The Oxford Pro Musica Singers was originally founded in 1977 by Michael Smedley as the Oxford Pro Musica Chorus, to sing with the then Oxford Pro Musica Orchestra in major choral works. In its early years the choir performed with some distinguished conductors, including Simon Preston, Christopher Seaman and Jane Glover. It also had a long and happy relationship with Denis Arnold, Professor of Music at Oxford University, who conducted many concerts of his beloved Venetian music. But the choir increasingly performed apart from the orchestra, and in 1985 claimed independence and adopted its current name. The choir is currently directed by Mark Jordan.