About Us
About Us
Hallam Choral Society is a vibrant and welcoming mixed-voice choir that combines passion for singing with a commitment to musical excellence. With a diverse group of around sixty singers from across the city, we come together to present three public concerts a year, featuring an exciting mix of music.
Our Musical Director, Kate Thompson—a Sheffield-based voice specialist—joined us in Summer 2023, bringing fresh energy and expertise, including vocal coaching and a motivation to diversify our repertoire, for example with more living composers and female composers.
Our concerts span the seasons: lighter music for summer, traditional carols and festive choral works at Christmas, and an eclectic range of captivating pieces in autumn and spring. Each performance is enhanced by skilled professional accompaniment, from pianists and organists to orchestras, and we bring in exceptional soloists when the repertoire calls for it.
Young Singers’ Policy
The Hallam Choral Society understands that if we are to keep choral singing alive, we need to attract new members.
Through this policy we have the opportunity to prove to young people that singing in a choir is a great thing to do, and that The Hallam Choral Society is the choir to be part of!
Hallam Choral Society offers any new singers under the age of 30, a reduced membership package of approximately one-third the full rate. We are also offering FREE membership to those ages 18-20.
Would you or anyone you know be interested in taking a place on our Young Singers’ Scheme?
“…such a lovely community of people who look after each other and enjoy making music together. I have really enjoyed getting to know the choir and exploring our sound. I’ve thrown in the odd challenge now and then but the choir has been really open to trying new things and tackled new repertoire with good humour, curiosity and produced really tremendous results.”
Musical Director: Kate Thompson
Kate graduated from the music department at the University of Sheffield. Since graduating, Kate has taken on a number of roles within music education including General Manager of Soundpost Community Network, lecturer on the Theatre, Performance and Acting Degree at Rotherham College and Learning and Participation Producer at Music in the Round.
Kate is a sought after voice specialist who delivers voice and singing workshops in an exciting variety of contexts. She studied vocal pedagogy as a postgraduate student, under the tutelage of voice specialists Jenevora Williams and Declan Costello. Kate is passionate in ensuring each singer she works with (whether individually or as part of an ensemble) is given the tools to get the very best from their voice.
Having been a past member herself whilst at university, in 2014 she began working with The University of Sheffield Singers’ Society as the artistic director of their small ensembles. After nine enjoyable years, Kate bade them a fond farewell to begin work with Hallam Choral Society.
Kate is passionate about the power of music in education and regularly leads workshops for Out of the Ark encouraging teachers to use music as a tool to support learning throughout the EYFS and National Curriculum.
Kate is Trust and Foundations Fundraiser for arts and community organisations such as Cast (Doncaster), Pan Intercultural Arts (London), Choir With No Name and African Women’s Health Group, based in Darnall.
Kate enjoys singing with Sheffield Chamber Choir and the Alma Mater Singers. She is also a keen folk musician and enjoys the vibrant folk scene of Sheffield whenever she can.
“The best thing… is the people, everyone is so friendly and kind. There have been many highlights, but the main one is the feeling of acceptance. My thanks for the kindness I experience on Mondays and concert days.”
Accompanist: Martin Thiselton
Martin has enjoyed composing in a variety of styles including orchestral works, solo, chamber, keyboard, vocal, electronic and popular music. He has written pieces for Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, Trinity Guildhall, Sheffield Youth Orchestra, Barnsley Music Service, Sheffield University Strings, and various choirs and soloists. His “Four Songs from the North” were performed by an ensemble in Nottingham University and he was awarded a prize for the work. He has made a chamber arrangement of the Rite of Spring.
Martin’s first degree was in Durham and on completion moved to Sheffield to study for his masters in organ performance and composition in 1990. He completed his doctorate in composition at Nottingham University in 2001 and married Jackie in the same happy Summer.
Martin also plays for Stannington Mixed Choir and has played in folk and rock bands as a keyboard and violin/viola player.
Committee
- Chair: Alan Wenham
- Treasurer: Susan Hartwill
- Secretary: Rob Coleman
- Membership Secretary: Sue Mills
- Advertising: Julia Jackson
- Publicity: Chris Littler
- Concert Manager: Colin Roberts
- Fundraising Secretary: Julia Jackson
- Musical Director: Kate Thompson
- Librarian: Maire McCarthy
Mission Statement
- HCS performs four or more choral concerts per season
- HCS offers training in choral singing and promotes a regular series of concerts in the area. We have a broad-based membership with a wide age range.
