THE CHOIR

PATRON: Iona, Lady Molesworth-St. Aubyn

PRESIDENT: Marlene Berry
VICE PRESIDENTS: David Briggs, Verna Jones & Maureen Wakeham

WCS was formed in 1985 and over 50 people attended the first rehearsal (see our photo section). Its first MD, and a founder member, was Janet Townsend. She was succeeded by Elizabeth Fryer. Due to ill-health Elizabeth had to retire and Anthony Trodd was appointed. In 2001 its present Director of Music, Tony Tournoff, was appointed.

There are currently nearly 70 members who are drawn from a wide area of North Cornwall. Rehearsals take place every Tuesday evening in the Goods Shed, next to the Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge from 7.15pm to 9.30pm. If you enjoy singing and would like to join, either contact the Hon Sec (Tel: 01208-815322) or come to the rehearsal hall. You will be assured of a warm welcome, and, as a bonus, there is NO AUDITION!

The choir gives two performances each year, in the spring and at Christmas. Each spring, usually in April, we perform a major choral work accompanied by an orchestra. In the spring of 2005, we performed Mendelssohn’s Elijah as part of our 20th Anniversary celebrations. This year the choir celebrates 25 years and we have commissioned a 30 min work from David Briggs. The text is a selection of John Betjeman's poems about Cornwall. The piece is called "A Cornish Cantata" and will have its premiere at the Spring Concert on Saturday 24th April in St Endellion Collegiate Church. To see more about this year's concert programmes please click on 2010. Our Annual Christmas concert has a variety of Christmas carols, including a small major choral work. Of course, there are carols for the audience to sing, too, plus mince pies and mulled wine! Each year we are invited to sing Carols at Lanhydrock House and we also make a point of singing Carols at a home for senior citizens.

Some of the choir like to continue singing through May to July and for the past 5 years we have given very successful summer concerts at Pencarrow raising nearly £4,000 for the roof fund. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 we also gave a summer concert at Little Petherick Church and raised over £750 for church funds. In July 2007, 2008 and 2009 we sang to a packed hall in St Minver on each occasion and raised much needed funds for the choir. These concerts demonstrate the versatility of the choir and enable members to display their wide ranging repertoire and their equal enjoyment of lighter music.

Since 2004, we have joined with St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir to give concerts in aid of Cancer Research UK in St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin. The total raised for the charity from these concerts is over £5,000. A decision was taken by the organisers that we would not give a concert in November 2008 but try for a warmer month in 2009! As you will see from our past programme, July was chosen and proved to be very successful both choirs and audience!

In October 2004 members of the choir volunteered to sing at a Gala Concert in St Kew Church to help raise money for the refurbishment of a very old stained glass window in the north east aisle. They sang music by Richard H. Lloyd and G. F. Handel. In all, over £4,000 was raised.

Each year, the choir joins with other choirs to sing in Truro Cathedral. This event usually takes place on the 2nd Saturday in October.

For more information on all our concerts please look at the Diary of Events.