Basildon Choral Society

From April 2020, while we could not sing live together, we made 16 virtual choir audio recordings and 3 videos. You can hear our recordings on our Facebook page and see our videos below.

Third Video – a carol!

Our third video is of the carol Good King Wenceslas. Click here to view:

Earlier video efforts this year are below:

This is our second video, Bruckner’s motet Locus iste, again produced during lockdown. This time the self recorded videos were edited and synchronised to the audio.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.

We produced this video on VE Day 75. The audio was put together from locked down members’ individual recordings prior to making this video recording on Zoom. We knew that any attempt to achieve co-ordination was doomed to failure!! But it was good fun nonetheless!

This is your opportunity to sing this hugely popular classical oratorio as part of a large choir, with orchestra and professional soloists.  There is a participation fee of £15 to cover costs (plus £3 score hire if you need one).  Full details of the day are shown above and on the form via the link below. If you live locally to us you can also rehearse with us every Wednesday evening at Langdon Hills Methodist Church, SS16 5EX from 26 February, in addition to the day itself.

Spaces are limited so pre-booking of your place is essential!

BCS Messiah come and sing

“Hello!
My name is Graham and I am a member of the tenor section in Basildon Choral.
I joined about a year ago when I was searching for a choir that sang the kind of music I wanted to sing. I found Basildon Choral on this website.
I emailed via their contacts page and was soon in touch with one of their committee members who invited me along to a rehearsal just to see if they were what I was looking for…
I’ve done lots of singing (since I was 7 years old!) so I was not nervous about going along for the first time. The choir was rehearsing ‘Carmina Burana’ – a favourite of mine. I was soon made to feel welcome and looked after. I sat next to another tenor who was really helpful and could answer any questions that I had.
I’ve had lots of hobbies but I always come back to music and singing. Singing in a choir is my favourite thing.
I like the kind of music that Basildon Choral sing and the fact that everyone aims to work towards a better standard, a higher standard. Their musical director is ambitious and can be demanding but I like that. That was what I needed, something challenging.
The concert I have enjoyed the most was at Arundel Cathedral in the summer. Family and friends made a weekend of it and had a great time. We joined with two other choirs, a full orchestra and professional soloists for a performance of ‘Elijah’.
Large choirs give you something you don’t get anywhere else!
I enjoy singing the larger, sacred, choral works but I’ll sing anything, even the lighter stuff we do at our Café Style concerts, if it’s part of being in a choir like Basildon Choral!

“I was singing with a community choir but felt I wanted more.”
My name is Nikki and I am a member of the alto section in Basildon Choral.
I joined the choir two years ago. I was looking for the opportunity to try singing choral music. I was singing pop songs with a community choir but felt I wanted more.
I saw a small piece in one of the local free papers about the choir wanting new members and it said to ‘just turn up’ to a rehearsal and so I did! I wasn’t sure it would be for me – I don’t particularly like listening to classical music but I have found that singing it is entirely different – the complexity and the harmonies are amazing – and I found I really enjoy it.
I wasn’t nervous about going along to a rehearsal even though I hadn’t sung from sheet music since I was about 10 years old. My parents had both sung in choirs, and my dad, in his eighties, still does. So it was a bit of a family tradition, but it wasn’t until after Mum died, and I realised just how big a part of her life singing had been, that I thought I’d give it a go.
Right from the beginning the choir members were just lovely – so friendly and welcoming. It feels like a nice, close group but it is not overwhelming – you can be as involved as you want to be.
I love the sound of our voices blending together and find that singing takes away the stresses of the day. After rehearsal, I go home buoyed up, and singing in concerts is just… wow! It feels amazing. Yes, some of the pieces are difficult to start with – but when they are, I see it as a challenge and work at it – and with practice it eventually clicks into place.
What I think makes this choir really outstanding is our hugely talented Musical Director, Stephen Hope. His understanding of the music, and attention to detail brings out the very best in us and makes the music very special.
I really enjoy the big concerts, singing the big choral works – of the ones I have performed, ‘The Armed Man’ is my favourite– and I really enjoy the concerts at Arundel too. Those experiences are the culmination of all the work you have put into it and give me a great feeling of achievement. After a concert I can’t stop talking about it. It must drive my husband mad!

