About Us
Carshalton Choral Society was founded in 1946 with the aim of promoting and performing a wide variety of music. The Society numbers around 80 members and has a busy schedule of at least 4 concerts per year, often with extra events such as 'Come and Sing' concerts, performing at local festivals, carol singing at a local hospice and even foreign tours. The majority of our performances each season are attended by local eminent dignitaries, such as the Mayor of Sutton and our local MP, Tom Brake.
In 2006, we celebrated our 60th anniversary with a major gala performance of Verdi's 'Requiem', followed by a special anniversary meal at a local hotel. Despite our busy schedule, it isn't all work and no play. We arrange regular social events for the choir including quiz nights, summer barbeques and fish and chip suppers (to name but a few!).
In each concert season, we sing a wide range of different musical styles. To look back over some of our recent concert seasons - do look at the 'Past Seasons' page on this site.
Other than our Christmas Concert (which is
becoming so popular it is 'standing room only'!), we perform two
concerts per year with professional orchestra and soloists (usually major choral
works from the repertoire) and a summer concert with music of a
'lighter' nature. This might include songs from the shows, part-songs
and madrigals, barbershop or choral arrangements of popular music. On occasion
we invite local children's/school choirs to sing with us at concerts as we
firmly believe in doing what we can to promote singing to all ages.
Music is provided by the Society for a small hire charge, although members may of course purchase their own copies, and the Society has A4 folders for members to use during concerts.
Current subscription rates are £99 per year, payable in eleven £9 instalments (although you may opt to pay it all at once!). For tax–payers, subs can be gift-aided and higher rate tax–payers can reclaim the additional tax.
We rehearse on a Monday evening from 8pm till 10pm in the Lower Hall, Carshalton Methodist Church, Ruskin Road, Carshalton, with an occasional extra Thursday night rehearsal during the week of a concert. We ask members try to arrive at rehearsals a few minutes early so that we make a prompt start at 8pm!
We do not rehearse
during August, we have a small break at Christmas and Easter and we avoid
most Bank Holidays. On the day of a concert, we have a rehearsal during the
afternoon. The timings vary for these depending on the music and scale of the
event in the evening.
The choir is a registered charity, a member of the National Federation of Music Societies, and we are supported financially by a variety of organisations - such as the Arts Council of Sutton, the Humphrey Richardson Taylor Trust, and the National Lottery.
We always welcome feed-back from visitors to this site or audience members. Please speak to one of us, or contact us.
The Society continues to grow from strength to strength under our brilliant and dynamic young conductor, but we always want to welcome new members in all voice parts - please join us, we'd all love to see you!