About Our Choral Society
Doncaster Choral Society today
We are delighted to have appointed Matt Beckingham as our new Musical Director in 2023. Matt is building on the excellent traditions of DCS and inspiring us to grow and prosper as a Choral Society.
We rehearse weekly in Cantley Methodist Church, and for our 2023-24 season we are performing in St Jude's Church in Hexthorpe. We typically give around four concerts a year, performing with professional musicians and soloists from across the region and beyond.
Our accompanist at rehearsals is experienced local musician Simon Corner, who is a professional church musician and accompanist.
We are delighted to have appointed Matt Beckingham as our new Musical Director in 2023. Matt is building on the excellent traditions of DCS and inspiring us to grow and prosper as a Choral Society.
We rehearse weekly in Cantley Methodist Church, and for our 2023-24 season we are performing in St Jude's Church in Hexthorpe. We typically give around four concerts a year, performing with professional musicians and soloists from across the region and beyond.
Our accompanist at rehearsals is experienced local musician Simon Corner, who is a professional church musician and accompanist.
"My vision is to see Doncaster as a singing city, a city where choral music is king and key to what the city does and is known for. For Doncaster to be a city where the youngest to the eldest all sing. Where communities are brought together through song. Where song becomes a common language. Where our unity is brought about and celebrated through the shared experience of using the sung voice. That is my hope for our city."
Matt Beckingham 2023 DCS reception
Who's who at DCS
DCS is run by a hard-working and dedicated committee, whose members are elected at our AGM. With grateful thanks, the current (2023-24) role holders are:
You can read our formal constitution here.
DCS is run by a hard-working and dedicated committee, whose members are elected at our AGM. With grateful thanks, the current (2023-24) role holders are:
- Chair: Kay Marriott
- Secretary: Marg Hunt (outgoing)
- Treasurer: Ruth Pridham
- Vice Chair: in process of being filled
- Librarian: Carol Stokoe
- Publicity Officer: Marija Bratcher
- Registrar: Sue Pickering
- Ticket Secretary: Marion Emmerson
- Concert Manager: Kimberly Sewell
You can read our formal constitution here.
Matt and choir dress rehearsal for our 'Summer Lollipops' concert in May 2023 in Alder Grove Methodist Church, with our accompanist for the performance, Jonathan Gooing.
Our distinguished history
Doncaster Choral Society began life towards the end of 1888 under its earlier name of Doncaster Musical Society. Just two months after its formation, the Messiah was presented with 230 performers and J M Kirk as its first conductor. Membership flourished and, in a little more than five years, Kirk had established the Society on a firm basis and memorable performances were given.
So things continued until 1915 when there was a break of four years due to the First World War. The progress of the Society then continued and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1938 with a performance of Messiah. Unfortunately, a decrease in membership numbers at the outbreak of the Second World War caused the Society to be disbanded in 1940.
In 1943 the Doncaster & District Choral Society was founded with most of the DMS’s members joining the new society. The first concert in 1945 was Acis and Galatea under its new conductor Eric Curtis, whose association with the choir lasted 25 years.
The choir was then directed for the next sixteen years by Robert Lawrence with increased numbers of members and an associated restoration of self-confidence.
Since the 1980s, the choir’s membership numbers have waxed and waned but the quality of its performances has continued to improve and the range of its repertoire expanded, especially under its distinguished conductor, the late Dr Roger Bullivant MBE, appointed in 1986 and continuing in office until 2003.
Throughout its life the Society has enjoyed the services of other notable musical directors of the calibre of Wilfrid Sanderson and Dr Percy Saunders, incumbent musicians at St George’s Parish Church (now Doncaster Minster).
After a formal change of the name to Doncaster Choral Society, this tradition was continued with the accomplished Music Directors Alan Eost to 2010 and his successor Dr Simon Lindley until he stepped down in 2022.
On our concert pages you can find information about all our concerts from 1939 to the present day,
Doncaster Choral Society began life towards the end of 1888 under its earlier name of Doncaster Musical Society. Just two months after its formation, the Messiah was presented with 230 performers and J M Kirk as its first conductor. Membership flourished and, in a little more than five years, Kirk had established the Society on a firm basis and memorable performances were given.
So things continued until 1915 when there was a break of four years due to the First World War. The progress of the Society then continued and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1938 with a performance of Messiah. Unfortunately, a decrease in membership numbers at the outbreak of the Second World War caused the Society to be disbanded in 1940.
In 1943 the Doncaster & District Choral Society was founded with most of the DMS’s members joining the new society. The first concert in 1945 was Acis and Galatea under its new conductor Eric Curtis, whose association with the choir lasted 25 years.
The choir was then directed for the next sixteen years by Robert Lawrence with increased numbers of members and an associated restoration of self-confidence.
Since the 1980s, the choir’s membership numbers have waxed and waned but the quality of its performances has continued to improve and the range of its repertoire expanded, especially under its distinguished conductor, the late Dr Roger Bullivant MBE, appointed in 1986 and continuing in office until 2003.
Throughout its life the Society has enjoyed the services of other notable musical directors of the calibre of Wilfrid Sanderson and Dr Percy Saunders, incumbent musicians at St George’s Parish Church (now Doncaster Minster).
After a formal change of the name to Doncaster Choral Society, this tradition was continued with the accomplished Music Directors Alan Eost to 2010 and his successor Dr Simon Lindley until he stepped down in 2022.
On our concert pages you can find information about all our concerts from 1939 to the present day,
