Wymondham Choral Society

Wymondham Choral Society was formed in September 1980. We are affiliated to Making Music and aim to perform a wide range of choral works from early music to the present day. Our repertoire has ranged from 8th century plainchant to new compositions by one of our former accompanists, Anthony Joule. It includes Masses, oratorios, anthems, operatic choruses, part songs, madrigals and Christmas carols.

The Society attracts members from a wide area: from Norwich in the north to Watton in the west. We enjoy the privilege of singing in some of the area’s most beautiful churches, usually in Norwich, Wymondham Abbey and Attleborough. Concerts are performed to high musical standards with professional soloists and often with an orchestra. Our three major annual performances help raise money for charities chosen by our members.

Following a triumphant return to a packed Wymondham Abbey last summer Wymondham Choral Society will be back at the Abbey on Saturday 13th July.  This time they will be performing Haydn’s choral masterpiece The Creation.

The Choir has performed three concerts over the past year. In March the audience at St. Mary’s Church in Attleborough was treated to the hauntingly beautiful Sunrise Mass by contemporary composer Ola Gjeilo followed by a delightful selection of choral classics.

A wonderful winter concert, conducted by Claire Dixon, began with a confident performance of Howard Goodall’s recent work Christmas Cantata with a seasonal selection of music including Vaughan Williams’ popular Fantasia on Christmas Carols in the second half.

In July the Choral Society presented a programme featuring Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae solemnes de confessore  with outstanding soloists and an invited orchestra. They were delighted to receive very positive reviews

“… the choir produced page after page of confident sound with good attention to detail regarding the mood and sound of each section.”

The upcoming concert features a work considered by many to be Haydn’s crowning masterpiece, The Creation. It is based on both the biblical book of Genesis and Milton’s Paradise Lost. With its roof-raising choruses and lyrical melodies this promises to be a spectacular evening with professional soloists and an invited orchestra.

This will be the final concert for the Choral Society conducted by Claire Dixon.  Claire has been with the choir for many years, firstly as an accompanist and since 2004 as their Musical Director.  The choir has flourished under her leadership and will be very sad to see her go but hopes that she enjoys her well deserved retirement.

Tickets, £15 (under 19s free) are available on the door or online:

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/eventlist/eventListingAccount/wcs

WCS always welcomes new members and supporters, aiming to encourage more people to enjoy singing.