Past Concerts
The choir was formed in 1947, under the post-WW2 Evening Institute arrangements. No official records exist for the period 1947-57, but it is believed that in these first 10 years the choir rehearsed at the Senior Modern School (opened September 1939 - now Wareham Middle School).
In the Autumn of 1957 a more formal
arrangement was established, a committee was elected and the name
Wareham Choral Society was adopted. So began a long association
with the schools and churches in Wareham.
The first committee
consisted of:-
Chairman: Dr A M Cunningham Secretary: Mr G H Mepstead
Conductor: Mr E Edwards
Hon Accompanist: Mr M Adams
Member reps: Mrs H E Mackintosh (Sopranos)
Miss D E Cosier
(Altos) Mr A Wade (Tenors) Mr L Johnstone (Basses).
In 2017 we celebrated our 70th anniversary.
The table below gives details of our past
concerts.
For recent concerts, the date provides a link to view
the concert programme in pdf format. You can go directly to this section
of the table here.
| Dec 1957 | 17th
Dec 1957 The first concert was performed at the Wareham Parish
Church, and included: Solo and concerted excerpts from the Handel’s Messiah A selection of Carols A short organ recital by Miss Irene Challis The printed programmes were sold at 1/- (one shilling) each! |
| 1958 | 8th Jan 1958 Proposal that the
Society should affiliate itself to The Dorset Guild of Singers,
who were currently working on Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and The
Crepes of London, to be performed on 29th March 1958 at
Broadway. Coleridge-Taylor - Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast The Sailor’s Garland The Crepes of London. In the Senior Modern School – Wareham. |
| 1959 | Spring 1959 Bach - O Light
Everlasting Excerpts from Handel’s Messiah As this was Handel’s bicentenary year it was suggested that a programme should include Acis & Galatea and/or Judas Macabaeus Aug 1959 Two choir members marry - Miss Lydia Nash and Mr Bob Farrow Dec 1959 Nine Lessons and Carols |
| 1960 | Montague Phillips - The Rebel Maid |
| 1961 | Handel - Messiah |
| 1962 | Bob Farrow appointed accompanist |
| 1962 | Haydn The Creation |
| 1962/3 | The Society became moribund! |
| 1963 | Robin Longman appointed conductor |
| Mar 1964 | WCS with Purbeck Arts Club - Mendelssohn's Elijah in Swanage Parish Church, and then with DGS in Salisbury Cathedral. |
| May 1965 | with
DGS - Bach - Cantata No 140 - Sleepers Wake Bach - Cantata No 79 - God the Lord is Sun and Shield Vivaldi - Gloria |
| Mar 1966 | with DGS - Bach - St John’s Passion |
| Dec 1966 | Handel - Messiah |
| Spring 1967 | with DGS - Britten - St Nicholas and Faure - Requiem |
| Dec 1967 | with DGS - Handel - Messiah |
| Mar 1968 | C.P.E.Bach - Magnificat Haydn - Mass in B Flat (Harmonie Messe) |
| Oct 1968 | WCS with
PAC - In St Mary’s Church,
Swanage Britten - Cantata Academica Purcell - Ode on St Cecilia |
| Dec 1968 | WCS with PAC - Christmas Music in Swanage |
| Mar 1969 | with DGS - Bach - St Mathew Passion - in Wimborne Minster |
| 1969 | WCS with PAC - Orff - Carmina Burana |
| Mar 1970 | with
DGS - Mozart - Vespers in C Major Handel - Chandos Anthem No 9 Handel - Utrecht Jubilate |
| Summer 1970 | with DGS -
Beethoven - 9th Symphony (Choral) Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia |
| Dec 1970 | WCS & PAC - Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Christmas Carols |
| Mar 1971 | with DGS
- Purcell - Soul of the World Parry - Blest
Pair of Sirens Brown-David - A Cantata Op 21 (new commission) |
| Summer 1971 | Kodaly - Te Deum Mozart - Mass in C minor |
| Dec 1971 | WCS & PAC Gabrielli - In Excelsis Charpentier - A short mass |
| Spring 1972 | with DGS - Bach - St John’s Passion |
| Dec 1972 | WCS & PAC Haydn - St Nicholas Mass Handel - The Caroline Te Deum Hassler - Motet Omnes Gentes |
