Last updated at 10:57, Thursday, 12 March 2009

A year of joy - and sadness - for West Cumberland Choral Society

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WEST Cumberland Choral Society’s concert this month is a special one for a number of reasons – not only is it their 40th anniversary concert, it also marks the retirement of two long-standing members.

Musical director Dorothy Edger and pianist Alan Redhead have been with the group since its inception. Dorothy, formerly head of music at Whitehaven Grammar School and then Whitehaven School, is the backbone of the choir, having been conductor since 1990. But she says it’s time to step down.

“I decided that as this is the 40th anniversary, it might be a good time to retire,” she said. “It has been a big part of my life and very time-consuming. With all the organisation and the weekly commitment I just decided that maybe it’s time I had a little more free time.”

During the past 40 years, the society has performed a large variety of choral works and almost 300 soloists have been involved of local, national and international renown. It has also encouraged career development of many post-graduate students including international soprano Joan Rodgers, Neil Mackie, Phillip Langridge, Owen Brannigan, David Wilson-Johnson and Christine Bunning.

The orchestra members for the choral concerts come from all over the area, even as far as Dumfries and Lancaster.

John Pape, who was head teacher at Bransty Primary School, founded the society in 1969. It was formed from members of the Lowther Street Methodist Church, the Seaton Choral Society, Seascale Choir and singers from all over the area. At times the choir has had more than 100 voices (its current strength is about 65).

“Mr Pape was my headmaster at the time and he was organist at Lowther Street Methodist Church where we all sang in the choir,” said Dorothy, of Whitehaven.

The choir became known as an augmented Lowther Street Choir and was over 100-strong with members. It was then decided that the choir needed to have a professionally constituted management. That was when West Cumberland Choral Society was born.

Mr Pape’s wife, Elspeth, was the business manager and drew in financial – and audience – support from an impressive list of patrons and vice-presidents.

Unfortunately, Mr Pape died of a heart attack and then Mrs Pape moved to Carlisle, so the group started sourcing other avenues of finance such as weekly raffles, book stalls and other fund-raising events.

Every concert is loss-making, says Dorothy, because of the cost of soloists. But Mrs Pape made a legacy which is held in a trust to support choral singing in West Cumbria. As part of this, a youth branch of the choir was set up seven years ago under Pat Pictor. Unfortunately, due to illness, Pat had to give up.

There have been plenty of memorable moments over the years. “At the very first concert I did in 1990, at that time they employed a group from the Manchester area, the North West Sinfonia,” said Dorothy, “and as a guest leader we got Martin Milner, the former leader of the Halle Orchestra. I was so excited because it was my first time and I was going to conduct this big choir and big leader.

“He helped me right through the performance and I have never looked back since.”

Another high was the 25th anniversary concert, when world-renowned soprano Joan Rodgers was the main soloist. Joan, formerly of Cleator Moor, worked with Dorothy when she was at school. She has since gone on to enjoy a successful international career since her critically acclaimed 1982 debut performance at the Aix-En-Provence Festival.

This year’s 40th anniversary concert on Saturday, March 28, will be a repeat of the memorable 25th anniversary event.

To be held in St James’ Church, it will feature the choir alongside Joan once again. There will also be mezzo Rachel Gilmore; tenor Peter Kelly, baritone Tom Eaglen; and Copeland Sinfonia Orchestra, leader Roland Fudge and continuo Alan Redhead.

And, of course, it will feature Dorothy at the helm for the final time.

“I will miss my friends but we will all keep in touch. I will keep going back and have a sing with them,” she said.

Pianist, Alan Redhead, is also retiring and will be a big miss for the choir. “He was my first piano pupil when I came home from college,” said Dorothy. “We have been very much a team ever since.”

Every year the choir performs a Christmas Messiah, a Christmas Celebration Concert and a Spring Concert, not to mention other events.

It was also very much involved in the Maritime Festivals with the memorable Last Night of the Proms concert.

The group has a good working committee (chaired by Alison Phillips) and members range from 17 years old to 80.

In this day and age when there is so much vying for people’s time, how does the society manage to keep such a large membership? “We have a varied programme and a weekly commitment to rehearsal,” said Dorothy. “We also make it as fun and enjoyable as possible.

“Unfortunately choral singing is dying out now because kids don’t do this sort of singing anymore in school. Maybe with the popularity of the Last Choir Standing, perhaps more people will become interested.

“I remember in 1985 we did an evening of Mozart with the school choir. You wouldn’t get that now. It’s a change in outlook and attitude. It doesn’t have the same sort of glamour.

“Our members work very hard and are pretty polished. We have members who are very faithful and have been in for most of the 40 years,” said Dorothy.

Other Choral Society conductors over the years have included Robert Prime and Gerald Gillett.

Dorothy and her husband Jack, who plays flute in the orchestra, plan to spend more time with their son Michael, a neuro-surgeon, who lives in Australia. Married to Tracy, the couple have a daughter, Annabel, aged eight.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it and while I’m on top of the world, as it were, I think it is time to give up,” added Dorothy.

“I am very proud of the choir – every concert to me is a special occasion. And it is good that it is still going as strong now as it ever was.”

Taking over from Dorothy will be Hugh Turpin, of St Bees, and replacing Alan Redhead will be Frank Bowler, organist at St Bees Priory.

Tickets for the anniversary concert on March 28 are £12/£10/£5. They are available by telephoning 01946 695787 or any other choir member. It starts at 7.30pm, in St James’ Church.

The choir rehearses on Thursday nights in St Begh’s Junior School Hall.

First published at 15:55, Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk