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The first record of choral singing in Perth dates from 1840 or 1841 - the exact date is uncertain. The precentor of a local church had gathered a group of singers who formed themselves into a society, meeting weekly in the Guild Hall. In 1861 the Perth Choral Union was founded under the direction of Mr David Bayne, from Glasgow, but lapsed in 1867. Our own Choral Society was founded in 1890 by Mr Stephen Richardson, then organist at St. Ninian’s Cathedral. Known then as Mr. Richardson’s Choral Society, performances were given at the Perth City Hall and St Ninian’s Cathedral, with many distinguished soloists. Mr Richardson died suddenly in 1937 and a group of Perth business men met to determine how best to help the Society - for it was felt that it should not perish. At the Annual General meeting in 1938 the name was changed to “Perth Choral Society founded by Me. Stephen Richardson in 1890.”
The Society was in abeyance from December 1940 until April 1948 because of the Second World War; it was revived later in 1948 and from then, the Society has grown and progressed under the baton of several fine conductors. The Constitution of the Society (now named Perth Choral Society) states that we exist for “the performance of major sacred and secular works, in public or in private - and to promote the appreciation of the art of music.
Membership of the choir is presently around 90 and we give two major concerts, usually in November and March. In recent years we have embarked on several new ventures and we are invited to participate in many civic services in St. John’s Kirk; these include the Perth Festival of the Arts Dedication Service; we are also available for weddings and other special events. “Come and Sing” concerts are recent additions to our enterprises and we hope to be able to continue this superb way of introducing people to choral singing. These events also enable us to meet singers from all over the country and many friendships have begun or been renewed in such events.
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