| Mar 1973 | with DGS -
Verdi - Requiem Mozart - Masonic Funeral Music K V 477 |
| Dec 1973 | WCS & PAC Christmas Music |
| 1974 | Excerpts from Handel’s Messiah |
| 1974 | with DGS - Bach - Mass in B Minor |
| Dec 1974 | WCS & PAC - Christmas Music and Charpentier - Te Deum |
| Mar 1975 | with DGS - Haydn - The Seasons |
| Dec 1975 | WCS & PAC - Choruses from Brahms’ Requiem & Kodaly’s Missa Brevis |
| Nov 1976 | with DGS - Brahms - German Requiem & Kodaly - Missa Brevis |
| Mar 1977 | WCS & PAC - Haydn - Seven Last Words |
| Dec 1978 | WCS & PAC Vivaldi - Gloria Pergolesi - Magnificat |
| Mar 1979 | with DGS - Bach - St John’s Passion |
| Dec 1979 | WCS & PAC Handel - Messiah |
| Mar 1980 | with DGS -
Vaughan Williams - Mass in G Minor Bernstein - Chichester Psalms Finzi - Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice |
| Dec 1980 | WCS & PAC
Schutz - Christmas Story Charpentier - Messe de Minuit Haydn - Te Deum |
| Mr Harvey Sayles mentioned as accompanist | |
| Apr 1981 | with DGS - Mendelssohn - Elijah |
| Dec 1981 | WCS & PAC A programme of Christmas Music and Carols |
| Mar 1982 | with DGS -
Haydn - Maria Theresa Mass
Handel - Let God Arise Handel - The King Shall Rejoice |
| Dec 1982 | WCS & PAC A programme of carols and Christmas music |
| Mar 1983 | with DGS - Verdi - Requiem |
| Dec 1983 | WCS & PAC Handel - Dettingen Te Deum Carols & Christmas Music |
| Mar 1984 | with DGS - Handel - Dettingen Te Deum Schubert - Mass in A Flat |
| Dec 1984 | WCS & PAC Excerpts from Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio Carols Longman - Gloria (premiere) |
| Jan 1985 | Harvey Sayles (accompanist) died. Mrs Burton-Page took over. |
| Mar 1985 | with
DGS - conducted by Sir Charles Groves Gardner - The Ballad of the White Horse Elgar - The Music Makers |
| Dec 1985 | WCS & PAC Handel’s Messiah - For All |
| Mar 1986 | with DGS - Vivaldi - Gloria Bach - Cantata 187 and Mass in A |
| Dec 1986 | WCS & PAC Haydn - Mass in D Minor and carols, in Lady St Mary, Wareham for the first time |
| Mrs Burton-Page retired as accompanist. Mrs Jenny Bridges took over | |
| Apr 1987 | with DGS - Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius |
| Dec 1987 | WCS & PAC Carols and Christmas Music, including Purbeck Praise by Robin Longman |
| Mar 1988 | with DGS - Rossini - Petite Messe Solennelle |
| Dec 1988 | WCS & PAC A Messiah for All in Lady St Mary Church |
| Mar 1989 | with DGS - J S Bach’s Mass in B Minor |
| Dec 1989 | WCS & PAC Haydn - Harmonie Messe |
| Mar 1990 | with DGS - Britten - St Nicholas Handel - O Come Let Us Sing Unto the Lord |
| Our accompanist Mrs Bridges retires. Mr Dennis Holloway takes over. | |
| Dec 1990 | WCS & PAC - Buxtehude - Rejoice, Ye Christians Buxtehude - Das Neugeborne Kindelein Charpentier - Messe de Minuit Longman - Te Deum |
| Mar 1991 | with DGS - Beethoven - Choral Fantasia Rossini - Stabat Mater |
| Dec 1991 | WCS & PAC - Handel - Messiah - 250th anniversary of this masterpiece! |
| Mar 1992 | with DGS - Haydn - Creation |
| Dec 1992 | WCS & PAC
- Carols & Christmas
Music, including:- Charpentier -Te Deum Vivaldi -Magnificat |
| Apr 1993 | with DGS - Vaughan-Williams – Sea Symphony Stanford – Songs of the Fleet |
| Dec 1993 | WCS & PAC Bach – Christmas Oratorio Pts 1-3 - in Swanage |
| Mar 1994 | with DGS - Verdi – Requiem |
| Dec 1994 | WCS & PAC - Puccini – Messa di Gloria Mendelssohn – Elijah (excerpts) |
| Dec 1995 | WCS & PAC - Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silent Handel - Zadok the Priest Handel - Messiah (excerpts) Carols and Telemann Concerto - Swanage |
| Mar 1996 | Robin Longman retires after 33 years as conductor of Wareham Choral Society. Richard Marchant becomes conductor.. |
| Mar 1996 | with DGS - 50th Anniversary Concert: Elgar – The Kingdom J Willcocks - Sing Praises |
