Our History
Halesowen Choral Society was formed in 1960 with the object of study and practice of choral music and concert performances of choral works.
HALESOWEN CHORAL SOCIETY perform four concerts each year, mainly concentrating on the classical repertoire except for the summer concert when the programme contains a lighter selection of music.
Stephen Davis has been leading the choir since 2004 and brings with him a very impressive CV of concert performance both as a tenor soloist and a conductor.
Sarah Marshall, our rehearsal accompanist, too is an accomplished musician playing piano and violin.
Colin Lee conducted the choir for many years prior to him handing over the reins to Stephen, due to ill health. Colin made a significant contribution to the choir and he was responsible for advancing the membership of the choir during his tenure.
Our People.
STEPHEN DAVIS. After an initial course of study with Mary Parsons, Stephen studied with Brian Raynor-Cook at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he was a finalist in the prestigious Canoldir Choir Competition, and winner of the English Song Competition and also studied conducting with Roy Wales and Jonathan Delmar. After graduating with distinction, Stephen studied with Jessica Cash, Pamela Cook and Ian Partridge.
Stephen has appeared as soloist with many of the leading choirs in the Midlands, most notably Ex Cathedra, the region’s foremost chamber choir and has also sung with the Britten Singers, Northern Voices, London Voices, The Academy of Ancient Music and the Schütz Choir and has broadcasted regularly on Radio 4 with BBC Manchester’s Daily Service Singers.
He has been involved in Ex Cathedra’s education work since its inception, visiting primary and secondary schools to coach choirs and give support to the teachers; he is a member of the ‘Singing Medicine’ team, making weekly visits to Birmingham Children’s Hospital to deliver singing workshops to individual children at their bedside and groups where applicable. The project has now been running for more than twenty years.
Stephen has been Musical Director of Halesowen Choral Society since 2004 and was founder and conductor of Elmdon Choral Society until 2015 when, unfortunately, the choir closed. He is also in demand as guest conductor for a number of choirs and has delivered several workshops for the Midland Early Music Forum.
Sarah Marshall has been the Rehearsal Accompanist for Halesowen Choral Society since September 2003. She grew up in Bedfordshire and studied music at the University of Birmingham where she took music lessons with Dane Preece and violin lessons with David Herd. Sarah works as a primary school teacher in Earlswood, Solihull. She plays violin in the Sinfonia of Birmingham and the Central England Ensemble. Sarah also plays first violin in the Turner String Quartet for weddings and other functions.
Su Dymond was educated at Halesowen Grammar School and had piano lessons from the age of 16 with Janice Williams at Birmingham School of Music. She went on to study music at Durham University. She gained her PGCE at Birmingham University followed by a postgraduate music research degree at Exeter University. She has taught music locally for many years and is very enthusiastic about amateur music-making. Su deputises for Sarah and Stephen when needed.
Colin Lee conducted the choir from 1983 during which time the choir performed a variety of works by Vivaldi, C.P.E. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Rossini, Berlioz, Liszt, Fauré, Duruflé, Elgar, Vaughan-Williams and Rutter as well as Carols by Candlelight. Previous posts Colin held during his teaching career were as Choirmaster to the Birmingham Grammar Schools’ Choir working with Christopher Robinson and then as conductor of the Birmingham Schools’ Festival Choir. Colin had considerable experience as a conductor of opera performing G&S operas and Britten’s Noye’s Flood and Let’s make an Opera whilst a teacher at Lordswood Boys’ School. For twenty years he was musical director of Midland Music Makers Opera conducting twenty-one operas, mainly major works not in the general repertory. These included the first performance in Britain of Wagner’s early opera Die Feen, the first performance in the Midlands of Wolf-Ferrari’s The Jewels of the Madonna, a rare performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans, as well as operas by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Bizet, Vaughan-Williams and Stanford.
Recent Concerts
<2023>
Handel Samson
Summer Concert
‘Music for a Summer Eve’
Handel Messiah
Carols by Candlelight
< 2022 >
Fauré Requiem
Vivaldi Gloria
Summer Concert performance of
Mikado
Gilbert and Sullivan
Pergolesi Magnificat
Handel Gloria
Handel Dixit Dominus
Carols by Candlelight
< 2021 >
Mozart Requiem
< 2019 >
Mendelsson St Paul with
Brierley Hill Choral Society
Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra
Summer Concert
‘Favourite Opera Choruses’
Purcell Come Ye Sons of Art
Bach Sleepers Awake
Carols by Candlelight
< 2018 >
Stainer Crucifiction
Summer Concert
Songs from the Shows
Handel Messiah
