Oxshott Choral Society

In December, we took part in our third Kids for Kids Charity concert of Readings and Carols, in conjunction with the Danes Hill Senior Choir, in the beautiful St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge. The charity's aim is to help children and their communities in Darfur by providing them with, among other things, goats and donkeys. You can find out more about their work at the Kids for Kids website. The concert was compered by Alastair Stewart, and along with readings by Prunella Scales and Ruth Rendell, there was a stunning performance of a Bach solo violin Partita by Ruth Palmer, who was the winner of the 2007 Young British Classical Performer Award.

Christmas Concert - St Andrew's, Oxshott 2007

We performed our traditional candlelit concert at St Andrew's, Oxshott, presenting Vivaldi's Gloria and after refreshment of mince pies, sausage rolls and a glass of wine, favourite carols and contemporary festive music. We welcomed and were accompanied by organist and pianist Nigel Wicken. Helen Pritchard and Jane Searle provided the solo entertainment and as always we were in the capable hands of Val Beynon. All proceeds were in aid of a local charity, Epilepsy Action, for whom almost £1400 was raised.

The Spring Concert 2007 - Menuhin Hall

Our last concert of the 2006-2007 season took place in the stunning new Menuhin Hall concert venue in Stoke D'Abernon, where we combined with the senior choir of Danes Hill School. The main work was John Rutter's Mass of the Children, written as a token of gratitude for what the composer describes as the thrillng times he spent as a child chorister singing with adult choirs. The programme continued with a variety of songs and short pieces, with a tribute to Elgar in his 150th anniversary year, two of Matthew Harris's elegant Shakespearean song settings, and traditional spirituals, as well as four songs by the children.

Photo: Kim Hunt

Oxshott Choral Society and
the Danes Hill Senior Choir, with their conductor Valerie Beynon and soloists Helen Pritchard and
Simon Wilson.

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The Leith Hill Musical Festival 2007

We had some success this year, achieving the Highest Aggregate Score in our division, an improvement on last year's 2nd Highest. We also won the Men's Song and the Part Song (both for the second year running), and the Madrigal class. As usual, the whole day was most enjoyable, and it culminated in the combined choir concert, conducted by Brian Kay.

Photo: Kim Hunt

Oxshott Ladies singing
their way to success in
the Ladies' Song

The Combined Choirs of Div. 1
put their differences behind
them (and most of the Ladies out of shot!) on the concert platform, under the baton of the celebrated Mr. Kay

Photo: Kim Hunt

Photo: Kim Hunt

Val Beynon receiving the Mary Wakefield Medal for Highest Aggregate Score from Dr David Betts, Secretary of the RVW Society

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Tour to Belgium 2006

In May, a group of about 50 from the choir and some friends from Canada went on Tour to Belgium. We were based in Ghent and gave concerts in Ghent and Ypres. The weather was mixed but that did not stop us enjoying these beautiful cities. There was a great deal to see and do and several took boat trips round the rivers and canals of Ghent and Bruges, which we also visited. In Ypres many of us visited the superb museum devoted to the experiences of the town in the first world war, a harrowing experience bu extremely well presented. Of course one busy weekend was not nearly enough to do and see everything, especially as time had to be found for the chocolate and lace shops, and I am sure many are planning return visits. Thanks to a lot of hard work by our chairman and members of our committee and the great help of a Belgian agent who accompanied us, everything went very smoothly.

We gave two concerts - one in a secular venue in Ghent and one in a church in Ypres. We sang Mozart's Solemn Vespers at each, followed by different programmes including Vaughan Williams' Valiant for Truth. Both concerts were extremely well received with standing ovations - we were very fortunate to have with us four outstanding soloists and a superb organist. At the church in Ypres, the priest said after the concert that if he could have Rutter's Pie Jesus sung at his funeral, he would die happy!

On Sunday evening we had the great privilege of singing at the Last Post ceremony at the Menen Gate. This has taken place every day since the first world war, being continued in Britain during the occupation of Belgium during the second world war. Ther was a large crowd including schoolchildren, some of whom laid wreathes of poppies and we all found it an extremely moving experience and a real highlight. It was probably the largest crowd the choral society has ever sung to!

