The Open University Chapel Choir (OUCC) was founded in 1987 by Phil Baxter (a former OU music tutor) when a cathedral Choral Evensong unit was included in the early A102 course. This course eventually disappeared, but the OUCC continued to expand its church music experiences by meeting once or twice a year in various parts of the country to sing services, mainly evensong.
Soon, however, OUCC tours began to take place in England and France in alternate years. In 2000, Phil decided to concentrate on French tours and he launched a new but still "open" group which concentrates on tours in France.
Colin Ashworth was the Musical Director of the OUCC from 2001 to 2006. Having become Director of Music at a boarding school in 2005 he found he was unable direct the April/May Tours. Consequently (and in view of the fact that he had been Director for 5 years) Colin decided to hand over the reins after the Chester Tour.
Our August 2007 tour in Cambridge was directed by Philip Baxter and celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the foundation of the choir.
The April Tour in 2007 had been directed by David Knight [seen pictured here with Rex Whitta] over Low Sunday weekend at Worcester Cathedral. It was a glorious weekend, hot and sunny, and everything went extremely well. We stayed in a prestigious hotel, the Abbey Hotel in Malvern. David then took over as the regular Musical Director of the choir.
