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This term we will begin rehearsals on Tuesday 6th September. We will be working on Bob Chilcott’s “Christmas Oratorio”. We meet for rehearsals on Tuesday evenings 7.45pm – 9.45pm at Witham United Reformed Church in Newland Street, Witham, CM8 1AH The church is just beside Holts the Butchers in the main high street. Everyone is welcome to come along for a visit, why not give us a try!
If you would like more details, get in touch with our Conductor Ashley Thompson by Email: dajthompson@hotmail.co.uk or phone our Chair, Rev Stephen Northfield on 01245 380958.
More details about joining the choir or becoming a Friend are on our website, follow the link here
This term our new Director of Music Ashley Thompson and we are new accompanist Emma Nash will be continuing to work with the choir, especially encouraging everyone to learn how to watch! We enjoyed working with Ashley last term for our first concert with him – music by Gilbert and Sullivan and we are looking forward to what this new term will bring!
Covid 19:
Things are more relaxed, but with an increase in numbers in the community once more we remind everyone attending rehearsals to take care of each other, and not to come to choir if they feel unwell or have any of the updated list of symptoms of Covid. We want to keep each other safe, especially our more vulnerable members.
To keep informed with our news – don’t forget to head over to our Facebook page here and don’t forget to ‘Like’ us while you are there!
PATRICK’S FAREWELL CONCERT:
Read all about the concert in our News section – click here.
Witham Choral Society is a registered charity No. 261704
BACKGROUND OF WITHAM CHORAL:
For 60 years the Society has grown progressively under the leadership of seven Music Directors, the most recent Ashley Thompson, took over the reigns in April 2022. Patrick McCarthy joined us in 1995 and retired at Easter 2022. 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.
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.
Some of our most notable performances
These 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 a Last Night of the Proms.
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