Welcome to the website of

Bookham Choral Society

Registered Charity No. 1058863

 
We are a very friendly society of about 80 singers. Have a look through the website for information about us, our conductor and our programme. If you like what you see, why not come along and meet us. You can be sure of a warm welcome.

	Conductor/Musical director & Accompanist
BCS - an introduction		Our Next Concert
Current Programme for 2008/9		Contact us
	Links

Bookham Choral Society - a brief introduction

Origins

The Society was formed in 1927 with the general objective of promoting choral music in the locality and the more specific one of taking part in the annual Leith Hill Musical Festival held in Dorking which at that time had already been running for more than 20 years. [Left: Leith Hill tower]

Activities

Participation in the Leith Hill Festival remains at the heart of the Society's activities, but we also give concerts in the early summer and in the autumn, plus up to three carol concerts in the village at Christmas. Most of our concerts are performed in Bookham or Leatherhead but we are now looking at other possibilities. This year's programme.

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Rehearsals

Our season runs from early September through to the end of June or early July and we rehearse during that period on Tuesday evenings from 7.45 - 9.45pm at the United Reformed Church hall in Eastwick Road, Bookham.

Membership

Our membership at present is around 80 and ages range from the twenties to the seventies. New members are always welcome. We have no auditions or other entry formalities; the only requirement is that you enjoy singing and can sing in tune!

Money Matters

Members pay an annual subscription, currently about £70 with concessions for those at both ends of the age range. Various fundraising events are held during the year

More information

We will be glad to answer any questions you may have. You can contact us by clicking on Contact Us

Interested?

Why not drop in on one of our rehearsals without commitment? We rehearse at Bookham United Reformed Church (the corner of Eastwick Road and Keswick Road) on Tuesdays from early September at 8.00pm. We'll be delighted to see new singers at 7.45pm.

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Our Conductor/Musical Director: Keith Willis

Through his work Keith has been associated with youth music in Surrey for many years. Despite the increasing demands of senior management posts in Surrey County Council, he counts himself very fortunate to have shared music making with so many talented young musicians in Surrey County Youth Orchestra which he conducted for 16 years. As pianist and conductor he has worked with many fine musicians-among them John Lill, Colin Bradbury, Jack Brymer, Julian Lloyd Weber, Michael Collins, Emma Johnson, Crispin Steele-Perkins, Meredith Davies, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Charles Groves, Vernon Handley and Christopher Adey.

He has a particular passion for chamber music and is currently involved with a number of group including piano trios, quartets and quintets which perform under the umbrella titles of Surrey Soloists, Aegean Ensemble and Toccata.

He has travelled widely in his performing career and has given concerts in many parts of the world including, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Holland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia ,Turkey, Israel, Egypt, the USA and throughout the UK.

Conducting engagements include the Mahler Orchestra, Dorking Chamber Orchestra, Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, Bookham Choral Society, Reading Bach Choir, Reading University Chamber Choir, St Albans Youth Chamber Choir, Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra, Opera Brava and the Grange Choir.

As a music educator, Keith has been Chair of the National Association of Music Educators and worked with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and Ofsted on a range of projects of national importance. He has been a guest lecturer at Reading, London and North Middlesex Universities and adjudicator for competitions at the Royal College, Guildhall and for the Leith Hill Festival. Having recently left his post as Head of Culture for Surrey County, he now heads Outreach at the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Keith is honorary music adviser to the Gustav Mahler Society UK and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. We are privileged indeed to have him both as the Society‘s President and our Director of Music.

Our Accompanist: Gina Eason

Gina has lived and worked in the Dorking area for many years and accompanies extensively in Surrey and Sussex on both piano and organ. She also directs two church choirs and two ladies' choirs and is accompanist to three choral societies. Gina studied composition with Lennox Berkeley and has composed extensively for church choirs, including a setting for The Common Worship Parish Eucharist.

She is also a keen chamber musician on the cello and plays recorder in an early music consort. Her other interests include painting and drawing, enjoying the countryside and coast, walking and gardening.

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SUMMER CONCERT

28 June 2008 - 7.30pm at St Nicolas Church, Bookham

Elizabethan Reflections

A miscellany of original songs, keyboard music and words from the time of Queen Elizabeth 1st. With additional music inspired by the Elizabethans from 19th, 20th and 21st Century composers.

The programme included music by the following:-

Tickets: Adults £10.00, students and children £1.00. Includes free programme and interval refreshments, available by phone from Pat Hunter, (01372 457705), 'Cascade' in Bookham High Street, or Corbetts Bookshop, Leatherhead.

OUR 2008/9 PROGRAMME

COME AND SING

Tuesday 2nd September 2008, 7.45pm

We are actively seeking new recruits and if the idea of singing choral music attracts you then come and have a go! We do not hold auditions but we do ask that you are able to sing in tune!

We will start at 7.45 p.m. and it will be at our normal place of rehearsal which is the United Reformed Church in Eastwick Road Bookham.

If you enjoy yourself and want to become a member, then come to our enrolment evening for the start of the season which is on 9th September.

AUTUMN CONCERT

Jubilate!
Joyful Music for Voices and Strings

Magnificat - Pergolesi
Alles was Ihr tut - Buxtehude
and other short pieces.

Saturday 15th November 2008 - 7.30pm at St John's School Chapel, Leatherhead

Tickets: Adults £10.00, students and children £1.00 including free programme and interval drink, available by phone (01372 457705), 'Cascade' in Bookham High Street, or Corbetts Bookshop, Leatherhead.

CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERTS

Saturday 13th December - 8.00pm at St Nicolas Church, Bookham

Tickets - Adults £7.00
Students and children £3.50
Drinks and a mince pie will be served during the interval.

Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th December - 8.00pm at The Barn Hall, Bookham

Tickets - Adults £7.00
Students and children £3.50
Drinks and a mince pie will be served during the interval.

COFFEE MORNING

Saturday 7th February 2009, 10.00am to mid day

Come and meet us. There will be coffee, tea and cakes as well as many stalls for books, music, CD's etc, jewellery plants and bric a brac.

LEITH HILL MUSICAL FESTIVAL

Friday 17th April 2009

7.30 pm The Dorking Halls

Programme: As part of the Leith Hill music Festival the Choir joins with other choirs in the district

Zadok the Priest - Handel
Blessed are they that consider the poor - Handel
A great and glorious victory - J Willcocks
Hark all ye lovely saints - Weelkes
The gift to be simple - arr. Chilcott
False Phillis - Thiman
How lovely are thy dwellings - Henry Smart
A sweet country life - Imogen Holst

CONTACT US

Tickets for concerts may be obtained by:-

Ringing our ticket secretary Pat Hunter on 01372 457705.

Ordering direct from any choir member.

Purchasing from 'Cascade' in Bookham High Street

By email from bandh.maurice@uwclub.net

For potential choir members or any other questions please ring Liz May on 01372 458811

If you would like to be put on our mailing list for future performances please give your name and address to Pat Hunter on the above telephone number, or email us at bandh.maurice@uwclub.net .