About Our Choral Society
Our History
Doncaster Choral Society began life towards the end of 1888 under its earlier name of Doncaster Musical Society. Little more than two months after its formation, 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 during the course of the First World War.
The progress of the Society continued and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1938 with a performance of Messiah. Unfortunately, a decrease in membership numbers caused the Society to be disbanded in 1940. However, in 1943 the Doncaster & District Choral Society emerged 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 then the choir’s 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). More recently, and after a change of the name to Doncaster Choral Society, this tradition was continued with the accomplished Alan Eost who was Music Director up to 2010, until our current Music Director Dr Simon Lindley took the helm.
Doncaster Choral Society now
We now have around 70 members and we are delighted and privileged to be under the Directorship of Dr Simon Lindley who has helped our choir to continue to grow and prosper since 2010.
The choir practises every week on Tuesdays from 7.15pm to 9.15pm at the Doncaster College for the Deaf, Leger Way, Doncaster
DN2 6AY in Doncaster. We are delighted to welcome new members to our friendly choir - more details below.
Doncaster Choral Society began life towards the end of 1888 under its earlier name of Doncaster Musical Society. Little more than two months after its formation, 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 during the course of the First World War.
The progress of the Society continued and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1938 with a performance of Messiah. Unfortunately, a decrease in membership numbers caused the Society to be disbanded in 1940. However, in 1943 the Doncaster & District Choral Society emerged 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 then the choir’s 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). More recently, and after a change of the name to Doncaster Choral Society, this tradition was continued with the accomplished Alan Eost who was Music Director up to 2010, until our current Music Director Dr Simon Lindley took the helm.
Doncaster Choral Society now
We now have around 70 members and we are delighted and privileged to be under the Directorship of Dr Simon Lindley who has helped our choir to continue to grow and prosper since 2010.
The choir practises every week on Tuesdays from 7.15pm to 9.15pm at the Doncaster College for the Deaf, Leger Way, Doncaster
DN2 6AY in Doncaster. We are delighted to welcome new members to our friendly choir - more details below.
How to Join
New members very welcome - Some experience of choral singing and an ability to read music are highly desirable
We rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 7.15 - 9.15pm in the main hall at the Doncaster College for the Deaf, Leger Way, Doncaster DN2 6AY.
Entry to the choir is by audition. There is an annual fee, payable by during the first term of each new season
For more information please see contact information on next page
We rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 7.15 - 9.15pm in the main hall at the Doncaster College for the Deaf, Leger Way, Doncaster DN2 6AY.
Entry to the choir is by audition. There is an annual fee, payable by during the first term of each new season
For more information please see contact information on next page
Below:- We rehearse at the Doncaster College for the Deaf on Leger Way. Lots of parking, handy for buses, and easy to cycle to. You may leave you cycle in the rehearsal room, and it will be safe.
