KCS in celebratory mood

10:59am Wednesday 27th August 2008

Kingston Choral Society will be gearing up for their 60th anniversary season by holding open rehearsals ahead of a string of celebratory concerts.

Rehearsals began in September at Hollyfield School, Surbiton Hill and prospective new members are being encouraged to go along and try out.

But it will be with a tinge of sadness that the group will prepare for a showcase performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in November.

The reason for the conflicting mood? The departure of Director of Music Robin Page, after 27 years with the choir.

Under Page’s tutelage, the choir changed its name from Surbiton Oratorio Society to the current KCS, and became recognised on the European stage, performing concerts as far afield as Venice, Holland and the United States.

Not only that but with its profile boosted the choir steadily increased its numbers to an impressive 100 plus.

Now based largely in Glasgow, Page has decided to bow out, and it is in recognition of his outstanding service that KCS will perform the Elgar classic, a favourite of the director, with Welsh tenor Wynne Evans and the Thames Sinfonia.

Having had the unenviable task of selecting a successor, Graham Ross is the man who will soon find himself in the KCS hot-seat.

A Surrey man by birth, Ross is Senior Choral Scholar at Clare College, Cambridge, and has also found time to form his own group, the Dmitri Ensemble.

This has led to work with classical heavyweight John Rutter, culminating in an album release early in the new year.

Ross’ first appearance with KCS will be the traditional Christmas Concert on December 13, which will feature a mix of carols and choruses from Messiah.

Anyone interested in attending ther rehearsals, which will also include a special open rehearsal on September 26, should visit www.kingstonchoralsociety.co.uk for further details.