Welcome to the Wealden Consort

The Wealden Consort was formed in 1979 with a nucleus of singers from the St Laurence Church choir in Hawkhurst. In its formative years the choir, then a group of around eight singers, performed mostly motets and madrigals. From 1980 to 2003 the Hawkhurst Singers (as it was originally called) was led by Maisie Hammond, professional violinist and graduate of the Royal College of Music. Over time the choir increased in size and was renamed the Wealden Consort to more accurately reflect the Weald of Kent from which its members are drawn.

From 2003, the Wealden Consort was led by Cornelis Taekema, an organist from the Netherlands who studied at the Conservatory of Groningen (formerly Leeuwarden) where he gained his BMus qualifications with honours. He retired in 2023 after 20 years.

In April 2024, the Wealden Consort was delighted to welcome Michael Bascom as its Musical Director. Michael's arrival marks an exciting new chapter in the history of the Consort, which is taking an ambitious new direction under his expert guidance, with an expanded repertoire and an elevated standard of singing.