FOLKESTONE CHORAL SOCIETY
  • Welcome
    • Folkestone Choral Society
    • Concert Reviews
    • Concert Venues
  • Join Us !
  • Concerts
    • Overview
    • OUR NEXT CONCERT
    • Forthcoming Concerts
    • Recent Concerts
    • Past Concerts 2010 -
    • Past Concerts 2000 - 2009
    • Past Concerts 1990 - 1999
    • Past Concerts 1980 - 1989
    • Past Concerts 1961 - 1979
  • Music Library
  • Friends and Patrons
  • Contacts and Links
    • Supporters
    • Society Contacts & Links
    • Fund Raising
  • Members
    • Calendar Dates
    • Message Board
    • Newsletter
    • Photo Galley
    • Chairmans report
    • Constitution
    • 100 Club
    • Handbook & Learning Aids >
      • Glossary of Italian music terms
      • Musical phrasing - Richard Sparks
  • Profiles.
    • Musical Director
    • President/ Vice Presidet/Accompanist
    • Orchestra & Soloists.
    • Composers B-H >
      • Bach, Johann
      • Brahms
      • Bruckner & Charpentier
      • Corelli & Elgar
      • Fauré, Gabriel
      • Finzi, Gerald
      • Handel, George
      • Haydn, Joseph
    • Composers J-W >
      • Jenkins, Karl
      • Ledger, Philip
      • Mendelssohn, Felix
      • Mozart, Wolfgang
      • Orff, Carl
      • Parry & Rutter
      • Rossini
      • Saint-Saens, Camille
      • Schubert, Franz
      • Vivaldi, Antonio
      • Williams, Ralph Vaughan

THE  FOLKESTONE  CHORAL  SOCIETY

Picture
Consisting of over 100 voices, Folkestone Choral Society is the largest choir in the area and draws members from as far afield as Deal, Canterbury, Ashford and Romney Marsh.  We exist as a Charitable organisation to bring the enjoyment of choral music sung to a high standard to the community of the Shepway District in Kent and many visitors to the area.  No other country in the world has such a strong tradition of choral music. Folkestone Choral Society rehearse every week to prepare for at least three concerts a year always accompanied by professional orchestras and soloists. Our programmes range from the great oratorios to more modern composers. Some concerts also include popular concertos and orchestral pieces to complement the choral works. The Society aims to cover over a number of years the major classical works for choir and orchestra from the 17th to 21st centuries.
Picture
Affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies 
 Registered Charity No. 275075 - R


Picture
By Susan Carey - Published in the Hawkinge Gazette & Channel Coast News 28th March 2018. ​
​
The Folkestone Choral Society were in fine voice as they opened the 2018 series of concerts at St Leonard’s church in Hythe on Saturday 24 March
Under the masterful direction of their conductor Stephen Hope they gave an appreciative audience two requiems, the first by Sir Philip Ledger who is not nearly as well known as he deserves to be and the second by the ever popular John Rutter.
In between the requiems were a series of short instrumental pieces by first the harp, then the flute and finally the cello. It all made for a very fine evening of listening.
Folkestone Choral Society  Photo: Susan Carey
Taking the lead soprano role was Felicity Hope, the conductor’s daughter and an accomplished singer with many appearances at major venues as well as performances a guest conductor with several choirs in the South East.
The tenor part in the Ledger Requiem was taken by David Walder who is a regular soloist with choirs and choral societies both in the UK and abroad.
Not content with his leading role in the first half of the concert, David also joined the chorus in the second half to sing the Rutter requiem.
It was during a pause in the Rutter Requiem that the church clock struck nine and Stephen Hope theatrically checked his watch and waited for the chimes to finish before continuing the piece. At times, Stephen leapt into the air as he was conducting urging the choir to give their utmost. The choir seemed to respond well to this style and sang whole heartedly.
One very welcome feature of the concerts held at St Leonard’s church is that they are free for under 18s and it would be good as the programme continues to see more young people take advantage of this.
Among those attending was Cllr Mrs Ann Berry the Deputy Mayor of Folkestone enjoying the concert with her husband Maurice.


Do you enjoy singing ?
Would you like to sing the great choral masterpieces accompanied by professional orchestra and soloists ?

Then why not join us ?
We are currently recruiting singers in all sections of the choir.  Gentlemen are especially welcome !
We have three exciting concerts planned for 2018.
Ring 01303 210940 / 239673 or use the "Form Entry" by Email on our "Join Us!" page.
New members are always very welcome.
​


​STEPHEN HOPE - MUSICAL DIRECTOR


​TIM PARSONS  - ACCOMPANIST


Picture
​Stephen Hope started his musical career as a chorister in Canterbury. He became a music scholar at King`s School before going on to read music as an organ scholar at Bristol University where he specialized in keyboard and conducting. Read more .........


Picture
Tim Parsons is the organist and choirmaster at Holy Trinity Church, Folkestone and when not required in the orchestra sings bass in the choir.
Read more.....

Dr. DAVID FLOOD -
​PRESIDENT

          Dr. BERKELEY HILL -
           ​HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT

Picture
Appointed Assistant Organist at Canterbury Cathedral in 1978, David served under Allan Wicks before assuming the responsibility of Organist and Choir Master at Lincoln Cathedral in 1986.  Two years later he returned to Canterbury to succeed Dr. Wicks who was retiring.
Read more...........
..
Picture
Berkeley Hill is  the organist and choirmaster at St. Leonards Church, Hythe and choirmaster of the Shepway Singers.
Read more........



CONCERT  VENUES.

 LEAS  CLIFF  HALL.


Picture
The Leas Cliff Hall is our premier venue for our concerts and has been used by the Folkestone Choral Society for many years...........(more....)

ST.  LEONARDS  CHURCH

HOLY  TRINITY  CHURCH


Picture
The Holy Trinity Church is located in Sandgate Road to the west of the town centre between Earls Avenue and Grimston Gardens............. (more)

SAGA  PAVILION

Picture
This church stands high above the town of Hythe overlooking the English Channel with views of France on a clear day.  There is limited parking........ (more)

ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL

Picture
  This imposing Cathedral       stands to the north of the River   Arun.The Cathedral, originally   known as the Church of St.   Philip Neri, was commissioned   by Henry XV (read more ..)

Picture
The Saga Pavilion overlooks the sea from its vantage point on the hillside at Sandgate within lawned and wooded grounds...... (more)


PROMS  CONCERT  29th  November 2014 at the Saga Pavilion under the direction of Berkeley Hill.

Picture

INTERNET SHOPPING.  Enjoy all the benefits of online shopping at such stores as Amazon, John Lewis or Marks and Spencer and generate income for The Folkestone Choral Society.  You pay the same prices as on the retailers` main sites (often lower than high street prices).  The commission earned by The Folkestone Choral Society comes out of the retailers` marketing budgets.  Just click  "INTERNET SHOPPING" BUTTON

easyfundraising.org.uk
Proudly powered by Weebly
✕