 |
 |
| Home | Participants | Force | Sponsors | Tickets | Links | Concert Director |
| Participants 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.
|
|
The Exmouth Choral Society |
| Hosted and Maintained by ISCA Web Design Ltd, Exeter |