Youth Choirs
Kidderminster Choral Society has two choirs for young people:
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 was filled by Susannah (Suzzie) Vango, who, like Ula, is a member
of Ex Cathedra. In September, 2010 Helena Raeburn became the choir's
fourth vocal coach, but she had to give up the post owing to the pressure of her other work, and Suzzie Vango is back in the hot seat.
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",
"A Night at the Opera", Britten's "War Requiem" and Chilcott's "Salisbury Vespers"). 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), Poland, Estonia, and, in July 2011, Ulm in Germany.
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.
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 take place on Wednesday afternoons at 4.15 p.m., at St. Mary's Chantry, Churchfields, Kidderminster, and new members are always welcome.
For information about Primary Chords, please contact the Conductor, Carol Hill (click here).
