A Brief History of the Choir
On the occasion of Sweyne Choral Society's 30th Anniversary Concert in July 1995, Stan Allen, a founder member of the original choir, recalled how the Choral Society came to be formed:
"In 1965 the idea came to William Arter, then Head of Music at Sweyne School, Rayleigh, that he would like as many scholars as possible to leave school with, as he put it, "at least one good oratorio tucked under their belts!" With this object in mind, he set about rehearsing the school choir in Handel's Messiah, but soon realised that some adult voices would be required to support the young ones and to provide the deeper tones. He therefore appealed to the youngsters to bring along their dads, uncles, mums and aunts and anybody else they knew. This nucleus of an adult section was soon augmented as word got around among local church choirs and other friends, with the result that two
hearty performances of Messiah were rendered on the 1st and 2nd April 1966 after several months of rehearsals, with some seventy plus children supported by an adult section that became Sweyne Choral Society.
After Haydn's Creation in 1967, Mr Arter unfortunately had to retire for health reasons whilst rehearsing Mendelssohn's Elijah. His place was taken by Roy Wales, soon followed by the legendary Gerwyn Parry. William Arter would, no doubt, be delighted to know that the choir he founded is still going strong and that there are still a few among us who remember that first Messiah!"
During its history, the choir has been under the baton of ten musical directors: William Arter, Roy Wales, Gerwyn Parry, David Austin, Alan Gardner, Martin Clark, Ray Maulkin, Stephen Hope, Clive Smith and Colin Edwards. (David Clark, Tom Marshall and Ian Walker have also conducted the choir on occasions). Many will associate the choir with the charismatic Welshman Gerwyn Parry, by far its longest serving musical director (1968 - 1987). The choir flourished under his baton and membership reached over ninety in the 1970s. In September 2004 the choir returned to Sweyne Park School as its regular rehearsal venue.
Over the years a number of highly respected soloists have performed with the choir. Among these are Angela Jenkins, Shirley Minty, Melanie Marshall, Wayne Marshall, Kenneth Bowen, Thomas Round, John Noble, Roger Norrington, Thomas Allen, Ben Cooper, Robert Rice, Ruth Gomme and Hilary Pell.
The choir has presented over 140 concerts, mainly in Rayleigh. Here are a few concert highlights (and many associated photographs in the Photograph Album)
1969 - Sweyne Choral Society’s first performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Remarkably the soloists for this performance included Roger Norrington as the Evangelist and a young and then little known Thomas Allen as Jesus Christ.
1985 - SCS take part in a performance of Verdi’s Requiem at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff. Gerwyn Parry had been specially invited by the Southend Music Club to conduct this performance.
1985 - Following a highly praised performance at Sweyne School the previous year, SCS were invited to take part in a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius at Westminster Cathedral, London.
1995 - Twenty members of SCS take part in the Seychelles First Festival of Classical Music. The Festival included the first ever public performance of Handel’s Messiah in the Seychelles
1999 - SCS join forces with Basildon Choral Society for two performances of the Brahms German Requiem conducted by Stephen Hope.
2002 - SCS gives two concerts of music by Gilbert & Sullivan at the Mill Hall, Rayleigh to sell-out audiences.
2004 - SCS take part in the premier performance of the Blackwater Suite, a major new work for orchestra and choir by Clive Smith.
2005 - SCS celebrates its 40th Anniversary with a performance of Haydn’s Creation at Sweyne Park School. The choir of some 80 members included 20 former members especially invited back for the performance. A cheese and wine party and a celebration cake was enjoyed by choir and audience after the concert.
2006 - SCS give a concert entitled ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ with West Leigh Boys Choir. The boys' choir were directed by our long serving accompanist, Janet Walker. The concert featured selections from Oliver and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
2006 - At Christmas, SCS presented the world premiere performance of Nativity by Clive Smith with words written and adapted by Irene Smith. Nativity tells the Christmas story with the audience becoming an integral part of the performance.
2007 - SCS perform a concert version of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, directed by Clive Smith.
2009 - SCS give a summer concert of American music entitled America the Beautiful. The concert was organised in six parts by our then new musical director, Colin Edwards. At Christmas the same year SCS presented a narration of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, set to the 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols' by Vaughan Williams, and other traditional carols.
2011 - In February SCS and The Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir present a concert in memory of Pat Smith, our former Secretary and 'Fixer'. SCS performed the Requiem by Faure, and the concert included tributes from Della Bearman, Jenny Holloway and Clive Smith. This concert raised £1,700 for the Pat Smith Memorial Fund in aid of the Chemotherapy Department at Southend Hospital.
2015 - Sweyne Choral Society had a fabulous evening on Saturday 16th May at the 50th Anniversary concert. A great deal of positive feedback was received on the night and subsequently. The choir would like to thank Colin Edwards, Janet Walker and Keith Norman, and soloists Elizabeth Karani and Bethan Langford, plus the former members and guest singers who joined us on stage. It was a huge pleasure to welcome so many former members, who travelled from near and far, in the audience. Thanks also to everybody who helped in any way with the organisation of this major event in Sweyne Choral Society's history.