| Dec 1996 | WCS, PAC & Shillingtstone Singers with Dorset Philharmonic Orchestra - Christmas Concert, Swanage, Gillingham, and Poole |
| Mar 1997 | with DGS - Handel – Israel in Egypt |
| Dec 1997 | WCS & PAC -Vaughan-Williams - Fantasia on Christmas Carols & Carols |
| Mar 1998 | with DGS - Bach – Matthew Passion |
| Dec 1998 | WCS & PAC
- Pergolesi – Magnificat Poulenc – Four Motets for
Christmas Palestrina and Byrd – Motets |
| Feb 1999 | Faure – Requiem (in liturgical setting) |
| Mar 1999 | Purcell – Dido & Aeneas – workshop at Wareham Middle School |
| Sep 1999 | Ken Claxton took over as accompanist |
| Dec 1999 | Christmas Music and Carols including choruses from Messiah |
| Apr 2000 | with DGS - Elgar – Dream of Gerontius |
| May 2000 | Schubert – Mass in G – Tribute to Canon Peter Hardman |
| Nov 2000 | Handel – Coronation Anthems Rutter – Requiem |
| Mar 2001 | Evening of Light Entertainment featuring songs of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Vincent Youmans, Lloyd-Webber and operatic music of Mascagni, Verdi, and Wagner |
| Dec 2001 | Vivaldi – Gloria and Carols |
| Dec 2001 | Richard Marchant retires as Conductor. Ken Claxton takes over as Conductor / Pianist |
| Mar 2002 | with DGS - Beethoven – Mass in C Haydn – Te Deum Mozart – Exsultate Jubilate Willcocks – Magnificat |
| Nov 2002 | Queen’s Golden
Jubilee Year Concert Haydn – Te Deum Handel - Chandos Anthem No 9 Mozart – Coronation Mass |
| Dec 2002 | Carols and other music |
| Apr 2003 | Bach – Lobet den Herrn Haydn – Little Organ Mass
Handel – Psalm 112 Vivaldi – Double Oboe Concerto |
| Nov 2003 | Handel – Messiah |
| Dec 2003 | Ken Claxton retires. Andrew Smetham becomes conductor (and temporary accompanist) |
| Mar 2004 | Brahms –
excerpts from German Requiem Bruckner – Locus Iste Mendelssohn – Verleih uns Frieden Faure – Cantique de Jean Racine Parry – Blest Pair of Sirens |
| May 2004 | with DGS - Brahms – German Requiem Dvorak – Te Deum |
| May 2004 | WCS achieves Charity Status! |
| Dec 2004 | Christmas Carols, & Music in aid of ‘Julia’s House’ |
| May 2005 | Bach - Jesu Priceless Treasure Tavener – The Lamb Mendelssohn – Hear my Prayer Archer – Requiem Parry – My Soul, There is a Country |
| Sep 2005 | Natalie Burton joins as accompanist |
| Dec 2005 | Bush -
Christmas Cantata A programme of readings and carols with handbells |
| Apr 2006 | Schubert - Mass in F Grieg – Ave
Maris Stella Faure – Requiem Elgar – The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me Holst – Turn back, O Man |
| May 2006 | with DGS - Verdi Requiem Peter Hope – Along the Shore – commissioned work and first performance |
| Dec 2006 | Britten –
Ceremony of Carols A programme of Carols, readings with a young singing group – Lacrimosa |
| Apr 2007 | WCS with Choir of Lady St Mary – Stainer - Crucifixion |
| May 2007 | WCS 60th
Anniversary Concert Handel - Zadok the Priest Handel - Coronation Anthem No.1 Marchant Magnificat - First Performance Longman - Te Deum Handel - And the Glory of the Lord, Messiah Vaughan-Williams - Five Mystical Songs Finzi - Songs from - 7 Poems by R Bridges Stanford - Songs of the Fleet |
| Sep 2007 | Beverly Manning joins as accompanist |
| Dec 2007 | Haydn - St Nicholas Mass & Carols |
| Apr 2008 | Extracts from Messiah and Easter hymns |
| Apr 2008 | with DGS - Elgar -The Music Makers Jenkins - Requiem |
| Dec 2008 | Haydn – Little Organ Mass
Buxtehude – Das Neugeborne Kindelein Bach – excerpts from Christmas Oratorio Pt 2 Carols |
| Feb 2009 | with DGS - Singing Day with Nigel Perrin - Haydn Nelson Mass |
| May 2009 | All Mozart Concert - Ave Verum, Laudate Dominum, Requiem Mass |
| Dec 2009 | Hummel - Mass in Bb Hummel - Concert for Eb Trumpet Carols |
| May 2010 | with DGS - Bach - St John Passion - Conductor - Malcolm Archer |
| Dec 2010 | Ian Kellam - The Joly Shepard & Carols |
