The aim of the Society is to develop choral singing in the community of Durweston and the surrounding area.
Rehearsals are on Wednesday evening starting in September and continue through to the following March when the season concludes with the Spring Concert which will include professional soloists and orchestra. A concert or similar musical event is also scheduled in the late Autumn. Concerts take place in Durweston Parish Church and rehearsals in the village hall.
Additionally, we have a programme of events designed for socialising and fundraising.
Fundraising is important to ensure that we can afford to employ top-class soloists and musicians for our concerts. Our aim is to create concerts of a high standard, to include everybody who wants to sing with us and to ensure that our music-making is always enjoyable to both participants and audience alike.
Taking part
We have a long-standing reputation for providing a top quality experience for singers and audiences. Many of our soloists and orchestral musicians perform with us time after time as a consequence of the friendly ambience we create and the consistent quality of performance.
There are no auditions. The only qualifications needed are a wish to sing and a commitment to attend the rehearsals.
A two-week “free trial” is offered where anyone considering joining can attend rehearsals for two weeks without committing to the membership fee.
Origin of the Society
The Society is well established having been formed in 1992 when a performance of Benjamin Britten’s cantata St Nicholas was organised to mark the installation of two new sculptures in the tower of Durweston Parish Church.
As a direct result of that musical experience, several of those who took part expressed a desire to form a choral society within the community. A few months later Durweston Choral Society was formed.
Within the first few weeks of rehearsals, a membership of almost 40 singers had been formed, with many people travelling some way to attend. The enthusiasm of the singers and the generous support of the society’s sponsors made such a wonderful beginning possible. After a successful first performance in 1993, Durweston Choral Society has gone from strength to strength.
I’ve been singing with DCS since 1994 with only a couple of years’ break. I love the fact there are no auditions and Simon is an amazing Musical Director. He’s a brilliant musician, can play all four parts at once, whilst singing one of them and identifying any errors we make! He has incredible patience and total commitment. He works us hard at rehearsals and is somehow able to shape us into a pretty good sounding choir. It’s a real treat to sing with professional musicians at the concerts and very special that the small village of Durweston can perform big works to such a high standard.”
