Congleton Choral Society

Founded in 1971, this is a friendly and busy choir of some 70 voices.

Welcome to our new diector of music, Christopher Cromar

Christopher was born in Scotland and was educated at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Chetham's School of Music, the Conservatoire Superieur de Paris. He now works extensively as a conductor, pianist and organist on the concert platform and as a repetiteur and vocal coach for leading opera companies, choirs (including the BBC Singers and Halle Choir) and distinguished soloists. He regularly serves the vocal and opera faculties of several UK conservatoires.

Christopher has also pursued a career as a concert organist giving many recitals in Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral, King's College, Cambridge, Notre Dame and in Germany, Holland, Greece and the USA.

Forthcoming Programme

 

Spring Concert

Saturday 28th April 2012, Congleton Town Hall

 

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration

Saturday 7th July 2012, St Mary's Church, Astbury, Near Congleton

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Congleton Choral Society Spring Concert, 'The Sprig of Thyme' and Brahms 'Lieberslieder' Op.52 and 65.

 

Congleton Choral Society's Spring Concert on April 28th is a glimpse of an innocent world of folk songs when Life was a more simple matter than seems to be the case today.  In The Sprig of Thyme John Rutter offers an arrangement of traditional songs of the British Isles, drawing together long-standing favourites as the Willow song and The Miller of Dee with lesser known gems as O can ye sew cushions and The Sprig of Thyme.

 

Brahms offers us a similarly cosy world with his  ‘Lieberslieder Waltzes Opus 52' –a set of ‘concise little  love poems’, and his 'Neue Liebeslieder, Opus 65', a collection of Romantic pieces. The text of the songs is adapted from folk songs of various areas of Europe and requires one piano but four hands.

 

Come along for a happy evening!

 

 

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THE CHORAL SOCIETY YEAR

We perform 3 main concerts a year, Spring, Autumn and Christmas. The choir is invited to sing an Advent Service each year at our President, Sir Bernard Lovell's local Church at Swettenham, and a Good Friday service/concert at a local church.

In addition we are a regular guest choir for weekend services at various cathedrals, and occasionally have overseas trips.

Our Venues:

ST MARY'S CHURCH, ASTBURY
'The church of St Mary's at Astbury is one of the most beautiful in the county. Its exterior, dominated by the detached tower and lofty spire, evokes the admiration of the beholder and this is increased when the majesty of the interior is surveyed.' So wrote Raymond Richards in his book 'Old Cheshire Churches.'  Congleton Choral Society is privileged to perform in such majestic surroundings, and is most grateful to the Rector, Rev. Dr. Jeff Cuttell, for making the Society so welcome.

CONGLETON TOWN HALL
The Victorian Gothic architecture of Congleton Town Hall dominates the skyline. The present building was erected in 1864, at a cost of £8,000, and to a design of Mr E W Godwin. It was opened to the public on 11th July 1866. 

Over the years it has suffered many 'improvements'. Typical of these was the erection of a false ceiling in the 1960's, covering up the magnificent hammer-beams in the roof. However, thanks to the energies of local visionaries, the Town Hall is now restored to its former glory. Its wonderful features - including a stone minstrels' gallery - are on view to all.

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