Your personal data – what we need and why

We need some of your details, for example your name and email address, so that we can let you know about things like event dates and social events.
What data do we collect from members?
We collect some of the following types of data from members (we don’t collect all of this data on all friends and contacts – we only collect it if it’s needed):

• Name
• Email address
• Postal address
• Phone numbers
• Photos/video footage
• Subscription payments

We check what data we have on members every two years and remove it if we no longer need it. If you leave the group, we’ll make sure we stop using and/or delete any data we don’t need to keep (e.g. for financial reporting).
What do we use it for?
Any of the information listed above might be needed to manage your membership with Basildon Choral Society and to organise and run our activities. We won’t ever use this data for anything else unless you give us your active consent for that additional use.
If you give us your consent, Basildon Choral Society will add your email to our mailing list for the group’s marketing/promotional communications. We will always include opt-out options on all such communications. You can withdraw your consent at any point by contacting the Data Protection Officer.
Do we share your data with anyone else?

• We will never give your data to third parties for that third party to use. We will sometime use third party services (e.g. Google Drive) to store or process your data but we will always make that they are reputable and secure, and that your data is kept safe.
• If another member of Basildon Choral Society asks for your contact details we will only ever share them if you consent.

What can you ask us to do?

At any time you can ask to view, update or correct any data we hold on you. You can also ask that we stop using your data or that we erase it. To request any of these, please contact the Data Protection Officer who will respond within one month.

I’ve got a question– who should I contact?
The best person to contact is the Data Protection Officer via baschoral@gmail.com.

Would you like to be our friend?

We want to maintain our long-standing tradition of providing music and enjoyment to the people of Basildon and surrounding area.  We are always looking for ways to fundraise to cover the costs of our concerts, such as soloists’ and orchestra fees, venue and music hire.

We rely on our own fund raising efforts as well as the support of friends and sponsors.  They provide a vital part of our income.

For £15 per year, or £20 for a couple (any two people who register together), you could be a contributor in this way to enjoy the following benefits:

Early access to the purchase of tickets before they go on sale to the general public or choir members.

Reduced price tickets – £2 off all prices for any, or all, of our four concerts each year.

Invitation to choir social events – quizzes, barbecues, curry nights, etc.

A regular newsletter, keeping you up to date with all the things we are ‘up to’.

Reserved seats for concerts.

Mention in the concert programmes.

Discounted recordings of our concerts.

The knowledge that you are supporting the performance of top class music in Basildon.

If you like to listen to music of an excellent standard in a warm, comfortable, local venue with good access to free parking, then sign up here today and become another of our many friends:

Many people present on Saturday 4th November were ‘blown away’ by the beauty of the music presented by Basildon Choral with Sinfonia da Chiesa, professional singers and harpist. The programme included Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir, Vivaldi’s Credo and Saint-Saens Oratorio de Noel plus instrumental pieces for strings and harp by Elgar and Purcell.

Some quotes from those present:

‘The concert was a triumph.’

‘I’d not been to anything like that before – it was amazing!’

‘When everyone came in for the last part of the Oratorio – whoosh! – it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!’

‘I was moved to tears by the beauty of the orchestral pieces.’

‘When the harpist played her first chords I heard a sharp intake of breath and a whispered ‘Wow!’’

‘You were all splendid! I’m looking forward to the Christmas concert already.’

Our highly talented Musical Director, Stephen Hope, will ‘Face the Music with Hope’!  This is a clever, funny and enjoyable charity musical evening with Stephen himself at the piano to play some ‘different’ versions of well-known pieces as well as showing off his dexterity at the keyboard.  It starts at 7.30pm on 21st October at our Holy Trinity Church Hall venue (SS15 5AD) with all proceeds going to St Luke’s Hospice, Basildon.  It’s £10 a ticket – with a glass of wine or juice and nibbles included – a bargain! And you are supporting a worthy, well loved, local charity.  For tickets ring 01268 450421.