| Dec 2010 | Andrew Smetham retires as conductor. Dr Jane Oakland becomes Music Director |
| Feb 2011 | with DGS - Singing Day with Greg Beardsall - Mozart Requiem |
| Apr 2011 | Handel - Messiah |
| Dec 2011 | Christmas Concert - Carols |
| Apr 2012 | with DGS - Musica d'Italia |
| Dec 2012 | Christmas Concert - Joyeux Noel! Christmas Music with a French Theme! |
| Feb 2013 | with DGS - Come and Sing Workshop - Durufle Requiem with Simon Lole and Malcolm Archer |
| Apr 2013 | Beverley Manning retires as accompanist. John Radford becomes our accompanist. |
| Apr 2013 | Faure Requiem and Howard Goodall's Eternal Light |
| Dec 2013 | Christmas Concert - The Renaissance Revisited Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Holst's 4 Old English Carols |
| Apr 2014 | with DGS - - Mendelssohn's Elijah |
| Sep 2014 | Jane Oakland resigns and Nigel Groome takes over as Music Director |
| Nov 2014 | "Wareham Remembers" - WW1 Commemorative Concert |
| Dec 2014 | "Carols by Candlelight" Christmas Concert |
| Apr 2015 | "Magnificent Mozart" - Ave Verum Corpus, Coronation Mass etc |
| July 2015 | "Songs, Sonnets and Strawberries" at Tyneham |
| Dec 2015 | "Hark the Glad Sound" Christmas Concert |
| Feb 2016 | WCS Singing at the Purbeck Literary Festival "Pur-4-mance" concert |
| Mar 2016 | Come-and-Sing afternoon for Stainer's Crucifixion at Bere Regis Church |
| Apr 2016 | with DGS - Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle |
| Jul 2016 | "Concord of Sweet Sounds" - Shakespeare songs + West Side Story at Rollington Barn, Corfe Castle |
| Oct 2016 | Come-and-Sing afternoon for Faure's requiem at Lady St Mary Church, Wareham |
| Dec 2016 | "My Soul doth Magnify the Lord" Christmas Concert |
| Mar 2017 | "O praise the Lord with one consent" Handel Chandos anthem |
| July 2017 | 70th Anniversary concert - music with a maritime theme, inc Rowley's The Sailor's Garland, Stanford's Songs of the Fleet and a South Pacific medley at Clore Hall, Kimmeridge |
| Nov 2017 | Autumn concert with a Remembrance theme, and featuring the world premiere of a work commissioned by WCS, "For the Fallen" by Nils Greenhow |
| Dec 2017 | Christmas concert with audience carols |
| Dec 2017 | Nigel Groome resigns as Music Director |
| Jan 2018 | David Fawcett becomes Acting Music Director |
| Apr 2018 | with DGS - Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius |
| Sep 2018 | Hazel Ricketts becomes our new Music Director |
| Nov 2018 | Come-and-Sing event on the themes of Remembrance and Reconciliation |
| Dec 2018 | "The Christmas Story" - Christmas concert with audience carols |
| Apr 2019 | "The European Heritage" - Haydn's Nelson Mass and other anthems |
| July 2019 | "The Rhythm of Life" - Summer Concert |
| Sep 2019 | Paul Ellis becomes WCS accompanist |
| Dec 2019 | "Gloria In Excelsis" - Christmas concert with audience carols |
| 2020 | There were no concerts in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic |
| Dec 2021 | "O Be Joyful" - Christmas concert with Dorset Jubilate premiere, excerpts from Messiah and audience carols |
| Jun 2022 | Queen's Platinum Jubilee concert with Wareham Town Band, Grace Lovelass and Top Notes |
| Jun 2022 | Come and Sing event for Karl Jenkins The Armed Man with Sam Ryall |
| Dec 2022 | Christmas concert "Magnificat" with settings of the Magnificat, Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols and audience carols |
| Apr 2023 | Spring Celebration - Mozart Coronation Mass, Schubert Mass in G, Walton's Crowm Imperial |
| Nov 2023 | Remembrance Concert - Karl Jenkins The Armed Man (choral suite), Faure Requiem |
| Dec 2023 | Christmas Carol Concert in St. John the Baptist Church, Bere Regis |
| Mar 2024 | The Crucifixion by John Stainer |
| Jun 2024 | D-Day 80th Commemoration Concert |
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