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The Exmouth Choral Society
The Exmouth Choral Society was founded by William Vinnicombe,
the Withycombe Raleigh Church organist in 1867. In 1873 it took part
in a performance of Handel's Messiah in Exeter . In 1896
it was reorganised by Raymond Wilmot, and by 1910 the Society had
performed 37 different works. Elgar's music was very popular at this
time, and in 1912 the Society gave the West Country's first performance
of The Music Makers.
During the first World War, concerts were abandoned, but from 1920 to 1934 regular
performances were given in the Church Hall, Exmouth, attracting large audiences.
By the early 1930s, support began to wane and no further concerts were given
until 1937, when Archibald Marcom took over as conductor. Concerts continued
throughout World War II, and two Music Festivals were given in 1946 and 1947.
The Messiah, The Creation, Elijah and Hiawatha were
the mainstays during this period.
In 1948, Donald White became conductor, and many new works were introduced, including
semi-stage versions of popular operas – in costume, and with dancers. These took
place at Exmouth Pavilion. Donald White died unexpectedly in 1983, and Brian
Northcott, the present conductor, took over. He had always been keen to introduce
choral works that had not been performed in the South West, and during the past
24 years, over seventy new works have been given. During the 1990s, four major
concerts with Ottery St Mary Choral Society have been given in Exeter Cathedral.
The Ottery Choral Society
Ottery St Mary Choral Society has an active
membership of between seventy and eighty singers. The choir performs
two or three concerts a year, usually in the Ottery Parish Church.
Whilst there has been a choral society in Ottery since at least
the latter part of the 1800s, there is some confusion as to the
exact date it started, but it is certain that a society provided
the backbone of musical entertainment in the town until the turn
of the century. The society in its present form was founded at
a meeting in the Church Institute Library in October 1904, when
parish records show that sixty members expressed a willingness
to join, at the princely sum of five shillings per annum for membership! The Society celebrated its centenary
by joining forces with The Exeter Music Group Symphony Orchestra
in a presentation of Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music and
Verdi's Messa Da Requiem , performed in the Exeter Cathedral.
The Society Musical Director is Malcolm Matthews.
Soloist - Penny Daw
Penny has, for many years, taken
lead roles with local societies in various productions – including
Susanna (Marriage of
Figaro) , Musetta (La Boheme), Cunegonde (Candide), Sarah (Bitter
Sweet) , Carmen (Carmen , ) Eliza Dolittle (My
Fair Lady) , and Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes) .
She also sings regularly with Somerset Opera.
Penny has played
leading role in no less than ten Gilbert & Sullivan operettas,
and this year her busy schedule has already seen her play Dolly
Levi in the Exeter Amateur Operatic Society's production of Hello
Dolly! During July, Penny will be taking part in The Dawlish
Arts Festival, and in August Penny has again been invited to
take part in the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in
Buxton, Derbyshire, where she has twice been voted Best Female
Voice.
Later in the year Penny will be taking the lead role of
Rose in the St David's Players production Rose of Persia ,
before appearing at Classics Galore! in November,
singing items by Puccini and Mascagni – and, of course, leading
the audience in the rousing finale!
Apart from her busy singing
schedule, Penny works alongside her husband, Chris, in their
highly successful refrigeration business at Newton St Cyres,
near Exeter .
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