Founded in 1961, The Grange Choral Society has a proud tradition of choral music-making in Christchurch and the surrounding area. The choir was established by Geoffrey Stark, originally bringing together singers from the Signals Research and Development Establishment (SRDE). Geoffrey was an experienced musician, having played viola with the Royal Aircraft Establishment Orchestra and conducted the Farnham and Bourne Choral Society. In its early years, the choir performed madrigals, chorales and part-songs.

 

Membership quickly expanded beyond SRDE, allowing the choir to tackle an increasingly ambitious repertoire. By the mid-1960s, orchestras were being used. As numbers and confidence grew, the choir embraced the larger works of the choral canon.

 

In 1967, the choir adopted its present name, Grange Choral Society, reflecting its wider membership. In 1969 a performance of Mozart’s Requiem marked the beginning of a long association with Christchurch Priory, now the choir’s home venue.

 

Over the years, the Society has performed many major works, including Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Verdi’s Requiem and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.

 

The choir has been shaped by a succession of dedicated musical directors, each contributing to its artistic development. Today, it is brilliantly led by Simon Earl and continues to welcome singers of all backgrounds, united by a shared love of choral music and the joy of performing great works together.

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