Update 19 June 2021
Everyone : With the government's Step 3 plan now extended by another four weeks, the hopes of having at least some mixed live/Zoom rehearsals have disappeared. With HMG continuing its refusal to address the case for the return of amateur singing indoors to a more equal level with other comparable activities, it has been decided to close this disappointing season now. Under normal circumstances the season would have ended around now anyway. So please look out for news of our hopeful return in September for a brand new season.
Choir Members : Please keep an eye on your emails - there are plans afoot for you to "Come-n Sing on the Common" one Monday early evening if it can be arranged!
Update 20 May 2021
Choir Members : Our return to rehearsing plans for last week had to be abandoned at the 11th hour. We will have to remain in an online mode for the next few weeks, which is very disappointing. Please see Sarah's latest newsletter in which she invites you to write to your MP in support of the campaign to reverse the government's decision that prevents groups larger than 6 from meeting.
Update 17 May 2021
Choir Members : Plans for returning to some hybrid live/Zoom rehearsing tonight have to be put back on hold. Advice and confirmation from various sources have not been forthcoming as hoped so we have no option but to postpone.
Welcome to Wimbledon Choral Society and our website. We are a choir of 180 or so members drawn from a wide range of ages, professions and backgrounds, and have a reputation for giving concerts of the highest quality presented with professional soloists and orchestras.
"Where some amateur choruses can give the impression of dutiful performers, how heartening it was to see singers of all ages who clearly adore singing."
"... one of the most substantial and formidable choirs in London ... a vigorous and sophisticated choral ensemble ..."
"... the impressive Wimbledon Choral Society ..."
Barry Millington, Evening Standard
"Wimbledon Choral Society make a lovely sound - clean, clear and bright. The uninhibited expressivity of those who sing for pleasure with no payment is distinct from the polished virtuosity of the professional choir. Scan the faces of the singers, here more than 200, and all you see is pride and excitement, a sense of investment and ownership [that] was justified in this concert."
Anna Picard, The Times
"The Wimbledon Choral Society were magnificent. Nothing seemed out of place - the women angelic, the men monastic - the intonation and timing exquisite. Neil Ferris controlled the chorus, soloists and Philharmonia impeccably."
Marc Bridle, Opera Today
Click here to read more feedback we've had about our performances.
The season runs from September to June and typically consists of three main concerts in major venues in and around London and a local Christmas concert in the Wimbledon area. As well as promoting its own concerts, the choir is invited regularly to participate in other events with several of Britain’s leading orchestras and in collaboration with other choirs. The 2021/22 season with likely start on Monday 6th September. See our
Join Us page for further details of when potential new members normally would be welcome to come along.
The concert plans for 2021/22 include Mozart 'Great' Mass in C minor in November (Cadogan Hall), Handel Messiah in March and the Rachmaninov All-Night Vigil in June (Southwark Cathedral).
Much of the 2019/20 and all of the 2020/21 seasons were lost to the Covid-19 pandemic and all of the choir's activities had to go online for as much as could be organised. Huge thanks to the executive and music teams for managing this so well, with both sensitivity and also great imagination to keep the online Monday rehearsal sessions so interesting. It took an enormous amount of planning and the choir is extremely grateful. Here's hoping for a far more stable footing for 2021/22.
Clips featuring and about the choir can be found on the Hear Us page. Whether you are interested in
hearing us,
joining us,
supporting us or
hiring us, please follow the links above or
contact us. If you would like to be kept up to date with all the latest concert news and promotional offers then please join our mailing list.
Please also consider supporting us with your online shopping. It won't cost you a penny but would help us enormously to maintain our high level of quality in our performances and other projects. Further details on how to do this can be found
here. One notable project at present is funding the recording of our 100th anniversary commission, Cecilia McDowall's
Da Vinci Requiem in February 2022. If you would like to find out more about this endeavour then please visit
this page.
Wimbledon Choral Society is a registered charity in England & Wales (No. 263150) with a Constitution, approved by the Charity Commission. The Annual Report and associated annual Accounts Statement are approved at the Society's AGM and are published and made available on the Charity Commission's website for public viewing.
