Grantham’s own choral society - In very fine voice and ready to rise to the challenge
Throughout its 60-year history Grantham Choral Society concerts have been a comfy fixture in the town’s diary. Over time, the Society has grown, not only in terms of numbers and reach but in confidence as well. Aware that its own abilities are usually a reflection of the qualities its Musical Directors can bring, Grantham has always played a good game in this respect.
Their last MD, Philip Robinson, hugely respected as a conductor, musician, music teacher, and scholar throughout the East Midlands took them to new heights in terms of performances. GCS productions of challenging works, Jeptha, Goodall’s Eternal Light and Mozart’s Requiem all spring to mind.
His decision in 2019 to retire and take on the role of President, helping to guide The Society to take a long hard look at what the future might look like for large singing groups, enabled the appointment of a forward thinking and charismatic MD who could help the group address the challenges of choral singing in the 21st Century.
David Humphreys, a Cambridge Music Scholar and student of the Royal Academy, was deputising for the Head of Music at Peterborough Cathedral who was on long term leave. David, also recognised internationally for the brilliance of his organ recitals, was looking for yet another challenge. With both David and Grantham’s searches over and with GCS recognising it was able to secure a young musician of undoubted quality to lead it, the time had arrived for GCS to begin another stage in its evolution. To identify and appeal to a younger singer and younger audience,
Unhappily, no sooner had David been appointed and the Society had given its first major concert under his leadership than Covid arrived.
Since the pandemic began its retreat, and the world (and the Society) began its rebuild the Society’s management structure began its evolution.
No article on GCS is complete without an acknowledgment of the role played by Gill Charles in that evolution. Having been with the choir for longer than she dares remember and its chair for the last 9 years Gill decided in the summer to put her feet up and step away from the operational side of the choir’s business. Teri Deal, GCS’ new Chair on describing the contribution made by her predecessor said “There are no words to describe Gill’s contribution to the choir both in terms of value and yards covered.” “She has lived it, breathed it and owns several of the T-Shirts! Gill’s finest moment was her last concert as Chair and her triumph in managing us through Verdi’s Requiem in Ely Cathedral earlier this year. A fantastic piece of work reflecting a fantastic lady”
Teri, a well-known local singing teacher and opera professional comes to the role brimmingwith good ideas and full ofoptimism for the future of the Society and group choral singing in general. “My reasons for taking on the job are simple: I want to grow the society in terms of membership and output; also, to attract new younger singers; having ‘done the maths’ I am absolutely confident that we can do this. Grantham is a great place for a group such as ours. We have 3 concerts before the end of the year. All of these involve collaboration with local schools. We are collaborating with students at Grantham College on new branding for GCS and we are in talks about a concert next Season involving young people. I am so excited by all this. Of course, with David Humphreys I have a top-notch Musical Director to rely on and there is nothing that our Society Secretary Fiona Zealey does not know about running a tight ship. I am blessed having them alongside me.”
This Saturday evening sees GCS performing at ChristChurch, Finkin Street, its Peace and Remembrance Concert with music by amongst others, Elgar, Vaughan Wiliams, Dove and Todd. The Society sees this as the perfect antidote to all the unpleasantness that hits us every time we turn on the news. Come and listen to some really lovely pieces. The society is being accompanied by well-known local musicians as well as the choir of Grantham Prep School who lend beauty and a real atmosphere to pieces that balance our world.
For their 2 Christmas carol concerts Grantham Choral Society are inviting anyone who wants to know what it’s like to sing in a choir and perform in a concert to experience this for the first time. Teri Deal says “Folk love to sing either Christmas carols or the Christmas songs made famous in more modern times. Our two concertsare an annual event in the townand the fact that folk return year on year to listen to them suggests we are doing something right. This year we want to encourage folk who are interested in singing with us to use these as ‘taster’ events. Come along to our practice nights each Tuesday at Grantham Prep School from Tuesday 18 November through to Tuesday 9 December. Here you will learn the subtleties and variety that carols can offer beyond the well-known tunes and learn some new ones. You will then be invited to sing at our planned concerts on the 14 and 17 December. In this way you will really get to know and understand the joy of singing. Imagine ‘Gareth Malone’s The Choir’ – only better and done in half the time!