Around 80 voices and growing...

​Folkestone Choral Society - was formed in 1961 by the amalgamation of two already well-established choirs, the Folkestone Orpheus Choir and the Folkestone Philharmonic Choir.  It had a membership of about one hundred or so singers and its first Musical Director was Reginald Adams who had led the Orpheus Choir.

The society has performed most of the major works in the choral repertoire and many less well known and modern pieces.  Its policy has always been to use professional soloists and orchestral players, engaging numbers appropriate to the work performed.

Our Musical Director is Lucy Gove, an award-winning music teacher renowned for her fun approach to teaching - taking music incredibly seriously whilst always looking on the bright side of life!
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​​We are a lively mixed choir which is independently run and funded with Charitable Status.  Since its foundation the choir has grown both in numbers and confidence to perform to the highest possible standard.  We have a substantial repertoire but always strive to learn and perform more challenging works.  

​We usually perform four concerts per year. Spring and Autumn performances mix religious and secular pieces, demonstrating the choir’s versatility.  The summer concert offers a more light hearted collection of music and we finish the year with a festive Christmas concert. 
 
The aim and purpose of the Folkestone Choral Society is to bring the enjoyment of choral music to the communities of the local areas.


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Feedback from audience

Well done Folkestone Choral Society. Another absolutely brilliant concert.

This afternoon I was lucky enough to take my elderly mum to your performance of Mozart’s Requiem and I just wanted to let you know what a glorious few hours it was. Perfect in every aspect.
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What a fantastic concert. Was this really just a local choir in our local church?  Hard to believe, but it really was.

​This afternoon a friend and I went to your concert in St Leonard’s Church, Hythe, and I’m still singing. Absolutely FABULOUS!
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Feedback from choir members

A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who do the organising for our concerts. We all know that nothing happens by itself!  Please pass on THANKS to Lucy,  we are all in agreement that she is just THE BEST
  
My two guests had never been to one of our concerts before and they were so impressed. In fact they have already asked me to get tickets for our next concert
 
A really successful concert, greatly enjoyed by both our audience and choir. I can’t wait to get singing again after the summer break.
 
Following a bereavement a friend said ‘why don’t you join a choir, you used to enjoy singing’.  I joined Folkestone Choral Society and I’ve never looked back. What a wonderful, friendly bunch you all are. You gave me help and encouragement and now I can’t imagine my life without our wonderful choir. Thank you.
 
I was so proud to be part of the fabulous concert on Saturday, The Mozart Requiem is my all time favourite and friends in the audience thought that it was truly magnificent. - Rex Tremendous indeed!

​Meet The Team

Lucy Gove
Musical Director

Lucy is a choral conductor and mezzo-soprano and teaches music at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury. She directs the Langton Music Choir Festival at The Colyer Fergusson and leads the Community Carols in Canterbury city centre each Christmas Eve, with over 4000 people.
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She has now been the Musical Director of Folkestone Choral Society since 2023 and aims to bring a fresh modern outlook to the choir...already there is a new sense of energy and ambition amongst members.

Tim Parsons
Rehearsal Accompanist

Tim began his musical career at the age of seven when he joined the choir of St. Leonard's Church, Hythe. There, under the direction of Dr. Berkeley Hill he learnt to play piano and organ and later became the assistant organist at St. Leonard’s.

​He was appointed the resident Organist and Choirmaster at Holy Trinity Church in 1993 where he continues to promote the musical life of the area... choral music being his great passion.

Committee

NAME	ROLE
Vacancy	Chair
Betty Black	Hon Treasurer
Audrey Ritchie	Membership Secretary
Frances Lake	Concert Manager
Vacancy	Front of House Manager
Andy Maguire	Librarian
Les Lake	Making Music Representative
Maddy Scarre​	Publicity Officer & Website Manager
Vacancy	Friends & Patrons Secretary
Stuart Brown	Without portfolio
Lilly May Bolton	Without portfolio
Norman Bolton	Without portfolio

Dr David Flood
President

David retired from Canterbury Cathedral in 2020 after over 42 years of service in Cathedral music. Organist and Master of the Choristers since 1988, he had earlier served at Lincoln Cathedral and as Assistant Organist at Canterbury.

While his work involved recordings, tours, and performances, he cherished the daily services and the joy of performing for visitors. Studying with Gillian Weir and Jean Langlais, David now enjoys more time for the organ and travel. He holds an honorary Doctor of Music degree and is an ABRSM examiner.

​He misses daily performance but not writing Risk Assessments!

Dr Berkeley Hill BEM
Honorary Vice President

Berkeley served as Musical Director of Folkestone Choral Society for 40 years, from 1976 to 2017, after five years as accompanist. Under his leadership, the Society performed a broad range of choral works, including standard repertory pieces, lesser-known compositions and commissioned pieces. 

​Berkeley was Organist and Director of Music at St. Leonard's Church - Hythe from 1972 until March 2025 and was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2018 for his contributions to music in Kent.

From 1970 he was an economist at Wye College (University of London, later Imperial College) until he retired as Professor of Policy Analysis in 2005 and became a consultant of international organisations.