Welcome to the Home Page of the Kidderminster Choral Society

President: John Gaston
Vice-Presidents: the Mayor of Kidderminster and the Chairman of Wyre Forest District Council

Life Vice-Presidents:
Harry Bramma
Jeannie Cornwell
Philip Head
Felix Kok
Andrew Millington
Kit Mockett
Jonathan Price

STOP PRESS - SEE THE EVENTS PAGE (FEBRUARY) FOR DETAILS OF OUR "COME AND SING" CONCERT FOR THE HAITI APPEAL FUND.

PICTURES - All pictures on this website can be viewed full screen by clicking on the picture, then clicking away from it to return to normal view

For general enquiries about the Society, please contact the Secretary (click here)

Registered Charity No. 1039989

We are a mixed, non-auditioned choir, rehearsing and performing mainly in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in the West Midlands; we sing the great works of the choral repertoire, from Purcell to Tippett, from Bach to Bernstein. We have about 120 members, and our main performance venue is the 150-year-old Music Room of Kidderminster Town Hall, with its magnificent William Hill organ. We do perform elsewhere - in the Summer you may find us at Harvington Hall or Dudmaston Hall, or performing Gilbert and Sullivan in Belbroughton Church! Every four years or so, we take flight to Germany, where we sing with the Theodor Storms Chor, the choral society in our twin town of Husum (see below).

The choir is affiliated to Making Music (the National Federation of Music Societies), and is a member of the Kidderminster-Husum Twinning Association.

Rehearsals
Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings, from 7.30 p.m. to 9.15 p.m., at Baxter Church Hall in the Bull Ring, Kidderminster.

Programme
We have a busy and varied programme of concerts and other activities. 2005 was a particularly busy year, as we presented a Kidderminster Music Festival to coincide with the Kidderminster Town Hall Festival (celebrating the 150th birthday of the Town Hall). Details of the programme for 2009-2010 can be found in the "Programme" pages (see left).

Our Musical Director is Geoffrey Weaver
Geoff was appointed in 1987, and is also the Musical Director of our Youth Choir, the Wyre Forest Young Voices. He also conducts the St. Michael's Chamber Choir, based in Wolverhampton. He was the Director of Outreach for the Royal School of Church Music until 2002, and he continues to work for them and for many other organisations on a freelance basis. He presently undertakes numerous teaching and conducting engagements at home and abroad including, recently, Nigeria, the USA, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Poland, Cyprus, the Philippines and Estonia.

Mike Elden is our rehearsal accompanist. Mike, a native of Yorkshire, was a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal Northern College of Music, going on to study at the Royal College of Music in London and then, after graduating, to teacher training at Bretton Hall. Having taught for many years, he is now a freelance accompanist for choirs, instrumentalists, singers, theatre and dance, as well as organist for church services in Worcester and the West Midlands. He is also the rehearsal pianist and accompanist for the Wyre Forest Young Voices.

Press Reviews
Birmingham Post, November 2003

KCS in a triumph of blazing conviction

However much Kidderminster Choral Society paid out in presenting Saturday's concert, the members can rest content that this was money well spent, resulting in probably one of the greatest events in the Society's long and proud history .

Even for as devoted an Elgarian as me, The Kingdom, the composer's last oratorio and the second part of a projected trilogy, which had begun with The Apostles, has always been problematical. One gets the sense that by the time Elgar had struggled with compiling and completing his own referential libretto he had scarcely any energy left to pour the blood of life into his music, with the result that much of the score seems to lack blazing conviction.

Yet that was precisely the missing quality supplied by this searing performance under Geoffrey Weaver, a conductor of inspirational gifts and shrewd musical insights. Tempo after tempo was set with exactly the right feel for pulse, phrases were shaped with a natural sense of flow, and, despite depleted numbers in some sections, his choir sang with a deep richness of tone and communicative projection. Their awestruck intensity as they began the concluding "Our Father" will not easily be forgotten.

Four fine soloists brought Elgar's New Testament characters to life, with Elena Ferrari delivering a deeply moving "The sun goeth down", and Quentin Hayes as Peter almost persuading us to accept Elgar's maudlin melodic swoop at virtually every setting of the words "in the name of Jesus Christ".

The contribution of the Elgar Sinfonia would have been stunning in any event, but on only three hours rehearsal it was nothing short of miraculous.

Christopher Morley

Wyre Forest Young Voices
We formed our Youth Choir (for 10 to 18s) in 1997, under the direction of Geoff Weaver and with Mike Elden as accompanist. Luise Horrocks was the choir's first vocal coach, and in September 2003 she was succeeded by Urszula (Ula) Weber. Ula subsequently relinquished the post, and her place has been filled by Susannah (Suzzie) Vango, who, like Ula, is a member of Ex Cathedra.

