About us
Sturminster Choral Society is a registered charity No.1086285
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"Our aim is to advance public education in music, in particular through the performance of public concerts"
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Over the years we have performed most of the great works of choral music – from Bach, Brahms, Haydn and Mozart to Rossini, Rutter, Vivaldi and Vaughan Williams. Alan Hannah, who set up the choir in 1963, continued to conduct us until 1974 returning briefly (as a singing member) in 1994. Since then we have been fortunate to be led by Caroline D'Cruz, and currently by Annemarie Lees.
Director of Music - Annemarie Lees studied voice at the Royal Academy of Music with Kenneth Bowen and afterwards with Josephine Veasey with whom she won many awards. She has been a freelance BBC singer and soprano soloist in a wide variety of masses, cantatas and oratorios throughout the British Isles. In recent years the versatility of her voice has been heard not only in choral works throughout Italy and Spain, but also at recitals of songs by Stephen Sondheim at the Edinburgh Fringe. Annemarie recently retired from the post of Director of Music at Knighton House School in Blandford and now teaches singing privately. She is delighted to be involved once again with Sturminster Choral Society.
Accompanist - Caroline D’Cruz was Musical Director of Sturminster Choral Society from 2006 until 2015 and we are delighted to have her back with the choir in a different role as our accompanist. Having studied at Chethams and the Royal College of Music, Caroline has had a varied career working mainly with singers but also with chamber ensembles. She is also the Musical Director of Milborne Port Opera, pianist for the Jurrasic Coast Choir in Devon, has played on several cruises for Absolutely Opera, Company Manager of the Celebrate Voice Festival in Salisbury, a regular pianist for Opera Nights in a number of local restaurants and accompanies singers in the Southwest and London. Previous roles include chorus répétiteur for Dorset Opera and Musical Director for numerous shows for Shaftesbury Arts Centre.
Chairman Charles Snell
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"Sturminster Choral Society was established some 60 years ago, it has been my great pleasure and privilege to be involved with both a committee and individuals, who are so determined to maintain this long standing choir as part of the local the community.
The choir draws in people from all over North Dorset & adjacent counties, from all backgrounds and abilities, who enjoy something in common and that is to sing and indulge in a joint love of choral music.
It is obvious to me how well this works during lively and often entertaining rehearsals, as well as at break times when all members have chance to mix and socialise.
I would highly recommend the S.C.S. to anyone considering joining a choir, we were all like that at some point and have never looked back."