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Bristol Choral Society
is a leading Bristol choir—originally formed in 1888 with 510 members. Their first concert was a performance of Mendelssohn's Oratorio St Paul at the Colston Hall in May 1890, and the choir recently performed Mendelssohn – 'Elijah' – at the newly refurbished Colston Hall in November 2009.Bristol Choral Society remains the mixed chorus it was in 1888 (although these days, with a more manageable 180 auditioned members), meeting for rehearsals at Bristol University on Wednesday evenings in term-time.
As ever, all members are driven by a passion for singing!
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| Bristol Choral Society rehearsing Rachmaninov Vespers in Bristol Cathedral with soloists Nick Perfect and Kate Woolveridge (left) and conductor, Adrian Partington (right). |
Adrian Partington, Bristol Choral Society's distinguished Music Director, and the choir's Assistant Music Director, Steven Kings, are a dynamic duo and both ensure the choir maintains a high standard of singing.
BCS performs at least four concerts a year – usually at the Colston Hall – with nationally renowned soloists and professional orchestras such as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and baroque orchestra, Music for Awhile.
Bristol Choral Society often receives invitations to sing outside Bristol and has sung with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, and the BBC National Chorus of Wales. Many of the chorus have also enjoyed singing under the famous batons of Sir Charles Mackerras, the late Richard Hickox and Christoph von Dohnanyi at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and The Royal Festival Hall, London.
Bristol Choral Society raised over £7,000 for charity last season. This sum was divided between one national charity – the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline – and two Bristol charities, BRACE (supporting research into Alzheimer's) and The Julian Trust (supporting Bristol's homeless).
We look forward to seeing you at our next concert, Bach's 'St John Passion', on Saturday, 27th March 2010 — and perhaps you will join us at our Come and Sing event, the Monteverdi Vespers, on Saturday, 13th February 2010 at Tyndale Baptist Church, Whiteladies Road Bristol BS8 2QG from 10 am 'til 4 pm — but do book soon!
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| Bristol Choral Society apprentices 2008-9 with |
| Adrian Partington (left) and Steven Kings (right) |
Bristol Choral Society Apprentices
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| Bristol Choral Society performing their annual Messiah (which is sung from memory) at the Colston Hall Bristol |
As well as an active programme
of outreach work with primary
schools, Bristol Choral Society
has an apprenticeship scheme for
teenagers.
Contact: Sally Seaman.
Would you like to join us?
Entry to the choir is by audition but we encourage prospective members to join us for a
few rehearsals to get a feel for it. If you would like to join, please contact Frances Roberts.
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Because Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' tells such a powerful story, the central character of Elijah takes on an even more pivotal role than usual within an oratorio. A singer who has dramatic as well as vocal ability is required and in Christopher Purves, the choir found a fine guest soloist. His experience in opera showed through time and time again as he made the words written on the score in his hands leap into life.
