Our Choir remains in Lockdown right now, no news yet about our Tuesday evening practices until there is some Government guidance forthcoming about this. You can read more about this on our ‘News’ page by clicking here.

We remain hopeful that we will begin again sometime after the summer.

More details about all this soon – watch this space.

We will keep you informed – don’t forget to watch for news on our Facebook page and here on the website.

In the meantime, take care of yourselves and look after each other.

With best wishes, Witham Choral Committee.

LAST UPDATED: Saturday 6th June 2020

More details about joining the choir or becoming a Friend here

Usually 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 peformed in a Last Night of the Proms.

Witham Choral Society is a registered charity No. 261704

HERE IS OUR PROPOSED CONCERT DIARY – PLEASE NOTE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Saturday 12th December: Christmas Concert to include “Navidad Nuestra” with a small accompanying group. Venue: Witham United Reformed Church

Saturday 27th March 2021: Gilbert and Sullivan extracts from “Iolanthe” and “Pirates of Penzance” Venue: Witham United Reformed Church

The Creation – Joseph Haydn, until Saturday 12th June 2021 Venue: Witham Public Hall. This was postponed from April 2020.

MORE DETAILS WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN INSTEAD. IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED TICKETS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SUPPLIER FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO.

Until then, why not watch the Making Music Virtual Concerts?

Go to their website here

Taking place fortnightly from May until September, featuring a selection of music drawn from the society’s membership, from choral societies to gospel choirs, community choirs to symphony orchestras, brass bands to ukulele groups, handbell ringers and more.

Next concert is on Tuesday 9 June at 7pm.

The concerts are free for anyone to view, and will remain available to watch after each premiere. Just tune in fortnightly on our Youtube channel to watch, and subscribe to make sure that you don’t miss out on future broadcasts!

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

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.

Luxury Coach Trips to the Royal Festival Hall & Barbican

FOR DETAILS ABOUT CHANGES TO THE CONCERTS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PLEASE CONTACT CLARE.

When the trips resume you will be very welcome to join us no need to be a member of the choir. Money raised helps to keep the choir singing and performing regularly with a professional orchestra.

We regularly go on fundraising concert trips to London, organised by Clare. These are principally to the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall.

See the new list with the other dates for the current 2019/20 season click here