Wincanton Choral Society is recruiting before its concert in May the future

[UPDATE 20-03-20:] Wincanton Choral Society has taken the decision to postpone their May 2020 concert and cease rehearsals for the foreseeable, in light of govenment advice regarding the virus outbreak.

Have you ever considered joining a choir and getting that shot of endorphins, tryptophans or whatever they are that give you that sense of physical and mental well-being, on a regular weekly basis? Well, there are all sorts of choirs out there but if you’re after something more musically substantial then a choral society is the way to go, and there is no better time to join WCS.

2020 is our 30^th anniversary and we intend to make our next concert on May 17^th a very special one. It may not have escaped you that this year is also the 250^th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, and so our programme will centre on his Mass in C major, in addition to which the choir will sing the final rousing chorus from his oratorio “Christ on the Mount of Olives”, and the orchestra will kick off the event with his dramatic Coriolan Overture.

Haydn’s “Insanae et Vanae Curae” motet will make an interesting parallel with the Overture, and Beethoven’s other great predecessor of the classical period, Mozart, will be represented by the short, sublime, and famous “Ave Verum Corpus”. Soprano soloist Stephanie Bodsworth and alto Olivia Ray, who made such an impression at our December concert, return to sing operatic duets and trios by Beethoven and Mozart with tenor and bass soloists.

Our concerts are always grand events, usually with a very professional orchestra and talented soloists, filling the Wincanton Sports Centre hall to its 500-person capacity, which is remarkable in a small market town.

We have other things to celebrate, including the significant numbers of new recruits to our now-84-strong membership, who come from as far afield as Crewkerne and Gilingham, and the presence of our wonderful new Director of Music, Katrine Reimers. The choir’s first concert under Katrine’s direction in early December was generally pronounced an outstanding success. Katrine has that rare combination of top-notch knowledge of musical theory, history and rehearsal technique, and the human warmth and patience to forgive us our trespasses and ensure the most artistic as well as technically excellent performance we’re capable of.

Weekly rehearsals began on January 6^th but it’s by no means too late to join us. A certain amount of commitment is desirable, and obviously enjoying the repertoire, though it does grow on you, but before you know it it will have become an essential part of your week. If not, save the date and come and listen to us on May 17^th.

Contact Gareth Evans, Membership Secretary, at or on 07805 882009.

http://wincantonchoralsociety.co.uk/

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