Teddington Choral Society

Teddington Choral Society (TCS) runs as an evening class offered by Richmond Adult Community College. We rehearse during term time on Monday evenings from 8:00pm to 10:00pm at the Twickenham United Reformed Church, First Cross Road, Twickenham Green.  Our Director of Music is Patrick Martin.

TCS is currently around 100 strong; we are always on the lookout for new singers, particularly male voices. We perform three concerts a year: the Spring Concert is our serious one, usually a major oratorio or operatic piece; the Summer Soirée is of a lighter nature, usually themed. In December we give a traditional Carol Concert at which we also perform longer works.

In September 2011, the choir celebrated its 60th anniversary. Over its 60 years, the society has had only six Musical Directors! During this time, the choir has performed in some very prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and at Kneller Hall with the Band of the Royal Military School of Music. We have also entertained in Central Hall, Westminster; at Eastbourne, Chipping Norton; Wandsworth; and at the Alexandra Palace.

Over the years, TCS has performed under many distinguished batons, including those of Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Yehudi Menuhin and Vilem Tausky. More recently, in November 2000, the choir took part in The Richmond Millennium 2000 Concert at the Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington, performing Verdi’s Requiem with The Barnes Choir, Cantanti Camerati, Whitton Choral Society and The Richmond Orchestra, all under the baton of Phillip Hesketh.

Then, in March 2001, TCS performed the world première of Geoffrey Bowyer’s ‘A Pilgrim’s Requiem’, with Cantanti Camerati and the Teddington Symphonia. In 2004, some members of TCS formed part of the choir to be seen in the Bridget Jones film, The Edge Of Reason.

Thanks to these past successes and our imaginative choice of future programmes, TCS is thriving. We are always pleased to welcome new singers, regardless of age, especially those who enjoy their music making: we do like to rehearse and perform with our sense of humour switched on!

Kate Livingston,
Chair,
TCS