Weymouth Choral Society has a long history – with some gaps and a few name changes – stretching over 150 years back to its inauguration in 1862.
The Society is born
In the ‘Local News’ section of The Southern Times on Saturday, 18th January 1862, the following article appeared:
“MADRIGAL SOCIETY. – An attempt is being made, with every prospect of success, to form a union of musical talent for the execution of madrigals. Preliminary regulations have been issued, which leave the maximum of honorary members’ subscriptions to their own generosity, but the minimum not to descend below 5s. The entrance fee for working members is put down at 3s., and they are required to meet twice a week. The meetings will be strictly confined to musical development, and the selection of music will be viewed in a religious and secular light. Members are required to provide their own music, and honorary members will have the privilege of securing tickets for the concerts, when arranged, at half price. Subscriptions will be received either by the Rev. F. Fisher, of 2, Gordon Place, the President and Treasurer, or by the Bankers, Messrs. Eliot and Pearce. Mr. T. Luce, of the Royal Hotel, has kindly offered the use of Royal Hotel, has kindly offered the use of his Assembly Room at intervals for the rendering of the concerts.”
Thus, what was to become Weymouth Choral Society, was born.
Five weeks later, again in the Local News page of the same paper, a long editorial appeared:
“The singing class or choral society which has recently been established under the auspices of the Rev. F. Fisher of Broadwey, has made such satisfactory progress that on Wednesday evening [February 26th, 1862] the members ventured on a public rehearsal or concert, in the Assembly Room at Luce’s Royal Hotel, which has been liberally placed at their disposal by the enterprising proprietor without the slightest charge for gas or attendance. As a very short notice of the intended meeting had been given, there was not a large audience, but those present seemed very favourably impressed by the efforts made to entertain them, and , as nearly all the effective members were in attendance, we may augur favourably for future efforts. ” [Read the full 929-word article here.]
At some point in its history the Society became known as the Philharmonic Society until 1931. We do know that the Society played its part in Weymouth’s celebrations of the Coronation of King George V. At King’s Statue on Thursday June 22nd 1911, civic and corporate delegates assembled and members of the Society led the singing of two Coronation hymns, followed by the National Anthem, despite atrocious weather conditions.
Alexandra Gardens
In 1931 the Society re-formed and became known, once again, as Weymouth Choral Society. The Musical Director was Mr N Stone who held this post before the turn of the century. Aged eighty-eight, he was also the organist and choirmaster at St John’s Church, Weymouth.
Elsie Suddaby
Weymouth Choral Society performed many concerts at the Alexandra Gardens Theatre throughout the 1930s. Handel’s Acis and Galatea was performed in February 1933, under the baton of famous conductor – composer Eldridge Newman. It is noted that the soprano soloist for this concert was Elsie Suddaby, a leading British soprano, fondly known as ‘The Lass with the Delicate Air’.
Isobel Baillie
In December 1933, we have evidence of a first Christmas concert – A Carol Fantasia – under a new musical director, Mervyn Williams. Fast forward to 1939 and a performance of Handel’s Messiah featured another famous soprano, Isobel Baillie, regarded as one of the 20th century’s great oratorio singers.
With Britain again at war, members met in each other’s homes to keep the Society going in the hope of reinstating an active choral society when peace returned. Indeed postwar years saw membership grow, now under the musical directorship of Bernard Sonley.
Vernon Midgley
In April 1962 Weymouth Choral performed Bach’s B Minor Mass at the Pavilion. The Musical Director was John Wycliffe-Jones. The choir consisted of seventy-one singers accompanied by an orchestra of thirty-five. In 1965 a new musical director, James Crump, joined Weymouth Choral. This decade saw a huge growth in confidence in the Society with a repertoire of the great oratorios and the engagement of more professional soloists, such as Vernon Midgley. This famous singer continued to perform for Weymouth Choral in the seventies, accompanied also by his sister Maryette singing soprano roles. Another famous singer, the baritone Michael George also sang with the Society in the early seventies.
Michael George
James Crump left the Society in 1976. He was credited with having achieved a high degree of discipline and quality in the Society. George Sutton took up the baton for a short while until 1978 when John Wycliffe-Jones returned as Musical Director. In 1980 the Spring concert took place at the Pavilion Theatre. It was a programme of mixed music including Constant Lambert’s The Rio Grande. For this event the Society hired South West Arts’ Steinway piano and the artist to play it was renowned pianist and conductor Paul Searle-Barnes.
Paul Searle-Barnes
1981 saw the Society celebrate its Golden Jubilee, celebrating fifty years as Weymouth Choral Society. A full assembly was made for a group photo, the first time since 1936. The eighties saw several Spring concerts at the Pavilion with the Society joined by the Band of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment.
Obviously, in today’s economic climate, amateur societies such as Weymouth cannot afford the fees such famous performers command. However, we pride ourselves in providing a platform for new and local talent. Many groups have joined Weymouth Choral’s performances: Weymouth Operatic Society, The Portland Singers, WOW, Wessex Sinfonia, the Symphonic Ensemble of London, Flute Mosaic, The Dorset Youth Singers, various local school choirs, and other local singing societies.
Can you help us fill in the gaps?
If you have any Weymouth Choral Society photographs or programmes from the past we would be happy to hear from you. We are keen to increase our archives of WCS history. Please contact us via our email address: info@weymouthchoralsociety.org.uk to provide us with your contact details or, using the same email address, send digital copies of photos/posters or programmes.
Many thanks
The Publicity Team