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 perform two major concerts a year with high quality professional
orchestras and soloists, a Christmas carol concert with a local young persons choir at which there is a charity collection, and 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 between 7.45 and 9.45 at Emmbrook Senior School.
Click here to see WCS in rehearsal and concert.
We also have a number of social events including concert visits, quizzes and a major summer event. The most recent summer social event was a recital of duets played by our Accompanist, our Musical Director and his concert pianist mother. To see some photographs of the event please click here.
WCS also organises Open Choral Workshops which attract singers
from many different choral groups over a wide area. Click here to see photographs of the Workshop led by Brian Kay.
To hear a recording of WCS from one of our summer concerts click here.