Ruddington and District Choral Society

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About US

Want to be happy? Join a choir!

Ruddington is a large village some five miles south of Nottingham. Ruddington and District Choral Society was formed in 1962 as part of local evening class provision. When the Local Education Authority ceased to fund such activities for adults, the choir became independent. Membership fluctuates, but currently there are some sixty or so members who meet on Monday evenings in Saint Peter’s Junior School, generally following the school terms until Spring Bank Holiday when we break for the summer. Occasionally we rehearse in Ruddington Parish Church, the venue for many of our concerts. We participate in a small number of concerts each year, accompanied usually by organ or by a small group of instrumentalists. We generally give a charity concert at Christmas time, performing a Community Messiah (with audience participation) or a carol concert in alternating years. A genuine welcome is offered to new members who wish to join the choir, which can be initiated by activating ‘join’, above.

Members of our Choral Society

Paul Hayward

Musical Director

Paul Hayward has been the Musical Director since January 2016. He read music at the University of Wales, Bangor with postgraduate study at the University of Aberdeen, as well as holding a variety of diplomas in conducting, composition and organ performance. He chooses, rehearses and directs the music for the choir.

Michael Overbury

Accompanist

Michael Overbury has been the accompanist since January 2016. He was brought up surrounded by classical music and it has been an integral part of his life ever since. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge universities and has performed with countless choirs across the Midlands. He has also worked as a choral conductor and is a regular contributor to Organists’ Review.

The Orchestra

The Ruddington Chamber Ensemble is the choir’s associated orchestra, drawn from a pool of local musicians who come and play with the choir for some of their concerts. The orchestra accompanies choral works, also performing items on their own. One of the aims of Ruddington & District Choral Society, laid down in its Constitution, is to promote the performance of both choral and instrumental works, both on their own and separately.

Messages of Support

“To be part of your local choir is really rewarding. You sing wonderful music, itself life-enhancing. The act of singing helps you relax at the end of a day’s work. It also enhances your social life, as you meet other people and help to build up community spirit. You can invite your friends and relations to your concerts, and they can celebrate with you the satisfaction to be gained from giving a fine performance.”

Dr Stephen Cleobury

Director of Music, King’s College Chapel Choir, Cambridge

“We should never underestimate the value of choral music in the social fabric and musical life of this country: amateur choirs are its very bedrock… The .. basis for the existence of professional choirs in the UK is on the one hand the presence of youth choirs and on the other the significant contribution made by adult amateur choirs in raising public awareness and enthusiasm for choral music. Now, more than ever, we need to cherish those passionate advocates of choral singing and to give wholehearted support to their work”

Sir John Elliot Gardiner

Conductor of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

“I’d also like to extend my thanks to you and the Choral Society for inviting me to sing with you. It has been a few years since my last performance of the Messiah, and the choir, as well as those who came to sing along. aquitted themselves admirably. A splendid performance.”

Peter Nicholson

Tenor

Ruddington and district choral Society