The inaugural meeting of the Society took place on 19 July 1963 and the initial name was Thornbury Music Club and Choir. The first conductor was Pauline Astbury who saw the Society through its birth pangs with some adventurous performances of works such as Edward German’s Merrie England, Haydn’s Creation and Seasons! Thornbury Music Club was frequently involved in the Thornbury Arts Festival often performing the closing concert.
A Young Musicians' Competition was jointly organised by Thornbury Arts Festival and the Music Club. from 1976 to 1992 with prestigious world class musicians as adjudicators. It was replaced by Thornbury Eisteddfod. John Lill was an adjudicator in 1983 and he returned in 2013 to take part in our 50th anniversary celebrations and again in 2015..
In 1975 David Shaw took over as conductor and led the choir through many notable works such as Bach’s B minor Mass and St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Dixit Dominus and Judas Maccabeus, the Mozart Requiem, Elgar’s The Apostles, The Kingdom, Music Makers and Dream of Gerontius, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Verdi’s Requiem and many other choral masterpieces. Simultaneously, the Music Club continued to organise recitals by well-known musicians until 1993, In 1988 the name was changed to the present Thornbury Choral Society after becoming a registered charity.
David Shaw retired in 2000 after 25 years at the helm to be replaced by Eiron Bailey who was with the choir until 2005 when Steven Kings took over and raised the choir to new levels of performance.
The choir also takes part in annual carol concerts in the Thorn Hall at the Sheiling School, under the skilled baton of Kate Phillipson-Masters. This is one of the high spots of Christmas for those members of the choir who take part. Kate also leads members of the Society and others in the pre-Christmas Carol event in St Mary's Centre.
The choir arrange and take part in community singing events and are founder members of the South Cotswold Choral Group who organise workshops and Big Sing events in Tewkesbury Abbey and Gloucester Cathedral.
Our Accompanists
| 1963-1966 1966 1967 1968-1969 1970-1978 1978 1978-2004 2004-2005 2006-2008 2008 2009 2010 Since 2010 |
Helena Wright Jenefer de Salis Joan Kingdon Jenefer de Salis Blyth McClure David Jones Olwen Wonnacott ----------> Amy Bishop Imogen Windsor William Drakett Jonathan Rawles Alex Hiam Robin Baggs |
Olwen Wonnacott has continued to play for the Sheiling School Carol Concert.
Chairmen of the Club/Society
| 1963-1965 1965-1969 1969-1971 1971-1973 1973-1974 1974-1978 1978-1981 1981-1985 1985-1989 1989-1993 1993-1996 1996-2000 2000-2006 2006-2009 2009-2014 2014-2018 2018-2022 2022- |
Stephen Nye Jig Massey Robert Hall Tony Warner Vernon Bland Pauline Astbury Maurice Bell Chris Hunter John Crossley Maureen Bland Ginny Waters Cynthia Black Harry Lane Su Joyce Alison Makepeace Su Joyce Ruth Piolle Alison Makepace |
Secretaries of the Club/Society
| 1963 1964-1969 1969 1970-1972 1972-1977 1977-1979 1979-1982 1982-1986 1986-1989 1989-1994 1994-1996 1996-2000 2000-2003 2003-2013 2013-2019 2019-2022 2022- |
Miss M.Day Ann Hinchcliffe Hilda Swadling K Powell Hilda Swadling Chris Hunter lan Phillipson-Masters Ginny Waters Eric Readman John Lewis Tony Truscott Jennie Morris Simon Nieboer Jos Gregson Margaret Pinder Janet Gregory Mike Elcock |
Treasurers of the Club/Society
|
1963-1969
1969 1970 1971 1972-1979 1979-1983 1983 1984 1985-1988 1988-1992 1992 1993 1994-1998 1998-2000 2000-2003 2003-2007 2007-2011 2011-2013 2013-2018 2018-2020 2020- |
Rita Bintciiffe/Hitchcock
J Pilling Mr Woods Mrs Lacey Mrs Petch Maureen Bland lan Phillipson-Masters Jean Havelock lan Phillipson-Masters Martin Fardell Kate Frearsen Robin Tolcher Geoff Stevens Harry Lane Victoria Osborne Denis Dearnaley lan Phillipson-Masters Wendy Macey Harsha Parmar Ian Phillipson-Masters Geoff Stevens |