- HCS promotes concerts involving the best possible soloists and orchestras, whilst exploring a wide repertoire
- HCS promotes public education in and appreciation of all aspects of choral music; exploring new ways to extend the range of our membership and reach new audiences, with particular references to young people
- HCS sponsors the Don Greenfield Trophy and Prizes in the David Clover Festival of Singing, awarded to the winners of the Vocal Solo Class (age 9-12)
- HCS engages with local schools promoting music and providing opportunities for children to attend concerts by providing free tickets for the under 16s
- HCS is committed to its Young Singers’ Policy which provides a reduced membership package for members/singers under 30 (approximately half the full subscription rate). This gives young people the opportunity to learn new and varied works whilst working with the choir and also offering the opportunity to perform these works in public along with professional singers and musicians.
- HCS is a member of Making Music and Classical Sheffield.
History
The Hallam Choral Society was formed in 1969, under the name “Hallam Singers”, adopting its current name in 1989. A group of singers began rehearsing in Lydgate Night School under the direction of David Higgins. The choir grew and transferred rehearsals to the Hallam School Campus where they became part of Hallam Community Youth Association. Over the years the baton was passed to Derek Humphries and Allan Eost, and then around 1976 Don Greenfield, a teacher at Hallam Middle School, became the conductor. Under Don’s charismatic guidance, the choir grew to about 80 members, in 1983 the choir won First Prize for The Choral Challenge Class at the Mexborough Musical Competition Festival. Sadly Don died in 1990.
Vivien Pike took over as musical director and led the choir to win First Prize for Mixed Voice choirs at the Blackpool Music Festival in 1995. After Vivien’s departure a period of consolidation followed with David Sanderson taking up the baton as Musical Director until his departure in 2004.
For the next ten years, some 40 years on since the group formed, Peter Taylor led the choir as Musical Director, in performances of Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Faure’s Requiem, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse, Carter’s Benedicite, Poulenc’s Gloria, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, Britten’s The World of the Spirit, Gounod’s Messe Solennelle St. Cecelia, Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
On a lighter note the choir has performed excerpts from Gilbert and Sullivan, various folk and part songs, songs from around the world, songs from the shows as well as the great choral classics, and by invitation at a number of weddings and country houses.
In April 2015 we were delighted to welcome Ellie Slorach as our new Musical Director. Ellie was the first of a succession of excellent young graduates of Manchester University employed by our choir as Musical Director. She was followed by Matthew Quinn and then by Clara Rundell, until 2023. We have benefited from all of their fresh demands and talents, and have assisted them as professional musicians to build their CV and launch their careers. These have taken them away from Sheffield. In 2023 the choir preferred to advertise locally and in April of that year we were successful in appointing Kate Thompson to the post of Musical Director.
Constitution
Name
The choir shall be called the The Hallam Choral Society.
Registered Charity
The Hallam Choral Society is a registered charity; number 1141291
Objectives
To enjoy making music
To adhere as closely as possible to the Mission Statement (see above).
Membership
Membership will be subject to regular attendance at rehearsal.
Choir numbers will be determined by the committee and Musical Director’s discretion.
Termination of Membership
The committee shall retain the right to terminate the membership of any member, for good reason.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions shall be collected from members at regular intervals decided by the Treasurer.
Members shall be given one term’s notice of any changes.
AGM
Shall be held once a year at which time new Directors may be elected.
Nominations for these posts should be submitted two weeks prior to the AGM.
Committee
The Committee shall be made up of members elected from the choir.
The Committee member shall on election undertake on the role for a term of 3 years after which the role will become eligible for re-election.
The Committee shall undertake to make decisions on behalf of the choir in the choice of music and general administrative matters.
The Committee shall meet at least four times per year.
Trustees/Directors
The trustees/directors shall meet at least once per year (and/or when necessary).
The trustees/directors shall have overall responsibility for ensuring Hallam Choral Society meet its aims and objectives as a registered charity.
The trustees/directors shall ensure that the choir maintains a viable financial position to achieve its aims and objectives.
The trustees/directors shall step down on a 3 year rotation and may be nominated for re-election.