In 2017 the choir changed its name to Sweyne Singers, in order to reflect a change in direction and repertoire for future concerts. We are still a registered charity and continue to perform locally. The emphasis is on lighter, more accessible works. We look forward to entertaining a wider audience with this new format.
2017 AND ONWARDS
In its new role in 2018, the choir embarked with enthusiasm on a programme of visits to care homes and other community venues, interrupted in early 2020 by the Covid pandemic. Thanks only to the tireless efforts of our Musical Director Colin Edwards, the choir continued rehearsing remotely throughout the months of lockdown, first with recorded practice tracks then with face to face sessions on Zoom, regularly supported also by our Accompanist Janet Walker. As well as holding us together as a group and consolidating current repertoire, these sessions gave an opportunity to re-visit some longer classical works which we had performed as a choral society, and which, as a smaller group, we can no longer perform in concerts.
In September 2021, some in-person rehearsals were possible, alternating fortnightly with those on Zoom. We ventured out to sing carols at Rayleigh Station at Christmas, raising a good sum for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
Weekly in-person rehearsals resumed in April 2022, followed in July by a continuation of our programme of community visits. These were ongoing in 2023. Plans for further visits were interrupted by the tragic death of our Musical Director Colin Edwards in October. Rehearsals continued, thanks to the immediate offer of our Accompanist Janet Walker to take on the role of interim conductor.
"In 1965 the idea came to William Arter, then Head of Music at Sweyne School, Rayleigh, that he would like as many scholars as possible to leave school with, as he put it, "at least one good oratorio tucked under their belts!" With this object in mind, he set about rehearsing the school choir in Handel's Messiah, but soon realised that some adult voices would be required to support the young ones and to provide the deeper tones. He therefore appealed to the youngsters to bring along their dads, uncles, mums and aunts and anybody else they knew. This nucleus of an adult section was soon augmented as word got around among local church choirs and other friends, with the result that two
hearty performances of Messiah were rendered on the 1st and 2nd April 1966 after several months of rehearsals, with some seventy plus children supported by an adult section that became Sweyne Choral Society.
After Haydn's Creation in 1967, Mr Arter unfortunately had to retire for health reasons whilst rehearsing Mendelssohn's Elijah. His place was taken by Roy Wales, soon followed by the legendary Gerwyn Parry. William Arter would, no doubt, be delighted to know that the choir he founded is still going strong and that there are still a few among us who remember that first Messiah!"
During its history, the choir has been under the baton of ten musical directors: William Arter, Roy Wales, Gerwyn Parry, David Austin, Alan Gardner, Martin Clark, Ray Maulkin, Stephen Hope, Clive Smith and Colin Edwards. (David Clark, Tom Marshall and Ian Walker have also conducted the choir on occasions). Many will associate the choir with the charismatic Welshman Gerwyn Parry, by far its longest serving musical director (1968 - 1987). The choir flourished under his baton and membership reached over ninety in the 1970s. In September 2004 the choir returned to Sweyne Park School as its regular rehearsal venue.
Over the years a number of highly respected soloists have performed with the choir. Among these are Angela Jenkins, Shirley Minty, Melanie Marshall, Wayne Marshall, Kenneth Bowen, Thomas Round, John Noble, Roger Norrington, Thomas Allen, Ben Cooper, Robert Rice, Ruth Gomme and Hilary Pell.
The choir has presented over 140 concerts, mainly in Rayleigh. Here are a few concert highlights (and many associated photographs in the Photograph Album)
1969 - Sweyne Choral Society’s first performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Remarkably the soloists for this performance included Roger Norrington as the Evangelist and a young and then little known Thomas Allen as Jesus Christ.
1985 - SCS take part in a performance of Verdi’s Requiem at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff. Gerwyn Parry had been specially invited by the Southend Music Club to conduct this performance.
1985 - Following a highly praised performance at Sweyne School the previous year, SCS were invited to take part in a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius at Westminster Cathedral, London.
1995 - Twenty members of SCS take part in the Seychelles First Festival of Classical Music. The Festival included the first ever public performance of Handel’s Messiah in the Seychelles
1999 - SCS join forces with Basildon Choral Society for two performances of the Brahms German Requiem conducted by Stephen Hope.
2002 - SCS gives two concerts of music by Gilbert & Sullivan at the Mill Hall, Rayleigh to sell-out audiences.
2004 - SCS take part in the premier performance of the Blackwater Suite, a major new work for orchestra and choir by Clive Smith.
2005 - SCS celebrates its 40th Anniversary with a performance of Haydn’s Creation at Sweyne Park School. The choir of some 80 members included 20 former members especially invited back for the performance. A cheese and wine party and a celebration cake was enjoyed by choir and audience after the concert.
2006 - SCS give a concert entitled ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ with West Leigh Boys Choir. The boys' choir were directed by our long serving accompanist, Janet Walker. The concert featured selections from Oliver and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
2006 - At Christmas, SCS presented the world premiere performance of Nativity by Clive Smith with words written and adapted by Irene Smith. Nativity tells the Christmas story with the audience becoming an integral part of the performance.
