St. Helens Choral Society
St. Helens Choral Society was formed in 1949, after the demise of the Co-operative Choir (when the Co-op was no longer prepared to provide financial support).
A number of enthusiastic members wanted to carry on making music and to look further afield for accomplished soloists. Rehearsals began with 30 to 40 members, at Rivington Road School, then at Ruskin Hall (now the site of new houses), until a permanent venue was found at the Parochial Hall in Ormskirk Street (until it was demolished in 1974). Since 1974 the Society has rehearsed in the hall adjoining the Parish Church of St. Helens. For most of its history, performances have been given in St. Helens Town Hall, whose excellent acoustic has been maintained despite alterations over the years. Concerts were given in the old United Reformed Church in Ormskirk Street (now the site of the NatWest bank), and occasionally in the Theatre Royal. In recent years, St Helens Parish Church has been the regular venue.
For its first two years the choir was conducted by a local schoolteacher, Douglas Kermode. The choir began to grow and John Ramsden took over the baton in 1950. In December that year a performance of Haydn's 'Creation' was given with a chorus of 65 and a 19-strong orchestra plus Edward Baylis on the piano.
As the Society continued to grow in strength and numbers, the choir tackled an ambitious and varied range of works, including Mendelssohn's 'Elijah', 'The Music Makers' by Elgar, 'Merrie England' by Edward German, Brahms' 'Requiem' and, in 1956 the 200th anniversary of his birth, Mozart's 'Requiem'. Opera was also popular, including Verdi's 'Nabucco' and 'Aida', and Gounod's 'Faust'. For Faust, in 1957, the Society was augmented by the delightfully named St. Helens Glee Club.
Some notable singers were attracted to St. Helens as soloists, including Philip Langridge, John Mitchinson, Isobel Baillie, Gladys Ripley and Valerie Masterson. It is also very interesting to see that Gordon Clinton and Pamela Cook both sang for the Society and have been often quoted as the mentors and teachers of some of our more recent soloists who have studied at Birmingham Conservatoire. We have been delighted to have had a long association with the Conservatoire and also with the Royal Northern College of Music.
In 1968 John Ramsden retired, and the Society was extremely fortunate to gain the services of Emrys Jones as its new Musical Director. Under his guidance the Society continued to advance both musically and numerically, giving 3 concerts each year, with 'Messiah' alternating with a carol concert. In December 2000 Emrys Jones retired and conducted his final concert with the Society.
Mention must be made here of Alan Free. Alan was a member of the tenor section for many years, taking rehearsals on occasions when Emrys was absent, and conducted the Society's Rutter concert in November 1997. Because Emrys was unwell, he also took many of the rehearsals for our 50th anniversary concert, 'The Dream of Gerontius', when the choir numbered over 90 members. Also in 1997, Alan went on to found and conduct the St. Helens Sinfonietta, a professional chamber orchestra now enjoying a very successful tenth anniversary series of concerts.
Emrys Jones was succeeded in 2001 by Paul Chamberlain who conducted the Society until April 2003. At the October concert that year the Society was conducted by its new Musical Director Anthony Osborne, who remained with the Society until Spring 2007, when he moved on to sing with Glyndebourne Opera Company. The spring concert in 2007 was conducted by Peter Kwater, who became our musical director.
Good choral music requires not only a good director, but also good soloists, accompanists and orchestra. We have been fortunate over the years to have had the services of Edward Baylis, Mavis Pimblet, Doris Bridge and no doubt others. Judi Blakemore, who was our accompanist for 23 year up until 2010, also composed and we had the opportunity to sing some of her compositions. Our current accompanist is Michael Wynne.
Harold Chivers was the first orchestra leader and Pat Donnelly led the orchestra for many years, becoming the first leader of St Helens Sinfonietta. Some of our soloists have come to us whilst still at college and we have been delighted to hear and see their careers develop. Many come back to St Helens time after time. Special mention must be made of Philip Ravenscroft, whose rich and powerful bass voice was heard in St. Helens for some 25 years until his retirement.
