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Witham Choral Society


Witham Choral Society

The Society was formed in 1957. In the early years the members enjoyed singing madrigals and short choral pieces suitable for the small group, and occasionally joined with the Essex Musical Association and other societies, including the Ipswich Singers to perform larger scale works

Over 60 years the Society has grown progressively under the leadership of seven Music Directors, with Patrick McCarthy joining us in 1995. Each has contributed enthusiastically to the Society’s musical life and development and together with the warmth and passion for singing of the members, the Society has developed and maintained an integrity which has kept it in the fore of choral tradition in the area.

One of our recent notable choral events was a much praised performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius at the renowned Snape Maltings Concert Hall, when we combined with the Ipswich and Colchester Bach Choirs and the Colchester Philharmonic.

In 2007 we celebrated our 50th Anniversary Year with a full programme of choral works. These included performances of the Verdi and Brahms Requiems, the Mozart Te Deum and later in the year, in our exchange with The Evangelische Singgemeinde of Weinheim, two performances of Beethoven’s Mass in C and his Christ on the Mt. of Olives.

We again visited Snape Maltings Concert Hall in 2008 to perform Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Solomon, combining with The Ipswich Bach Choir and Dovercourt Choral Society bringing together some 170 singers to perform these two memorable works.

We rehearse at the Witham United Reformed Church from 7.45pm until 9.45pm every Tuesday.

Witham Choral Society

Next Concert

Sunday 24th June 2012
St Nicholas' Church, Harwich
Time: 7.00 p.m.

Harwich Festival Concert

This year’s Harwich Festival concludes with a concert, packed with baroque and classical choral favourites, plus a Bach concerto. Witham Choral Society is joined by a splendid team of vocal soloists and other choristers from Essex and Suffolk.

Witham and Dovercourt Choral Societies
with singers from
Colchester and Ipswich Bach Choirs

Colchester Bach Orchestra
Leader, Peter Ivey

Conductor, Patrick McCarthy

Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest – Handel
Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042 – J S Bach
Ave verum corpus – Mozart
Messiah (excerpts) – Handel

Nelson Mass – Haydn

Soloists:
James Mather (violin)
Lindsay Gowers (soprano)
Elaine Henson (mezzo-soprano)
John Upperton (tenor)
Richard Fallas (bass)

sample

LONDON CONCERT TRIPS

Witham Choral Society organise trips to London musical concerts as part of the social activities of the choir. These trips are arranged by a member of the choir and include local pickup by coach, tickets to the concert at either the Royal Festival Hall or The Barbican and return. The prices are £21 and £24 respectively.

All are very welcome to take advantage of this extremely good value social event whether members of the choir or not.

Further details can be found on our News page