August 2021 Press Release just out:

We are delighted to announce that rehearsals will resume at 7.45pm on Tuesday 7th September at Witham United Reformed Church, Newland Street, CM8 1AH.

Our first evening will be an Open Rehearsal, everyone is welcome to join us to sing choruses from Handel’s Messiah

We hope to see you there!

After the first rehearsal we will begin to prepare for our Christmas Concert on 11th December. More details about the programme soon.

We will encourage everyone attending rehearsals to take care and protect each other by wearing masks when not singing and hand sanitising on arrival to keep each othere safe, especially our more vulnerable members. More instructions will be provided – contact us for details.

Sad news, Tony Mortimer 1946-2021

We are sad to share with you all, though many may know this already, the news of the loss of our dearest friend and accompanist, Tony Mortimer earlier in the summer. Our condolences to Tony’s family. He will be greatly missed.

Patrick made an unexpected announcement earlier in the summer

He told the committee and then the choir to tell us that this will be his final year with us as our wonderful conductor. Patrick and the choir have been ably supported as always by our dear friend Mary McCarthy, who has kept the choir and committee going in so very many ways. Sadly we must begin to turn our minds to what happens next to find our way forward next year following Patrick and Mary’s retirement. They will always be our much loved friends.

But …. until then

We have plenty more music making to enjoy with Patrick before then, beginning with our concert at Christmas, so watch this space for more news soon!

We will keep you informed when we have any more news – don’t forget to watch for news on our Facebook page and here

For details about joining the choir or becoming a Friend here

We rehearse on Tuesday evenings in term time at Witham United Reformed Church in Newland Street, 7.45 to 9.45 p.m.

We look forward to letting you know in due course when our rehearsals will resume. “This is a friendly, non-auditioned choir,” conductor Patrick McCarthy told us, “but some knowledge of music would be helpful.” To find directions to the church where we rehearse click here

SEE OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY LEAFLET: click on the link here: /perch/resources/1957-2017-leaflet.pdf

For 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.

You can read about how Patrick stepped up to save the Prom at the Royal Albert Hall go to our Personnel Page(bottom right article) follow the link here to the page.

BACKGROUND OF WITHAM CHORAL:

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. See a photo of the choir singing at the Public Hall in December 1974 by CLICKING HERE

SOME OF OUR MOST NOTABLE CHORAL CONTRIBUTIONS

have included 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 and later in the year, in our exchange with the Evangelische Singgemeinde of Weinheim, two performances of Beethoven’s Mass in C and Christ on the Mount of Olives.
Other works performed include Handel’s Solomon and Israel in Egypt singing with the Ipswich Bach Choir & Dovercourt Choral Society, bringing together some 170 singers. As well as singing at Snape Maltings, we have appeared several times at the Harwich Festival, in G&S HMS Pinafore, Faure Requiem, Haydn Creation, Orf Carmina Burana and most recently performed in a Last Night of the Proms.

Witham Choral Society is a registered charity No. 261704

December 2021 Christmas Concert at Witham United Reformed Church

Programme:

FURTHER PLANS 2022

Saturday April 2022, at Witham Public Hall

Programme: Haydn – The Creation

Summer 2022 – Come and Sing event, details to be finalised.

Accompanist needed!

PICTURE BELOW: Witham Choral in rehearsal at Witham URC

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US:

Find more news about the choir on our Facebook page plus other items of interest in the world of making music. ‘Like’ us on Facebook or go to our facebook page by clicking here

Keeping up to date for choir members:

Go directly to our members page click here where you will find up to date news about the choir this term and links to rehearsal aids for the music.

If you would like to keep practising take a look at the rehearsal aids available in the members area of the website.

For access information please see your voice rep or Christine Hall in the Altos.

CHOIR DIARY 2020:

Concert Diary – see top of the page.

FUNDRAISING EACH TERM:

BRING & BUY STALL every third Tuesday of the month, very popular with our members, and if you are lucky there will be the famous flapjack available and other home-made goodies. Our last one raised £50 towards concert expenses: thank you everyone!

COFFEE BAR every week at half time during rehearsal, a chance to catch up with friends and have a chat before getting back to rehearsals. Make sure you sign up and help raise much-needed funds for the choir.

PENNIES FOR WITHAM CHORAL save any spare pennies and put them in the pot at rehearsal.