It was a challenge adjusting to the very different venues and also preparing two concerts in the short time since Leith Hill but it was unanimously agreed that this was our best tour to date, both socially and musically.

Photo: Kim Hunt

Photo: Kim Hunt

Our Mr Fixit, Gilbert Bongaerts, showing us the sights

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Review of the 2004-2005 Season

Oxshott took part as always in Division One of the Leith Hill Musical Festival.
The two main works were Don Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams and Gloria by Poulenc.
We did not repeat the success we enjoyed last year although the women, singing Windy Nights by Quilter, covered themselves in glory not only by winning the Bovill Cup but also gaining the highest mark on the day.
All the choir had a fantastic time singing with the other choirs at the evening concert held at the Dorking Halls, conducted by Brian Kay and accompanied by the English Festival Orchestra.

Oxshott rounded off another enjoyable year singing together with a spring concert in May. The choir sang a selection of part songs and folk songs, accompanied by Jeremy Barham, and guest soprano, Jane Searle, joined us in a beautiful rendition of Mendelssohn's Hear Our Prayer (including the delightful O for the Wings of a Dove). A talented group of young bassoon players gave the first performance of The Masquerade, written especially for them by Pamela Wedgwood, and the concert finished in true English summer style with wine and strawberries on the patio of the church hall. It was a tremendous success.

The grand finale to our season is the choir party: everyone contributes food and some come with party pieces. It is always great fun and this year was no exception!

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Concert Tour to Prague - May 2003

The following review of our concert tour to Prague was published in the Esher News and Mail in June 2003:

"Members of Oxshott Choral Society recently visited Prague where they gave two performances of Haydn’s St. Nicholas Mass and a selection of shorter works as part of the Prague Spring Festival. The first concert was held in St. Nicholas' Church on the Old Town Square and the second in the Bethlehem Chapel, famous as the church where Jan Huss preached before the Reformation. Both concerts were very well received by an audience of local people and visitors from a variety of countries.

In spite of some unwelcome attention from pickpockets, this was a very enjoyable and successful weekend in perfect spring weather. A walking tour of this most beautiful city was arranged with local guides in addition to an evening of typical Czech food and music at which the Society’s four excellent soloists, Helen Pritchard, Jane Searle, Andrew Morris and Simon Wilson performed to much acclaim."

Performing in St. Nicolas Church in the Old Town Square, Prague (above and left)

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Our Christmas Concert 2001

The following review of our Christmas concert was published in the Esher News and Mail
on 4th January 2002:

'SPIRITED ARRIVAL BY THE QUEEN

OXSHOTT Choral Society gave a performance of Puccini's Messa di Gloria at St. Andrew's Church, Oxshott, last month.

The concert, a popular annual event, was very well received by a capacity audience. The Messa di Gloria was accompanied by two grand pianos, which were provided by Sheargold Pianos Ltd.

After the interval, during which wine and mince pies were served, the two pianists, Richard Smith and Mary Jarvis, gave a spirited rendering of The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and the soloists, Teehan Page and Mark Chaundy, sang the well known duet Au Fond du Temple Saint from Bizet's Pearl Fishers.

During a selection of carols, both old favourites and some less well known, the audience was invited to participate.

More than £900 was raised for the charity Hope and Homes, which works in many countries, providing homes for children who have been orphaned as a result of war. '

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Our Millennium Tour

Performing in the Kloosterkerk in Amsterdam
during our tour to the Netherlands - May 2000

In May 2000, Oxshott Choral Society undertook its first tour to the Netherlands, with 40 members of the choir, 2 soloists, our conductor and our accompanist.
We gave two performances of Faure's Requiem and a selection of short pieces - madrigals, including 'Now is the Month of Maying', and English songs, including Elgar's 'As Torrents in Summer'.

The tour was very successful, the churches very beautiful, the people very friendly and the choir was well received.

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