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 last ten years, some 40 years on since the group formed, Peter Taylor has 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 Elspeth Slorach as our new Musical Director. Elspeth 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. In April we were successful in appointing Kate Thompson to the post of Musical Director.
