Wokingham Choral Society was formed by a small group of enthusiasts in July 1951 and gave its
first concert in November that same year. Membership has gradually
increased over the years to around 120 singers with
strength in all four voice parts.
The choir developed under a number of very able conductors but it was
under the direction of what became the international figure of
Graeme
Jenkins, currently Music Director of the Dallas Opera and Cologne
Opera, that it acquired the high standard that attracted the now equally
renowned Paul
Daniel CBE who went on to become Music Director of the English
National Opera.
Paul Daniel was followed by Stephen
Layton, currently Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia, Musical
Director of the Holst Singers and Polyphony, Director of Music at The Temple, and Director of Fellow and Music of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Edward
Gardner, Musical Director from 1997-2002, after periods assisting
Mark Elder at the Hallé Orchestra and Director of Music of Glyndebourne
on Tour is now Music Director of the English National Opera.
Aidan Oliver, Musical Director
2002-2007, is Director of Music at St Margaret's, Westminster, the
Parliamentary Church. He is also Chorus Master of the Philharmonia
Voices and directs the professional ensemble Spiritus.
Alexander Chaplin, the choir's current Musical director, continues to
maintain the same
high standards achieved by his predecessors.
WCS performs two major concerts a year with professional
orchestras and soloists; a charity Christmas carol concert with either a local young persons choir or our associate Wokingham Choral Academy;
a summer concert of a generally lighter selection of choral music.
In addition to this diary of four concerts, WCS has sung by special invitation at Guildford Cathedral for Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and
St Martin-in-the-Fields for the Brandenburg Sinfonia
Rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 7.30 to 9.45 at Emmbrook Senior School.
You can see WCS in rehearsal and concert.
We also have a number of social events including concert visits, quizzes and a major summer event.
You can see some photographs of recent events.
WCS also organises Open Choral Workshops which attract singers
from many different choral groups over a wide area.
See here photographs of the Workshop
led by Brian Kay.
Listen to a recording (wait for it to load!) of WCS from one of our summer concerts, Pilgrim's Progress.