As Westbury Choral marks its centenary, a current member has reflected on the choir’s long and rich history.
Sandra Maidment has been a member of the singing group since 1982. She served as chair for ten years between 2002 and 2012, and has been secretary since 2012.
She said, “The earliest reference we can find is in the Wiltshire News of Friday 25th September 1925, when it was known as Westbury Choral Society, and the conductor was Mr W. H. Long.
“The name has changed slightly over the years – to Westbury and District Choral Society, and by 2015, to Westbury Choral.
“Of course, conductors have also changed: Evelyn Southcott, James Baggs, George Parry, Audrey Anderson, Bob Channel, Faye Caley, Bernard Wight, and Luke Pickett, to whom, sadly, we will say goodbye after this year’s concert. All of them have left special memories for the choir.”
From September, Westbury Choral will welcome a new conductor, Matthew Bale, who will add another chapter to its exciting history.
Over the last 100 years, the choir has performed many major works, often with well-known soloists, including Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man.
Sandra added, “Two very special concerts in recent years were for the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022 and the King’s Coronation in 2023, held at Edington Priory.
“Our Christmas concerts, in the Methodist Church, have always been very well supported by the town; we are very grateful for that and hope it will continue long into our second century!
“Our Spring concerts, mainly held in the Parish Church in recent years, have also enjoyed good support, and we have been joined by excellent soloists – Mary Pope, Paul Fletcher, Mark Hounsell, and Kristina Takashina, to name just those featured in our Centenary Concert. There have been many more over the years.
“We have had some amazing accompanists too. Going back to the 1940s – Mary Francis, who returned in the 1980s – David Crocker, Geoffrey Boult, Stephen Cooke and, most recently, his son Ed Cooke, to name just a few. We are grateful to them, and to our excellent conductors, whose wonderful support and leadership we have been privileged to experience.
“We hope to continue to entertain the people of Westbury and the surrounding area for many years to come.”
