The choir was founded in 1936 by the then organist and choir master of Grange Congregational Church on Stockton Road and was made up of no more than 12 or so choristers of a calibre that many would envy. They were all very good music readers and enjoyed the sort of repertoire that was not readily available to church or community choirs. Their concerts mainly included madrigals and mostly unaccompanied songs.

Post-war, Mr Dickeson, while continung the genre of small group singing, also embarked on bigger works by joining his church choir with the Singers and gave performances of Handel's Messiah each December.

Colin Short joined the choir in 1964. Ted Ducker had taken over as conductor as Arthur Dickeson was suffering from a heart complaint and could not sustain extensive exertion. He died in 1966. Ted was a prominent member of the Sunderland Pianoforte Society and secured the use of their recital piano for use in the Sunderland Library (now the Winter Gardens) and the choir rehearsed there as well as giving their annual concerts in what was the art gallery.

Colin took over as conductor, having been Assistant Conductor for just over 14 months, when Ted retired in 1974. Under his tutelage the Singers competed at the Stanley Music Festival, where, in 1980, they won the mixed voice trophy.

Since 1974 the Singers have given concerts as far afield as Ashington and Bedlington Station in the north of the region to Blackhall and Seaham in the south.

Colin sadly passed away in October 2020. The conducting reins have been taken over by Clare Seccombe, who has been a soprano in the choir since 1995 and who was Colin's deputy for a few years. We are looking forward to this new chapter in the choir's history.

Sunderland Singers show off their new polo shirts, September 2025

Sunderland Singers celebrate their 70th Annual Concert, April 2007

Sunderland Singers make a donation to Grace House, September 2015

Sunderland Singers make a donation to the Lifeboat Service, September 2016

Rehearsals in full swing!