The History of Sheringham & Cromer Choral Society
How it all began…
The Choral Society was founded in 1933 under the direction of the late Norman Cutting. It was originally formed with the intention of performing the major well known choral works in the two towns.
The very first concert took place in Cromer Town Hall on Wednesday 24 January 1934. It included a performance of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Cutting conducted every concert until 1974!
Over the Decades
Since 1974 SCCS has enjoyed the services of a further 9 excellent musical directors each of whom has always sought to maintain a high standard of performance. Throughout, the choir has regularly sung all the major choral works of the great composers as well as many smaller pieces. In all the music of more than 80 composers.
The parish churches in both Cromer and Sheringham have been the main performance venues. However many performances have taken place in the Auden Theatre, Holt and others in Norwich Cathedral, Salle, Walsingham and, for several years, Nidda in Germany.
Major Performances
The early years of the 21st century saw the performance of several special concerts:
- In April 2000 SCCS joined forces with Fakenham Choral Society to present a complete performance of Handel’s Messiah in St Mary’s parish church, Walsingham.
- In 2005, to mark the retirement of Ian Wallace after 20 years as President, the choir presented a programme of opera choruses in his honour. In response he gave us a delightful rendering of his renowned Hippopotamus song!
- The 75th anniversary of the Society in 2008 was marked by a gala concert performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with a large orchestra and augmented chorus.
- 2012 saw an outstanding performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana accompanied by two grand pianos and timpani to a capacity audience in the Auden Theatre.
- July 2014 saw the choir embarking on a remarkable collaboration with the composer Patrick Hawes having commissioned him to write a new major choral and orchestral work for adult and children’s voices. Eventide (In Memoriam Edith Cavell) marked the centenary of the First World War with a premiere performance in Norwich Cathedral.
The choir was accompanied by English Chamber Orchestra with soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and a student choir from Gresham’s International Britten Music Course.
- The English Chamber Orchestra joined SCCS again in November 2014 for a local performance of Eventide in Sheringham for a WW1 Centenary Concert. There were capacity audiences at both venues with the performances being hugely well received and gaining much media attention.
- In November 2015 SCCS were joined by the London Mozart Players, conducted by the brilliant young Harry Ogg, to perform local composer Richard Allain’s Vespers-Songs of the Sea to wide acclaim.
- May 2016 saw the choir combine forces with Norwich Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra and other choirs, including King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, to perform Gustav Mahler’s stunning Eighth Symphony — the Symphony of 1000. An amazing experience performed to an audience of some 2000 at the Norfolk Showground.
- In 2018 the choir marked its 85th anniversary and the centenary of the WW1 Armistice. SCCS worked closely with Sheringham Town Council to perform a commemorative concert which was part of the town’s overall Armistice Centenary events. The concert featured Ralph Vaughan Williams’ very moving Dona Nobis Pacem, Gabriel Fauré’s much loved Requiem and Patrick Hawes’ Christian Soldiers.
Twinning with Sangerkranz Nidda choir
For about 10 years at the turn of the century SCCS joined forces with Sangerkranz Nidda choir for a number of joint concerts both here in north Norfolk and in Nidda which is twinned with Cromer.
Works performed included Verdi’s Requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, Duruflé’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
