Join Us
Simply phone or email Barbara Melbourne at the addresse given below. Then come along to a rehearsal; there may be a very informal audition after two or three weeks.
Barbara Melbourne,
Tel:01204-492301,
Email: secretary@boltonchoral.org.uk.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held on Friday evenings from 7-30 to 9-30 at St Andrew and St George United Reformed Church on St Georges Road in central Bolton – free car parking is two minutes walk away. It is expected that members attend at least 70% of rehearsals for a concert.
Our conductor and musical director is Michael Greenhalgh; he took over in 1972, having previously been our accompanist. Since then he has steered the choir through at least four major concerts each year, including memorable performances such as the Berlioz Te Deum in Bolton Parish Church with a choir of over 200 singers, a performance of Fanshawe’s African Sanctus in the presence of the composer, and many performances of Handel’s Messiah and the Bach B Minor Mass, two of his favourite works. Michael is Head of Music and Performing Arts at Blackburn Tertiary College and has encouraged many young musicians on their way to successful musical careers. Michael’s services are always in demand and he is constantly conducting and playing for local groups. He is much admired and respected by all musicians and audiences in the town and has made an enormous musical contribution to its cultural life.
We usually sing four concerts a year - spring, summer and autumn plus a Carol Concert. We often sing in the Victoria Hall, Bolton, sometimes in local churches. We are often accompanied by the Camerata Concert Orchestra or Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, and employ professional soloists.
Our repertoire covers over 300 years of choral music, a wide and often unusual list from Bach to the present day. Recent items include Finzi’s Magnificat, Le Fleming’s Five Psalms, Rutter’s Gloria, Bellini’s Mass, Britten’s Festival Te Deum, Holst’s Hymn of Jesus, Cherubini’s Requiem, Kodaly’s Laudes Organi and Pange Lingua, Handel’s Messiah, and one of the first performances in the north west of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace.
Annual Subscription
The annual subscription is £78 per annum, with an optional 50% reduction for retired members and students. There is also a music hire charge of around £5 for music copies for each of the three main concerts. The White Carols for Choirs book is used for the Carol Concert.
Dress
Concert dress for men is evening dress with open neck black shirt. Ladies may wear either long black skirt or black 'dress' trousers (not jeans) and black blouse of choice long or short sleeves.
Support Us
Become a Friend of BCU – you support us by buying a season ticket for all the four main concerts in a year; you get reduced price reserved seats.
Or we can put you on our Mailing List – you receive free regular mailings about our concerts.