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.

For over 50 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 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 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.

We again visited Snape Maltings Concert Hall in 2008 and 2010 to perform Handel’s Solomon and Israel in Egypt respectively, combining with the Ipswich Bach Choir and Dovercourt Choral Society, bringing together some 170 singers to perform these two memorable works. Witham Choral has also appeared several times at the Harwich Festival, in Haydn’s Creation in 2013, Carmina Burana in 2014 and most recently in 2015 HMS Pinafore, a wonderful performance with members of the Royal College of Music.

WE REHEARSE at the Witham United Reformed Church, CM8 1AH, from 7.45pm until 9.45pm every Tuesday in term time.

Witham Choral Society is a registered charity No. 261704

Read about how Patrick stepped up to save the Prom at the Royal Albert Hall on our Personnel Page (bottom right article) follow the link here to the page The clip was also on BBC4 recently, included in the programme ‘Andre Previn the BBC Years’.

Photographs (below) taken at Witham Public Hall as Patrick celebrated 20 years of conducting the choir See more about this on the members page of the website.

Remembrance Concert at Witham United Reformed Church

(in Newland Street, Witham, between Holts the butchers and Byfords)

Music to include:
Excerpts from Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man
Mendelssohn – Hear My Prayer
Other Remembrance Music and Readings

Antony Mortimer and Stephen Evans (piano and organ)
Paul Lockyer (cello)
Wendy Watkins (soprano)
Conductor: Patrick McCarthy

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If you would like to come and sing with us do come along to rehearsals on Tuesdays at 7.45 pm at the United Reformed Church, Newland Street, Witham. Our rehearsals for this began on 8th March.

Rehearsal lines for choir – use this link to the members area: by clicking here

Witham United Reformed Church
To find directions click here

Tickets: £10, £5 full-time education

From: Witham Tourist Information Centre at Witham Town Hall and choir members

Details from www.withamchoralsociety.org.uk

Important Diary Dates this term:

Saturday, 12th November – Remembrance Concert at Witham URC

Tuesday, 6 December – Carols at Witham URC

Our weekly COFFEE BAR organised by Mary is a regular fund-raiser for the choir that we can all support by having refreshments and by taking turns at serving them.

We have a monthly BRING AND BUY at coffee time on the third Tuesday of the month which is great fun – lots of seasonal produce and gifts.

Save your pennies for Witham Choral and drop them in the collecting jar on the information table at choir

These all help to bring in funds to put on our concerts for all to enjoy, singers, audience and orchestra.

The beautiful cake presented to Patrick at the Messiah concert, Saturday 7th November

Keeping up to date with our choir:

To 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.

To go to our facebook page click here

Find out what our friends are saying about us on Twitter by clicking here

FUNDRAISING THIS TERM:

Luxury Coach Trips to the Royal Festival Hall & Barbican

We have a new list of concert trips for the new season!

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

We have places on the following trips, so book soon if you can:

Thursday 9 June Royal Festival Hall Philharmonia Orchestra £24
Shostakovich – Festive Overture
Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto
Prokofiev – Symphony No 5

See the complete list of trips planned for the new 2015/16 season by clicking here

Anyone interested will be very welcome to join us on these trips, you do not need to be a member of the choir. Money raised helps to keep the choir singing and performing regularly with a professional orchestra.