The University of Bath Chamber Choir was formed in 1977 to sing the large range of choral music suited to a choir of about thirty-five voices. A Student Union society,  it con­sists primarily of students plus a limited number of staff. The Choir has performed extensively in Bath and the surrounding counties, and has given recitals in Bath, Malmesbury and Tewkesbury Abbeys and Chichester, Gloucester, Exeter, Salisbury and Wells Cathedrals as well as in many smaller churches in and around Bath. It leads the annual University Carol Service, and it has also taken a regular part in the formal life of the University and the City of Bath, singing at Welcoming Ceremonies, Installations and commemorative events.

Michael Painting read Economics at the University, followed with a PhD in Economic History; he later joined its administrative staff. As a singer he has performed over the years with many of the chamber choirs in the Bath area, and was also a long-serving member of the Choir of Bath Abbey. He has made many broadcasts and recordings, both in Bath and in cathedrals and major churches throughout the country. He has conducted the University Chamber Choir since its formation, was the first recipient of the University’s Chilcott Prize, and was awarded an honorary DMus by the University in 2016.