The choir now has about 60 members, several of whom have graduated from the children's choir, Primary Chords (see below). The choir gives its own series of concerts, as well as taking part in some of the Choral Society's concerts (for example, the Christmas Concerts, Britten's "St Nicolas", Handel's "Messiah" Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" and, in 2005, "A Night at the Opera" and Britten's "War Requiem"). There is a full programme of other activities, and these include, every other year, a visit to the Continent for a concert tour. So far they have been to Germany, the Netherlands, Cyprus (twice) and Poland, and in July 2006 they made a memorable visit to Estonia.

Wyre Forest Young Voices has become one of the premier youth choirs in the Midlands, and has received great critical acclaim. Former members of the choir have gone on to read Music at University, or to professional careers, or to sing in such groups as the choir of Wells Cathedral.

The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings, from 5.00 p.m. to 6.45 p.m., at Baxter Church Hall, in the Bull Ring, Kidderminster, and new members are always welcome.

More details about Wyre Forest Young Voices can be obtained from the Choir Co-ordinator(click here).

Primary Chords

This choir, for children between 5 and 9, was formed in 2001, and is conducted by Carol Hill, a member of the Society, with accompanist Nicci Lane. The choir takes part in some of the concerts presented by Wyre Forest Young Voices and the Choral Society, as well as putting on its own concerts and having a programme of other activities. Presentations have included "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", at the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster, an open-air concert at Bodenham Arboretum, and "sing-along" performances of music from "The Sound of Music" and "Oliver".

Rehearsals are on Wednesday afternoons at 4.15 p.m., at St. Mary's Chantry, Churchfields, Kidderminster, and new members are always welcome.

Press reviews of Wyre Forest Young Voices and Primary Chords

On 21 March 2003, I spent an enjoyable evening listening to the WYRE FOREST YOUNG VOICES (ages 10-18), and their junior choir, PRIMARY CHORDS (ages 5-9). Primary Chords was granted support from Making Music's Tuned In fund.

These two groups are meant to be 'feeder' groups into the Kidderminster Choral Society. The vitality of the music making is obvious, and the strength of these different groups is a wonderful model for involving young people at every stage. These young people showed maturity and musicality, and a great interest that is so important to the future of music making The programme was entitled A Night on Broadway and showed off solo and ensemble, as well as some instrumental numbers. The Primary Chords offered some numbers from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat which they will perform in full this July.

The evening was generously supported by the Swan Centre in Kidderminster, and many important people were there; those we lovingly call the 'chain gang' (the mayors) attended, and even an M.P. and his family came. It was clear that all of these dignitaries were not just there because of their positions, but because they wholeheartedly support the programme.

I was impressed with the way the young people handled the various pressures. Some sang solos and acted. In between, the other singers sat perfectly still on stage. During the interval and reception which followed, the young people served refreshments and chatted graciously with attendees. Many showed promise, and discussed plans to continue with music or music theatre.

Geoffrey Weaver, conductor, and the Kidderminster Choral Society have obviously supported this tremendous involvement of young people. Weaver is enormously energetic, and manages to enthuse young singers while doing the great classics with the larger (140 member) group, the Kidderminster Choral Society. Weaver also gives credit to Carol Hill, who runs the Primary Chords. While much of what they sing is unison, a surprising amount is not, and while the very youngest are entertaining to watch, one can observe how they quickly learn the discipline that music requires.

Wyre Forest Young Voices do not hold auditions, yet they perform to an admirable standard, most notably with the Sainsbury's Choir competition. Many singers spent time in the Primary Chords, and many may go on to the Kidderminster Choral Society or choirs wherever they end up living.

Micaela Schmitz
(Making Music News)

Concert of the Season

The most remarkable concert of the season came from WYRE FOREST YOUNG VOICES on 2nd April when a Glamorous Nights programme entertained and astonished a packed audience at Kidderminster Town Hall. There were 50 singers on stage and these were complemented by 30 from the recently formed 5 to 9 year-olds choir, Primary Chords.

KIDDERMINSTER CHORAL SOCIETY director, Geoffrey Weaver, is the conductor, and with his back-up team of Ula Weber, Michael Elden, Carol Hill and Nicci Lane, provides the training and musical framework to teach these young singers the innumerable skills needed to make them accomplished at their craft. Russell Painter, an ex-member of the choir who
is at the Guildhall School of Music, was tenor soloist in the concert and his stylish performances gave a wonderful example for the current choir members to emulate. He was joined by Elisabeth Witts and Laura Bassett in duets from The Mikado and Carmen and even sang the testing Flower Song with style. WFYV were spirited participants in the Gypsies Chorus as well as shining in a succession of excerpts from well-known musicals.

Primary Chords had their moments of glory too, showing disciplined stage presence and singing with clarity and a nice forward tone. This is an amazing success story and if only it could be reproduced in a fraction of our eighty choral societies the wider benefits would soon take effect. But it needs vision, perseverance and the right personnel to give a long-term commitment.

