About Benson Choral Society

We are a friendly and thriving choir of over 100 singers, based in Wallingford in South Oxfordshire. Our long-standing musical director of 45 years, Christopher Walker, retired last year and we are excited to have just appointed David Wordsworth, a highly experienced and excellent choral trainer, as our new musical director to join us and our accomplished accompanist Anita D'Attellis.

Although we are a non-auditioned choir, Chris challenged and encouraged us with a blend of high musical standards, boundless energy and disarming humour. He enabled us to achieve the often ambitious plans which we set ourselves and we owe our present success to him.

While the standard classics of the choral repertoire remain at our core, with recent performances of the great works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Verdi and Elgar, we always enjoy the challenges of less well-known music. Concerts in recent years have highlighted both the new - Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo, Mirror of Perfection  by Richard Blackford - and the unusual - Rio Grande by Constant Lambert, Misa Criola by Ramirez and Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams. As we enter a new era for the choir we  are already greatly enjoying working with David taking us to the next stage in our development. Under his baton, we look forward to an beautiful programme of English music in the summer with opportunities for Anita to dazzle as solo pianist, followed by a year of challenging and exciting works many of which will be new to the choir - watch this space!

We rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 - 9.30 pm in St Mary's Church, Market Place, Wallingford, OX10 0EG, with a refreshment break at half time.

New members will always be welcome and can come and try us without obligation - you won't regret it!

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