choirs of each group, with their own conductors, participate in friendly competition singing in the set pieces and passages from the main works. These competitions are open to the public.

The choirs unite for the afternoon rehearsal, when they are joined by professional soloists and orchestra and the Festival Conductor Brian Kay.

The day culminates in the evening's concert at 7:30pm at which the awards from the competitions are presented by a special guest.

During March, members from all participating choirs, as well as independent singers, take part together in performing Bach's St John or St Matthew Passion or Handel's Messiah.

A Saturday morning in mid-March is devoted to Youth Choirs' Competitions. These are open to choirs of all ages from 5 to 18 from all over Surrey and beyond.

The Festival has had just 5 principal conductors since it was founded in 1905: