Our Story…
Kidderminster Choral Society is 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 160 year old Town Hall of Kidderminster, with its magnificent William Hill organ.
We do perform elsewhere – in the Summer you may find us at Harvington Hall, St Anne’s Church or Dudmaston Hall, or performing Gilbert and Sullivan in Belbroughton Church or Wribbenhall 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.
An important part of our work is with young people, and we have established two choirs, one for young people aged from ten to eighteen (Wyre Forest Young Voices) and the other for children aged from five to nine (Primary Chords).
The Society is affiliated to Making Music (the National Federation of Music Societies), and is a member of the Kidderminster-Husum Twinning Association.
The Society
President:
>
Vice-Presidents:
> The Mayor of Kidderminster
> The Chairman of Wyre Forest District Council
Life Vice-Presidents:
> Harry Bramma (former Director of Music, All Saints, Margaret Street, London)
> Michael Elden
> Philip Head
> Marcus Huxley (Director of Music, Birmingham Cathedral)
> Andrew Millington (Director of Music, Exeter Cathedral)
> Kit Mockett
> Jonathan Price
> Lindsay White
For general enquiries please get in touch here.
Key People
Geoff Weaver – Musical Director
Geoff was appointed in 1987, and in 1997 he founded Wyre Forest Young Voices which he conducted for 25 years, giving concerts in Kidderminster touring throughout Europe. He also conducts the St. Michael’s Chamber Choir, based in Wolverhampton.
Geoff 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 Nigeria, the USA, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Poland, Cyprus, the Philippines and Estonia.
Mike Elden – Musical Accompanist
Mike Elden was brought up in Yorkshire. He was a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal Northern College of Music, before going on to study at the Royal College of Music in London. Having studied as a post-graduate at Bretton Hall, a part of the University of Leeds, he moved to Shropshire to teach music in one of the Bridgnorth high schools.
It was with colleagues from school that he joined the Kidderminster Choral Society in 1975 and sang in the bass section until becoming the accompanist in 1981. He also accompanied the Wyre Forest Young Voices from its beginning until 2015.
Alongside teaching and accompanying these choirs, Mike has worked with singers and their teachers, and with instrumentalists in both exams and performances. For many years he has been an official accompanist for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, helping take their potential teachers through their senior diplomas. Locally he has worked in theatres and enjoyed playing in the orchestras for many musicals. Throughout all this he has played the organ and piano in many churches for regular services, weddings and funerals, which he continues to do around the area.
Rehearsal Times & Subscriptions
Rehearsals
When? Thursday evenings
Time? 7.30pm to 9.15pm
Where? Trinity Methodist Church Hall, 3 Churchfields, Kidderminster DY10 2JL
Trinity Methodist Church Hall, 3 Churchfields, Kidderminster DY10 2JL
Subscriptions
Basic Subscription £190
Total Subscription £250
(If you wish also to sing in the KCS Summer Singers)
Non Singing Members £35
Become a Member Today!
For more information on joining the Choral Society, please fill out our form below and our Membership Secretary, Jayne Beddall-Hurdman, will be in touch.