We were really keen to increase the number of concerts we performed with orchestras. We are fortunate to have had the services of some excellent keyboard players who accompany us, but an orchestral backing not only enhances the appeal of the performances we put on, it also provides a much more satisfying experience for the choir. However we had only been able to afford an orchestra for one of our three annual concerts.

 

While we had striven to keep running costs at a reasonable level, staging concerts

continues to be expensive. For instance Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with four soloists

and 23 orchestral players cost over £5,000.

 

We believe we make a valuable cultural contribution to the local community and we wanted to build on this further.

 

So in August 2018 the Choral Society decided to launch an appeal to raise £25,000 to fund our five-year vision of staging at least two concerts per year with an orchestral accompaniment. We were delighted to announce that we exceeded our target of £25,000 in 2021 which was fantastic and we are so grateful to all those who have donated and to Geoff Williams, our previous Chairman, who was a hugely energetic fundraiser and continues to sing with WCS.

 

Whilst the sum we raised has enabled to fulfill our ambition for concerts to have orchestral accompaniment, over time we will still need additional funds to enable us to continue to do so. 

For more information or to make a donation, please contact our Chairman Robin Dunford

on 01235 760723 or email him at wantagechoralsociety@gmail.com