Carols by Candlelight
< 2017 >
Dvořák Stabat Mater
Summer Concert
‘Summer Serenade’
Mozart Coronation Mass
Haydn Nelson Mass
Carols by Candlelight
< 2016 >
Handel Coronation Anthems
Haydn Little Organ Mass
Goodall Eternal Light: A Requiem
Summer Concert
‘The Magic of Gilbert and Sullivan’
HMS Pinafore
Trial by Jury
Handel Saul
Carols by Candlelight
< 2015 >
Menselssohn Elijah with
Brierley Hill Choral Society,
Elmdon Choral Society and
Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra
Summer Concert
‘These you have loved’
Handel Messiah
Carols by Candlelight
< 2014 >
John Blow The Lord is my Shepherd & other Anthems
Handel Foundling Hospital Anthem & Passion of Christ
Summer Concert
‘Operetta Extravaganza’
Mozart Confessore Vespers
Haydn Theresa Mass
Handel Messiah Choruses
Carols by Candlelight
< 2013 >
Haydn The Seasons
Summer Concert
‘Summer Seranade’
Handel Acis and Galatea
Monteverdi Beatus Vir
Messiah Choruses
Carols by Candlelight
< 2012 >
Handel Judas Maccabaeus
Summer Concert
‘Popular Music & Entertainment’
Orff Carmina Burana
Carols by Candlelight
< 2011 >
Mozart Requiem
Schubert Mass in ‘G’
Summer Concert
‘Music from 40s 50s & 60s’
Handel Hymn for St Cecilia’s Day
Rutter Psalmfest
Handel Messiah
< 2010 >
Haydn Creation
Bach Sleepers Wake
Haydn St Nicholas Mass
Handel Sing unto God
< 2009 >
Duruflé Requiem
Rutter Requiem
Summer Concert
‘These you have loved’
Handel Messiah
Britten St Nicholas
Carols by Candlelight
< 2008 >
Rossini Petite Messe Solenelle
Handel Messiah
Carols by Candlelight
< 2007 >
Haydn Masses
Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha
St George’s Day Concert
Summer Concert
‘Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo
Carols by Candlelight
< 2006 >
An Evening of Purcell
Winter Oratorio - Chris Davis
Gloria - Martin Bates
Summer Concert
‘Trial by Jury’
Purcell Dido and Anaeus
Handel Messiah
< 2005 >
Vivaldi Gloria
Fauré Requiem
Bach Christmas Oratorio
Vivaldi Stabat Mater
Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine
Carols by Candlelight
< 2004 >
Rutter Psalmfest
Beethoven Mass in C
Stanford Requiem
Handel Messiah
< 2003 >
Mozart Litaniae de Beata Virgine
Mozart Stabat Mater
Haydn The Seasons
Carols by Candlelight
< 2002 >
Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise
Mozart Requiem
Handel Samson
Carols by Candlelight
<2001>
Finzi God is Gone Up
Mozart Missa Brevis
Haydn Mass in Time of War
CPE Bach Magnificat
Rutter Magnificat
<2000>
Vaughan William Benedicite
Rutter Sprig of Thyme
Vaughan Williams Pilgrim’s Journey
Duruflé Requiem
Handel Messiah
Earlier Concerts
<1999>
Mozart Vesperae Sollennes
Haydn Nelson Mass
Vivaldi Gloria
Berlioz Childhood of Christ
Carols by Candlelight
<1998>
Haydn Creation
Handel Zadok the Priest
Handel Alexander’s Feast
Carols by Candlelight
<1997>
Schubert Mass in G
Dvorak Stabat Mater
Charpentier Messe de Minuit pour Noel
Rutter Magnificat
<1996>
Mozart Requiem
Haydn The Seasons
Handel Messiah
<1995>
Holst Five Part Songs
Grainger Lincolnshire Posy
Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle
Purcell King Arthur
Carols by Candlelight
<1994>
Handel Solomon
J S Bach Zion Hear the Watchmen’s Voices
Vivaldi Gloria
Haydn St Nicholas Mass
<1993>
Mozart Ave Verum Corpus
CPE Bach Magnificat
Rutter Requiem
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols
<1992>
JS Bach Christmas Oratorio Pt 3
Carols by Candlelight
<1991>
Duruflé Requiem
CPE Bach Magnificat
<1990>
Handel Messiah
<1988>
Mendelssohn St Paul
<1987>
Haydn Creation
Monteverdi Beatus Vir
JS Bach A Stronghold Sure
Fauré Requiem
<1986>
Britten Choral Dances from Gloriana
Monteverdi Beatus Vir
J S Bach A Stronghold Sure
Fauré Requiem
Haydn Creation
<1985>
Fauré Requiem
Handel Messiah
<1983>
Vaughan Williams Benedicite
Vivaldi Gloria
Vaughan Williams Pilgrim’s Journey
<1982>
Stanford Three Motets
Fauré Requiem
Carols by Candlelight
<1981>
Elgar Caractacus
Mendelssohn Hear my Prayer
Finzi God is Gone Up
Finzi The Full Final Sacrifice
<1980>
Britten St Nicholas
Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown
Elgar The Banner of St George
Britten Ceremony of Carols
Handel Zadok the Priest
Handel Alexander’s Feast
Mendelssohn Hear My Prayer
Finzi God is Gone Up
Finzi Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice
<1979>
Williams Wassail Song
Bliss The World is Changed with the Grandeur of God
Ireland Vexilla Regis
Duruflé Requiem
Haydn Nelson Mass
Bush Christmas Cantata
Haydn Te Deum
<1978>
Ireland Vexilla Regis
Finzi Intimations of Mortality
Elgar Spirit of England
Gabrielli In Ecclesius
Vaughan Williams The Dark Eyed Sailor
<1977>
Kodaly Missa Brevis
Bartok Romanian Folk Dances
Vaughan Williams In Windsor Forest
Parry Blest Pair of Sirens
Mozart Vesperae Solennes
Haydn The Seasons
<1975>
Haydn The Seasons
<1970>
Haydn Maria Theresa Mass
<1969>
Piano Recital by Michael Round
<1967>
Handel Messiah
<1966>
Mendelssohn Elijah
<1965>
Handel Messiah
<1962>
Haydn The Creation
Handel Messiah
<1961>
Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast
Handel Extracts from The Messiah
<1960>
Haydn Creation
Elgar Songs from the Bavarian Highlands