It’s been an ‘unusual’ past couple of years with live performances of all sorts being curtailed and restricted but the Marlborough Choral Society is looking forward to creating a new programme of events following the successful ‘Christmas Concert’ in St Mary’s Church, which raised £418.70 for the Wiltshire Community Foundation Welcome Fund (supporting refugees from Afghanistan and elsewhere).
To celebrate the twenty years since their inspirational musical director, Gill Mortimer, took over the podium the Marlborough Choral Society will be holding a Gala Concert on April 2. And, as they told marlborough.news “If you love to sing and are looking for a local choir to join, we’d love to meet you. We always welcome new members.”
Sara Holden of the Society told Marlborough.news: “The April concert programme will be varied and fun to learn. We plan to sing several opera choruses, and will be joined by many of the talented soloists who have sung with us over the years. We will also perform “Sprig of Thyme,” a wonderful selection of traditional British songs arranged by the inimitable John Rutter.
“We are a four part choir (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) and we have a largely classical repertoire. Recent concerts have included works by Mozart, Haydn, Handel, John Rutter and Karl Jenkins. No audition is required to join the choir but it helps to have a little musical knowledge. Some of us hadn’t sung since school days when we joined but we found a warm welcome and soon made good progress.
“Supporting Gill, we are fortunate to also have Assistant Musical Director David Ripley (director of the Dodecantus Chamber Choir ) who takes alternate concerts and Emma Pooley ( noted soprano soloist and voice coach) who helps us make the most of our voices. A team of able accompanists and many very strong and experienced singers in the choir make learning a real pleasure.
“We are part of the fabric of Marlborough and have a loyal following of friends who never miss a concert. Our recent retiring collection in aid of Afghan refugees netted several hundred pounds. Our Society has been singing in its present form for about 50 years. We also know that there has been a Choral Society in the Town dating back to the 1860s and we like to think we carry on the same tradition. We know, for instance that there was a performance of the “Messiah”, a favourite of ours, in 1886.
“As a Choral Society we are a registered charity which is run by a committee, elected by members. We have to cover our costs but we aim to be accessible to all and we offer a free membership to under 25s. Our annual subscription is currently £60 which includes the loan of music.”
The Marlborough Choral Society rehearse on Monday evenings with the first rehearsal scheduled for January 17, at Christchurch, MArlborough running between 7:30pm and 9:15pm. There will be careful Covid provisions in place
If you would like to join or find out more, please contact the Society via their website www.marlboroughchoralsociety.org.uk or call Sally Banham on 07778 038963 or Kathy Leach on 01793 812175. You’ll be warmly greeted when you come and be introduced to the singers around you.
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