Is 2024 your Year to Sing? Sheringham and Cromer Choral Society is looking for new members in all voice parts. Rehearsals get under way this month for our summer concert and to conclude this season we are slighly departing from our usual repertoire to sing some wonderful choruses from the world of opera. If this is more your thing why not come along and try singing with us?

Our exciting 2023-2024 season has included:

• Mozart’s Requiem (including Lacrimosa)
  (Classic FM Hall of Fame No. 13)
• Faure’s Requiem
  (Classic FM Hall of Fame No. 22)
• Handel’s Coronation Anthems (including Zadok the Priest)
  (Classic FM Hall of Fame No. 68)
  and there is more to come including a fabulous evening of popular opera and Gilbert and Sullivan choruses
• Rehearsals in Sheringham on a Monday evening at St Andrew’s Methodist Church.
  Summer term rehearsals start Monday 6 May – Free trial offered.
  Previous experience not required. For more details click here
  

A fabulous concert in Cromer Church this evening with Sheringham and Cromer Choral Society. Their 90th emerald anniversary. A true celebration since Norman Cutting formed this society. Such an array of talent from local performers. A delight to see them all perform again.

Our Musical Director, David Ballard, is preparing for an organ recital at St Peter’s Sheringham on Saturday 27th May at 3:00 pm. This is intended as a present from him to the Society for its 90th birthday. David has asked members of the choir to suggest pieces for him to perform which will include organ music, classical and film pieces and other well known melodies or hymn tunes. Entrance is free with proceeds to be shared between St Peter’s Church and the Choral Society.

The April edition of Just Cromer has an article “Society’s in tune for 90 years” which tells something of the history of the choir since it was formed in 1933. It includes the following personal reflections from two members:

Jill Emms (1979 – present)

My first memories of group singing were as a 5 year old when the whole school gathered on a Friday afternoon to sing national and folk songs together. From then onwards l always belonged to a choir: church, college, local and in the various schools  where l taught. When l moved to Norfolk it was inevitable that l would join the nearest choral society which happened to be SCCS  and l have been there ever since, with one or two breaks for health reasons. Particular highlights during the 40 odd years have been Mahler’s Eighth Symphony in Bury St. Edmunds- before it had Cathedral status although being seated near the drums didn’t do my ears any favours. Then there was a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Nidda, where we joined with their choir for a really memorable performance. There was also an exciting rendering of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. More recently we have branched out into some exciting unaccompanied work and pieces by modern composers, which have been challenging. I cannot imagine a life without singing and over the years l have made some wonderful friendships with like minded people. Come and hear us and come and join us.

 Bob Cumber (1998 – present)

 I have been singing with the choir for about 25 years!! In that time it has been a tremendous joy to have sung with some very gifted musical directors alongside so many lovely people. We have performed most of the major works (from Bach Mass in B minor to Elgar Dream of Gerontius),  been on several tours to Germany and France, and performed in some amazing places locally including Norwich Cathedral although our main venues have been the two parish churches of Cromer and Sheringham.

I had the privilege of being a Trustee for a period culminating with several years as Chairman. During that time, in 2014,  we were able to commission the renowned local composer, Patrick Hawes, to write a major choral work to commemorate  the centenary of the Great War. The result was Eventide (in memoriam Edith Cavell) which we performed alongside the English Chamber Orchestra with soloist Elin Manahan Thomas – definitely a magnificent highlight. Subsequently another local composer, Richard Allain, reworked his Vespers Songs of the Sea especially for us. Another great performance with the London Mozart Players. 

Over the years it has also been really enjoyable to work alongside youth choirs to perform such works as Benjamin Britten’s St Nicolas and John Rutter’s Mass of the Children.

Emerald Anniversary Concert

Our 90th Anniversary concert will take place in Cromer Parish Church on Saturday 29th April 2023 at 7:00 pm. This concert will look back at some important commissions over the years as well as including new works written especially for the occasion. We look forward to welcoming you. Full details and ticket booking details can be found here

Read the full article here:

We are sad to report that Freddie Pointer, one-time accompanist to the choir, died on 11 January in Halsey House aged 90. He had dementia which had deteriorated over the past few years such that he no longer recognised his wife, Su. She and his daughter Amy were both with him when he passed away.

The funeral will be at St. Peters Sheringham on Tuesday 31st January at 12.30 followed by a private cremation, then wake in the Spread Eagle Erpingham.

Freddie played a significant part in the musical life of north Norfolk. An Old Pastonian and former teacher at Paston School, as well as being the accompanist to the Choral Society he was organist at St Peter’s Church Sheringham for about 40 years and musical director of the North Norfolk Orchestral Society (now North Norfolk Sinfonia) for some 22 years, retiring in 2012. He was also at times over the last 60 years musical director of Sheringham Savoyards, Fakenham and District Light Operatic Society and Cromer and Sheringham Operatic & Dramatic Society.

We are sad to announce that Godfrey Goodman, a long-standing member of the choir, died peacefully at home on Sunday 27th November aged 92. The funeral will take place at St Peter’s Church Sheringham on Monday 19th December at 12.30 pm. Director of Music, David Ballard, said “When I first took on the role of MD Godfrey gave me a copy of his beautifully presented notes that covered the life of the choir since 1992 including concerts, soloists, and his own personal reviews (good audience, particularly good performance etc).”