2007 - SCS perform a concert version of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, directed by Clive Smith.
2009 - SCS give a summer concert of American music entitled America the Beautiful. The concert was organised in six parts by our then new musical director, Colin Edwards. At Christmas the same year SCS presented a narration of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, set to the 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols' by Vaughan Williams, and other traditional carols.
2011 - In February SCS and The Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir present a concert in memory of Pat Smith, our former Secretary and 'Fixer'. SCS performed the Requiem by Faure, and the concert included tributes from Della Bearman, Jenny Holloway and Clive Smith. This concert raised £1,700 for the Pat Smith Memorial Fund in aid of the Chemotherapy Department at Southend Hospital.
2015 - Sweyne Choral Society had a fabulous evening on Saturday 16th May at the 50th Anniversary concert. A great deal of positive feedback was received on the night and subsequently. The choir would like to thank Colin Edwards, Janet Walker and Keith Norman, and soloists Elizabeth Karani and Bethan Langford, plus the former members and guest singers who joined us on stage. It was a huge pleasure to welcome so many former members, who travelled from near and far, in the audience. Thanks also to everybody who helped in any way with the organisation of this major event in Sweyne Choral Society's history.
In 2017 the choir changed its name to Sweyne Singers, in order to reflect a change in direction and repertoire for future concerts. We are still a registered charity and continue to perform locally. The emphasis is on lighter, more accessible works. We look forward to entertaining a wider audience with this new format.
2017 AND ONWARDS
In its new role in 2018, the choir embarked with enthusiasm on a programme of visits to care homes and other community venues, interrupted in early 2020 by the Covid pandemic. Thanks only to the tireless efforts of our Musical Director Colin Edwards, the choir continued rehearsing remotely throughout the months of lockdown, first with recorded practice tracks then with face to face sessions on Zoom, regularly supported also by our Accompanist Janet Walker. As well as holding us together as a group and consolidating current repertoire, these sessions gave an opportunity to re-visit some longer classical works which we had performed as a choral society, and which, as a smaller group, we can no longer perform in concerts.
In September 2021, some in-person rehearsals were possible, alternating fortnightly with those on Zoom. We ventured out to sing carols at Rayleigh Station at Christmas, raising a good sum for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
Weekly in-person rehearsals resumed in April 2022, followed in July by a continuation of our programme of community visits. These were ongoing in 2023. Plans for further visits were interrupted by the tragic death of our Musical Director Colin Edwards in October. Rehearsals continued, thanks to the immediate offer of our Accompanist Janet Walker to take on the role of interim conductor.
COLIN EDWARDS - A Tribute
Colin Edwards served this choir as Musical Director for nearly fifteen years. Were it not for his dedicated support, Sweyne Singers would some years ago have ceased to exist. We were exceptionally fortunate to have his leadership: his consummate musicianship, his generosity, and his talent for making it all such fun.
On 25th October 2023, Colin's life was abruptly taken from him in a traffic accident which is the stuff of nightmares. We and all his many friends remain stunned at the enormity of this loss, not only to us but to the musical and spiritual life of the entire community in which he moved and worked.
Colin always gave fully of his numerous talents, and of all that he had. Musical Director to three choirs, devoted church organist, a senior local Samaritan, friend and mentor to many.
Enormously erudite, but a trait he carried lightly; a man of firm principle; almost painfully self-effacing; so caring, and funny - those terrible jokes! Colin Edwards will be grievously missed. We all are so much richer for having known him.
JAN RICHARDS
Chairman Sweyne Singers 2023
Colin Edwards served this choir as Musical Director for nearly fifteen years. Were it not for his dedicated support, Sweyne Singers would some years ago have ceased to exist. We were exceptionally fortunate to have his leadership: his consummate musicianship, his generosity, and his talent for making it all such fun.
On 25th October 2023, Colin's life was abruptly taken from him in a traffic accident which is the stuff of nightmares. We and all his many friends remain stunned at the enormity of this loss, not only to us but to the musical and spiritual life of the entire community in which he moved and worked.
Colin always gave fully of his numerous talents, and of all that he had. Musical Director to three choirs, devoted church organist, a senior local Samaritan, friend and mentor to many.
Enormously erudite, but a trait he carried lightly; a man of firm principle; almost painfully self-effacing; so caring, and funny - those terrible jokes! Colin Edwards will be grievously missed. We all are so much richer for having known him.
JAN RICHARDS
Chairman Sweyne Singers 2023
2024
Rehearsals continued in 2023, with Carol Singing at Rayleigh Station in aid of a local charity prior to Christmas. In January 2024 Janet Walker became the choir's official Musical Director and introduced Pam Cox as Accompanist. Visits to sing at local care homes have resumed, along with our very enjoyable Monday evening rehearsals and periodic social events.
Rehearsals continued in 2023, with Carol Singing at Rayleigh Station in aid of a local charity prior to Christmas. In January 2024 Janet Walker became the choir's official Musical Director and introduced Pam Cox as Accompanist. Visits to sing at local care homes have resumed, along with our very enjoyable Monday evening rehearsals and periodic social events.