Reaction to our recent Carol Concert

Our newest member writes:

As Christmas 2016 was approaching, I finally made the decision to fulfil my wish to sing Christmas carols in a choir. I’m so pleased that I found Basildon Choral Society, who have openly welcomed and supported me, whilst omitting any judgemental auditions.
Albeit a little nervous before and during their annual Christmas Carol Concert, I was assured by the conductor’s, Stephen Hope, professionalism and followed experienced fellow soprano’s lead, which undoubtedly made for a most wonderful experience for me.
At the end of the concert, receiving a standing ovation from the audience was recognition that I am part of a group who are sharing happiness and joy to all who were present and I am truly humbled.
I’m looking forward participating in future events with Basildon Choral Society, that include a variety of great music including sacred, popular, folk and songs from shows.

And two members of the audience said:

What a wonderful sound you all made tonight, the acoustics, the choir and the organ, quite stunning plus the lovely readings. My friends and I just loved it. Will be very interested in the Mozart in April.

The concert, choir and acoustics were wonderful, the sound resonated! It’s the best Christmas concert I’ve heard and it was good to hear some new pieces too. The conductor obviously gets the best from the choir and I can tell he wants perfection! I belong to the Eastwood Chorale and I’m keen to join for the Come and Sing Mozart Requiem on 8th April.

Do you enjoy a good sing? Did you used to sing in a choir once upon a time? How about trying it again?

There’s some great singing going on here in Basildon. Basildon Choral is a friendly, successful chorus that welcomes new singers. No experience necessary, just an interest in music and singing in particular.

Our newest recruits are all very positive about their time with the choir.

From the left – Jill, John, Ben, Katie, Michelle and Theresa.

Ben – ‘I never thought I could sing until a friend told me I could and gave me the confidence to join in.’

Michelle – ‘I was a bit apprehensive at first and thought perhaps it wasn’t for me but I stuck with it and now I LOVE it!’

John – ‘I used to sing in a choir when I was younger and missed it. Now I’ve started singing again – it’s great!’

Katie – ‘I was bored and looking for something to do. I knew I liked to sing and looked on the internet. Choir nights are the highlight of my week.’

 Jill and Theresa found us on the internet too – just like Katie. Why don’t you?  Hear what we sound like. Find out about the kind of stuff we sing and what we get up to! (We are also on ‘Streetlife’!)

Going along to something new for the first time is not easy, so feel free to contact us and we will make sure to help you feel welcome. (Jean 01268 282575 jeanb13@btinternet.com, Steve 01268 545907 stephennice1@gmail.com, Jen 01268 410844 jen1@f2s.com).

We rehearse at 7.45pm on Wednesdays at Langdon Hills Methodist Church, Emmanuel Rd, Langdon Hills, Basildon. SS16 6EX. No commitment necessary. Just come along and listen then perhaps give it a try. We’d love to see you.

Stephen Hope, Musical Director of Basildon Choral Society for the past 25 years is attempting to break his own record for raising money for the Hospice Movement.

Up to now Stephen has raised over £71,000 for Hospices in the South East. He is now attempting to boost that amount by a considerable amount.

Part of his efforts this summer include an Organathon in Basildon’s St Martin’s Church in the town centre. On Saturday 18^th June, Stephen will be playing a nine hour organ recital – from 9am to 6pm!

So please drop into the church at any time and listen as Stephen sets himself this mammoth musical challenge. He will be playing popular works by Bach, Stainer, Howells, Brahms and many more.

Why not come along, make a donation, buy a cake or cup of tea, relax and enjoy the music while (at the same time) raising money for St Luke’s Hospice and St Raphael’s Hospice in Cheam?

(Cream teas are also available if booked in advance on 07770 392067.)

There is a further challenge that Stephen has set himself this year. Between the 8^th and 17^th of September he will be walking the Great Wall of China to raise even more money!

Not only a gifted musician,  Stephen is also a tireless supporter of the Hospice Movement.