About the choir

St Andrew Camerata was founded by Vincent Wallace whilst he was director of Music at St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh. The inaugural concert was on 13 March 1994; although the idea for the choir dates back to his appointment in 1992.  The initial focus was to explore and perform the repertoire contained in the Cathedral Music Library. Since then the group has evolved and diversified, in the early years primarily broadcasting regularly for BBC Radio. In 2003 the St Andrew Camerata gave the premier performance of Psalm by Paul Rooney for ArtLink. 

In 2006 the choir gave the first of its Edinburgh Festival Fringe performances of Fauré’s Requiem. That first concert attracted a sell-out crowd, establishing a trend which has continued every year since. The choir continues to grow and attract young singers with an interesting and varied repertoire, and an enjoyable social scene. For their Christmas concert in 2011 the choir commissioned a new work from Edinburgh-based composer Lewis Forbes, "On the Nativity of Christ". 

In October 2013 the Camerata undertook its first ever foreign tour, visiting Rome, where the choir helped to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) with a concert, followed by singing at Mass in St Peter's Basilica. In January 2014 the choir sang at the Chapel Royal at Falkland Palace, and in April 2016 gave two concerts in Belfast, at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church and at Clonard Monastery. 

In January 2017 they visited St Andrews, reprising the Rachmaninov All-Night Vigil to an enthusiastic audience. On Monday, 11 September 2017 the choir broadcast the Radio 4 daily Service. On Saturday 10 February 2018 the choir gave a successful concert in St John's Kirk Perth and in November 2018 enjoyed a successful tour to London.