We look forward to many more years of performing good choral music in St. Helens.
A number of enthusiastic members wanted to carry on making music and to look further afield for accomplished soloists. Rehearsals began with 30 to 40 members, at Rivington Road School, then at Ruskin Hall (now the site of new houses), until a permanent venue was found at the Parochial Hall in Ormskirk Street (until it was demolished in 1974). Since 1974 the Society has rehearsed in the hall adjoining the Parish Church of St. Helens. For most of its history, performances have been given in St. Helens Town Hall, whose excellent acoustic has been maintained despite alterations over the years. Concerts were given in the old United Reformed Church in Ormskirk Street (now the site of the NatWest bank), and occasionally in the Theatre Royal. In recent years, St Helens Parish Church has been the regular venue.
For its first two years the choir was conducted by a local schoolteacher, Douglas Kermode. The choir began to grow and John Ramsden took over the baton in 1950. In December that year a performance of Haydn's 'Creation' was given with a chorus of 65 and a 19-strong orchestra plus Edward Baylis on the piano.
As the Society continued to grow in strength and numbers, the choir tackled an ambitious and varied range of works, including Mendelssohn's 'Elijah', 'The Music Makers' by Elgar, 'Merrie England' by Edward German, Brahms' 'Requiem' and, in 1956 the 200th anniversary of his birth, Mozart's 'Requiem'. Opera was also popular, including Verdi's 'Nabucco' and 'Aida', and Gounod's 'Faust'. For Faust, in 1957, the Society was augmented by the delightfully named St. Helens Glee Club.
Some notable singers were attracted to St. Helens as soloists, including Philip Langridge, John Mitchinson, Isobel Baillie, Gladys Ripley and Valerie Masterson. It is also very interesting to see that Gordon Clinton and Pamela Cook both sang for the Society and have been often quoted as the mentors and teachers of some of our more recent soloists who have studied at Birmingham Conservatoire. We have been delighted to have had a long association with the Conservatoire and also with the Royal Northern College of Music.
In 1968 John Ramsden retired, and the Society was extremely fortunate to gain the services of Emrys Jones as its new Musical Director. Under his guidance the Society continued to advance both musically and numerically, giving 3 concerts each year, with 'Messiah' alternating with a carol concert. In December 2000 Emrys Jones retired and conducted his final concert with the Society.
Mention must be made here of Alan Free. Alan was a member of the tenor section for many years, taking rehearsals on occasions when Emrys was absent, and conducted the Society's Rutter concert in November 1997. Because Emrys was unwell, he also took many of the rehearsals for our 50th anniversary concert, 'The Dream of Gerontius', when the choir numbered over 90 members. Also in 1997, Alan went on to found and conduct the St. Helens Sinfonietta, a professional chamber orchestra now enjoying a very successful tenth anniversary series of concerts.
Emrys Jones was succeeded in 2001 by Paul Chamberlain who conducted the Society until April 2003. At the October concert that year the Society was conducted by its new Musical Director Anthony Osborne, who remained with the Society until Spring 2007, when he moved on to sing with Glyndebourne Opera Company. The spring concert in 2007 was conducted by Peter Kwater, who became our musical director.
Good choral music requires not only a good director, but also good soloists, accompanists and orchestra. We have been fortunate over the years to have had the services of Edward Baylis, Mavis Pimblet, Doris Bridge and no doubt others. Judi Blakemore, who was our accompanist for 23 year up until 2010, also composed and we had the opportunity to sing some of her compositions. Our current accompanist is Michael Wynne.
Harold Chivers was the first orchestra leader and Pat Donnelly led the orchestra for many years, becoming the first leader of St Helens Sinfonietta. Some of our soloists have come to us whilst still at college and we have been delighted to hear and see their careers develop. Many come back to St Helens time after time. Special mention must be made of Philip Ravenscroft, whose rich and powerful bass voice was heard in St. Helens for some 25 years until his retirement.
We look forward to many more years of performing good choral music in St. Helens.
