The Glasgow School of Art Choir was formed in January 2012 by Jamie Sansbury (at that time a third year student at the School) to provide somewhere for people at the GSA to come together and perform and had, at its heart, the principal aim of creating an amateur, non-auditioned chorus which would perform to a standard far above that of an average amateur group. This remains the primary objective of the ensemble to the present day and it has gained a reputation for outstanding musical discipline and is committed to expanding the repertoire and musicianship of its members.

Our inaugural concert saw 16 choir members onstage but we now regularly perform with around 110 singers from all three schools within the GSA – students, teaching and support staff, and alumni; plus many other people with no direct affiliation with the institution. The choir is open to all.

The choir performs two sell-out concerts a year – in the stunning RSNO Auditorium in the Glasgow Royal Concert Halls – with a wide-ranging repertoire, including works by Duruflé, Fauré and Elgar as well as works by contemporary choral composers including Whitacre, Lauridsen and MacMillan. The ensemble is also an established champion of contemporary music having commissioned work from Ken Johnston, Shona Mackay, Jay Capperauld, Sir James MacMillan, Thomas LaVoy, Jane Stanley, Sarah Rimkus, Cecilia McDowall, Ailie Robertson, Pippa Murphy, Rebecca Rowe and Dee Isaacs.

Contact us to find out more.

Musical Director

Jamie founded the Glasgow School of Art Choir in 2012, during his third year at The Glasgow School of Art. He did so with the firm belief that anyone can sing in a high quality ensemble, regardless of musical training and their individual quality of voice, and one of the principal aims of the ensemble is to encourage outstanding musical discipline within a non-auditioned, amateur chorus. The ensemble is now an established champion of contemporary music having commissioned work from Ken Johnston, Shona Mackay, Jay Capperauld, Sir James MacMillan, Thomas LaVoy, Jane Stanley, Sarah Rimkus, Cecilia McDowall, Ailie Robertson, Pippa Murphy, Rebecca Rowe and Dee Isaacs.

Jamie has been performing with choirs and choruses since he was 8 years old as a member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) Edinburgh Area Choir, NYCoS National Boys Choir, NYCoS and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus.

In addition to his role as Musical Director, Jamie is Chair of the ensemble’s Board of Trustees.