The Partnership Music Society
Our founder, John Spedan Lewis, started the Music Society in 1925 with the formation of the Partnerships first choir. His aim was innovative: he wanted to give ordinary Partners access to music at a time when it was beyond the means of the majority. He also held the firm belief, now widely recognised, that music plays an important part in personal and social development, and in team building.
Partners around him threw themselves into the project, and its popularity has grown over the years to todays five performing groups choral, orchestral and theatrical giving around 15 performances a year. The Music Society is now one the largest and most active of the Partnership's Societies, and has a full time Musical Director and Co-ordinator, Manvinder Rattan.
Voices in Partnership
Voices in Partnership is the main choir of the Music Society, with around 70-90 singers. Membership is open to all Partners without audition. The choir performs a classical choral repertoire in three concerts a year in London alongside The Cavendish Ensemble.
As the popularity of the choir has grown, our Musical Director has introduced innovative rehearsal methods to make sure Partners all round the business can join in. There are weekly rehearsals in London and Bracknell, whilst those further afield learn their own music with the help of special rehearsal tapes, joining the full choir for one final rehearsal before the concert.
The Cavendish Singers
A chamber choir with a busy and varied musical life, The Cavendish Singers, directed by Manvinder, performs in concert venues all round the UK, and sings occasional services at our great cathedrals. A highlight of the Singers' year is the Music Society's annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from Westminster Cathedral, when the group sings a new work commissioned from a British composer for the event.
In 2004 the choir performed in the Orlando di Lasso International Choir Festival in Loreto, Italy. Successful in competition, The Cavendish Singers won its class at the International Church Music Festival in Limerick in 2000 and the gold cup and top prize for adult choirs at the Verona International Choral Competition 2002.
The Cavendish Ensemble
The Cavendish Ensemble is the Music Society's orchestra and is conducted by Manvinder. The orchestra is made up largely of Partners who used to perform at school and university who find it an ideal environment in which to maintain and build on their musical skills. Professional players make up any shortfall and many of those have played with the Ensemble since is inception in 1995.
The Ensemble regularly performs at Cadogan Hall, accompanying Voices in Partnership, as well as playing orchestral music on its own. Its repertoire is varied, ranging from Schubert to Saint-Saëns, and Rameau to Rachmaninov.
Manvinder Rattan - Musical Director
Manvinder won a choral scholarship to the University College of Ripon and St.John where he read French and History. He joined the John Lewis Partnership in 1989 as a graduate trainee whilst also singing in Sheffield Cathedral Choir. He has been Musical Director of the John Lewis Partnership Music Society since 1995 and his tenure has seen the introduction of the Cavendish Ensemble and Singers in addition to the development of the Music Society's main choir, Voices in Partnership. With ensembles from the Music Society, Manvinder has performed extensively around the UK and abroad, including St Paul's, St Alban's, Westminster and Ripon Cathedrals, the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow. The Cavendish Singers won their class at the Limerick International Choir Festival in 2000 and the Verona International Choral Competition in 2002.
Manvinder studied Choral directing with James Wild and Laszlo Heltay, amongst others, and orchestral directing with Colin Metters,Neil Thompson and John Farrar.
Manvinder is Development Director and Head of Conductor Training for the charity Sing for Pleasure and in considerable demand around the country to lead seminars and courses in conducting and singing,and festival adjudication.
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