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The Choral Society has been successful in its search for a successor to its previous musical director, Lloyd Buck, who took up postgraduate studies in performance at Manchester University in September, 2008. His successor is Charles Slade.
Charles Slade was born in South Shields, County Durham, and brought up at Erith in Kent. Singing has been an important part of his life for as long as he can remember. After spending his treble days in the parish church choir of All Saints', Belvedere, he progressed to singing tenor in the choir at Erith Grammar School, later moving to the organ loft at two local parish churches where he first put his choir-training skills into practice at the age of 16. At the same time, Charles was conducting and arranging music for the Erith Theatre Guild and (occasionally) studying for A levels and a grade 8 piano exam.
Charles went on to study at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, specialising in harpsichord, conducting and percussion, and singing as a member of the sixteen-voice chamber choir, the John Holand Singers. After qualifying as a teacher, he taught in Suffolk and Bexley, before moving to the Midlands and settling in Nottingham in 1977. Having taught at Clifton, Chilwell and East Leake, he spent twelve years at the Nottingham Bluecoat School as Head of Arts and Director of Music. He was also Director of the Nottingham Music School for four years.
Charles now works as a freelance conductor, arranger, composer and teacher and has combined these activities with broadcasting for BBC in the East Midlands. In April 2008, he moved to Taunton in Somerset and is pursuing the same musical interests in the south-west. From July 2008, he has been Director of Music at St Mary’s Parish Church, Bishops Lydeard, and will be conducting the Wrington Vale Choral Society when the Society begins its new season in September 2008.
http://www.reactivising.me.uk/
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Introduction to the Society
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The Wrington Vale Choral Society is a group of c. 40 singers from Wrington and the surrounding villages who meet every week to - as our objective says - 'make music in a lively, friendly, enjoyable atmosphere'. While we have no auditions, and welcome anyone who enjoys singing, we take our music seriously, and hold a formal concert every spring in All Saints' Church, Wrington - see Programme for details. Throughout the year, we also perform at a number of less formal events, including an evening for the patrons of the Society, and other village occasions.
The society has been in existence since 1947, and includes people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages. Our numbers are boosted during term time by students from the nearby University of Bristol Veterinary School at Langford, whom we are always glad to see returning.
Our repertoire is diverse, including in the past few years works by Bach, Handel and Fauré, as well as more recent work by Rutter. As well as sacred music, at some stage in our year we might tackle folk songs, Christmas carols and songs from musicals, and individuals perform their own songs, readings or recitals at our annual patrons' evening.
New singers are always welcome. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, in St Mary's, Langford, beginning in September.
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To get in touch with the Society email choral@wrington.org.uk
Patrons
The society is fortunate to have a large number of supporters in the area who provide both financial and practical support to the choir's activities. For an annual subscription of £10, patrons are entitled to discounted tickets for the Society's performances, including an summer musical evening with food and drink.
If you would like to become a patron of the society, please contact Sheila Keys on 01934 862721, or email choral@wrington.org.uk
New members
We welcome new members at any time of the year, although it's probably ideal to start in September, at the beginning of our programme, if you can. Come along for an evening or two to see whether you like what we do - there's no need to audition, and there's no need to commit until you are ready.
The 2007/8 subscription is £20 per term (£50 a year) and full-time students and under 18s are free. To find out more, contact the secretary, Fiona Matley, 01934 862578, or just come along to one or two rehearsals on a Monday night at St Mary's, Langford (next to Budgens).
Chairman Paul Norcross, 01934 863607/e-mail: anorcrossuk@yahoo.com
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