Anyone for singing? Dulwich Choral Society and Forthcoming Concerts!

By Sally-Ann Johnson, with acknowledgement to Michael Goodman, Dulwich Choral Society

Founded in 1944, the Dulwich Choral Society is buzzing friendly choir with 80 members, that puts on three major concerts a year. They perform to a high standard, often with members of major London orchestras and top soloists!

Whilst most performances are held in churches in the Dulwich area, the choir has also appeared in St James’s, Piccadilly, Southwark Cathedral and Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Further afield, they have exported their fabulous singing on overseas trips to Paris, Prague, Venice, Leipzig and Estonia!

DCC started as a local authority evening class which rehearsed in Dulwich Hamlet School, and became independent in the 1970s.

Distinguished young conductor, Aiden Oliver, 31, is the present director of music. Aiden is also director of music at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, the Parliamentary Church next to Westminster Abbey, and founding chorus master of Philharmonia Voices, a professional chorus which works with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, The Pilgrim’s Progress (a dramatic sequence of words and music devised by Aiden Oliver) and The Song of Moses by Thomas Linley the Younger (whose portrait hangs in Dulwich Picture Gallery), are but a sample of past concerts from their varied repertoire.

So what’s coming soon? Sounds a long way off but time flies and so here are two dates to pencil in your diaries if you would like to attend a concert:

• Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and The Passing of of the Year, a virtuoso show piece by British composer, Jonathan Dove. St John’s Church, Auckand Road, Upper Norwood on Saturday 6 December 2008 at 7.30pm.
• Christmas music – a programme from across the ages! St Stephen’s Church, College Road, Dulwich. Monday 22 December 2008 at 6.30pm. Collection in aid of St Christopher’s Hospice.

Do you have a hidden talent for singing? Want to join the choir? The Society always welcome new members. If you are interested, please contact the Membership Secretary, Jo Merry, on 020 7737 3169 or email membership@dulwichchoralsociety.org.uk