When talking to Ray Harrowing recently about the choir he recounted that in 1999 there were only 13 singers for the Christmas concert and Geoffrey Weaver announced that the choir would close unless more members were found. Several of the choir took up the challenge, created publicity waves by getting on to Classic FM, stirred up their schools and the new recruits were found. It has not been plain sailing since then - it never is - but this concert showed that things are going very well. A tour to Poland is planned for this autumn - only £13,500 needs to be raised! - and there are all sorts of exciting plans in the pipeline. Who said choral singing was dying ??!!

Jim Page
(Making Music West Midlands "Network" May 2004)

March Medley was the title of the programme for Wyre Forest Young Voices in March and as on my previous visit I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the singers, the dedication of their coaches and the support of parents, who virtually filled Kidderminster Town Hall. The programme was a very varied one but Geoffrey Weaver was adept at steering his young charges through the many styles expected of them.

WFYV's younger counterparts, Primary Chords, had two slots in the evening, and the standard, enthusiasm and discipline that Carol Hill obtained from these very young singers gained our total admiration. It was a very long evening however, and I do wonder if some gentle pruning might not have made it less taxing for all concerned.

Jim Page
(Making Music West Midlands "Network" May 2005)

The Theodor Storms Chor, Husum

We have been linked with the TSC since 1989, through our two towns' 50-year twinning arrangement. Every two years we visit them, or they visit us, for a long weekend of concentrated rehearsing and performing - we combine the choirs to perform works from the classical choral repertoire.

A number of members of the TSC joined us in May 2005 for "A Night at the Opera" and for a weekend of music-making. Individual members have also joined us for such occasions as our Singing Weekends in Shrewsbury - just as individual members of KCS have joined them and taken part in performances. Members of KCS visited Husum to join with the TSC at the end of May, 2008, and performed in a very successful concert of music by Mozart and Haydn.  Plans are in hand for the choir to visit Kidderminster in May 2010.

Husum is on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein, in Germany, and our visits there make a very pleasant change from the English Midlands - though Husumers enjoy and appreciate our Worcestershire scenery just as much!

KCS Summer Singers
For those "singing junkies" who cannot bear to stay silent from the end of the main season, in March, to the beginning of the next, in September, there is the KCS Summer Singers, an a capella group who gather to sing madrigals and Romantic part-songs wherever we can find a venue. Usually we sing at Dudmaston Hall and Harvington Hall, around Midsummer - in the open air if the weather is kind, and we often present a small-scale concert in Belbroughton Church, including such popular items as Flanders and Horovitz's "Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo" or Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" and "Trial by Jury". July 2010 will see the Summer Singers performing once again at Dudmaston Hall. The small scale of the music that we sing provides a kind of antidote to the major works that we sing in the remainder of the season!

Rehearsals of the Summer Singers normally begin after Easter and end late in June or early in July. They take place at Baxter Church Hall, on Thursday evenings from 7.30 p.m.

Social Activities
Quite a lot goes on apart from just singing! We hold an Annual Dinner in February or March, and our Social Group organises coffee evenings, raffles, sales and other events throughout the year. We also organise trips to other musical events, such as the concerts of Ex Cathedra.

When our friends from Husum visit us, there is always a busy programme of visits, concerts, parties and so on.

KCS is an all-round experience!

Financial Support
The Society is grateful to the following organisations that have supported events recently:
The Elmley Foundation
The Mary May Sheward Trust
Worcestershire County Council
The Wyre Forest Young Voices have also received grants from the following organisations:
The Elmley Foundation
The Mary May Sheward Trust
The Kidderminster and District Youth Trust
The RD Turner Trust
The Roy Woodward Trust
The Sebright Trust
... and sponsorship from Swan Centre Shopping, Little Lakes Golf Club, Phipps and Pritchard and Plastics Plus Ltd.

The Society is very grateful to these and to the many individuals who give financial support or assist in other ways; if you would be prepared to assist in any way in the Society's aim of promoting high-quality practice and performance of classical music, please contact the Chairman (click here).

Membership
We welcome new members, and if you would like to join you should first contact the Membership Secretary (click here) or the Society Secretary (click here). We do not hold auditions for any of the Society's choirs; the one requisite for the Choral Society is that you should at least be able to read music fairly well, but for the junior choirs even that is not a problem! We also welcome non-singing members - this is one way in which you can support the Society even if you cannot get to concerts.

Subscriptions for the 2009-2010 season are:
Choral Society: Base subscription £85, £110 to include the May joint concert with the Theodor Storms Chor and £120 if you want to sing in the KCS Summer Singers (there is also a one-off joining fee of £12); non-singing members £35;
Wyre Forest Young Voices: £17 per term;
Primary Chords: £15 per term (siblings £12).
It helps our finances a great deal if you Gift Aid your payment: the Treasurer can explain that to you!
Membership details can be obtained from:
Choral Society - the Membership Secretary (click here), to whom all applications for membership should be made.
Wyre Forest Young Voices and Primary Chords - Choir Co-ordinator(click here).

You can find details of our concerts on Concert-Diary.com


To contact our Webmaster, click here.
Last updated on 22.12.09.