Kingston Arts

Kingston Arts is a charitable organisation, supporting and nurturing local talent.

  • Home
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Committee
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
  • Gallery
  • News
  • Members Area
    • Members Directory
    • Become a member
  • Contact

Handel’s Messiah

November 23, 2014 By Anthony Kelly

thames_phil-messiah-dec-2014
Thames Philharmonic Choir (TPC) will kick off its Golden Jubilee season with a performance of the Messiah, which in 1964 featured in the first performances of the two choirs that subsequently merged to form TPC under the baton of Artistic Director John Bate. The Choir, many of whose members are drawn from the Boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Wandsworth, returns to the newly refurbished All Saints’ Kingston for the first of its Golden Jubilee concerts on 6 December.

The Choir’s formation and development is synonymous with John Bate who was founder, in 1964, of both the Putney Bach Choir and the Richmond Choral Society. In 1975, the two choirs merged and subsequently became well-known in South-West London as the John Bate Choir – described as a provisional name. It took another 20 years for the Choir to agree on a permanent name: Thames Philharmonic Choir was finally adopted in 1995.

Looking back on the last 50 years, John Bate says:

“Thames Philharmonic Choir, under its various names, has been a constant thread throughout most of my adult life and professional musical career. Choirs, orchestras and opera work, together with my teaching in schools and universities, have come and gone over the last half-century, while the Choir has progressed from its beginnings as a pair of local authority evening classes to a position where it is recognised as one of the finest around. I am very proud of what the Choir has achieved and delighted that so many members have remained for many years.”

The Choir twice won the National Choral Competition held at the Royal Albert Hall, and subsequently embarked on an annual series of appearances in the South Bank Queen Elizabeth Hall. Short tours abroad became a regular feature of Choir life, and in the 1980s a performing partnership with the Symphonic Choir of the historic City of Konstanz on the German-Swiss border was established – and continues to thrive to this day. In the 1990s, regular summer cathedral residencies began, and in the last few years Cadogan Hall has become the Choir’s central London venue of choice.

Reviewing the Choir’s most recent concert at St Andrew’s Surbiton in June 2014, Kingston-based composer Kevin Jones wrote:

“As it approaches its fiftieth anniversary season next year, John Bate and the Thames Philharmonic Choir can justifiably take great pride in the outstanding contribution they have made and continue to make to the cultural life of South West London and beyond.”

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: Thames Philharmonic Choir

Log in / out

Events Calendar

« April 2021 » loading...
M T W T F S S
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2

Members updates

Our next concert is on 28th March in St Andrew’s Church, Surbiton at 7pm. We will be singing Bach’s “St Matthew Passion” – a work especially suited for Easter. Conducted by Joel Newsome-Hubbard and featuring 6 soloists, two choirs and The Noxwode Ensemble playing period instruments. Tickets £15 (students £7.50). Visit http://www.emberchoral.org.uk f…[Read more]

Profile picture of Ember Choral 1 year, 2 months ago

The wonderful Wilful Choir starts back Monday Jan 6th
Come and try us out for free!
All songs taught by ear, including fun and effective warm-ups. Wide variety of songs from many eras and cultures from World, Folk, Jazz to Gospel, Latin and more!

We meet on Monday evenings from 7.30-9.30pm mostly in term-time, at the lovely Canbury…[Read more]

Profile picture of Wilful Choir 1 year, 3 months ago

Twitter Feed

Tweets by @KingstonArts

Tags

All Saints choir Art exhibition Arts Salon Canbury Singers Collis Choral Singers cornerHOUSE Court Farm Gallery Euphonix Festival of the Voice Follia Ignition KAOS Kingston Chamber Concerts Kingston Choral Society Kingston Jazz Society Kingston Junior Drama Company Kingston Orpheus Choir Loki Music Meet up Mental health Music in New Malden New Malden Orchestra One Acts Photography Schizothemia Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra Surbiton and District Caledonian Society Surbiton and District Caledonian Society special events Surbiton Arts Group Surrey House Thames Concerts Thames Festival Orchestra Thames Philharmonic Choir Thames Valley Arts Society Thames Youth Orchestra The Big Sing The Choral Foundation the cornerHOUSE The Landmark Arts Centre The Landmark Singers The Lovekyn Consort Tiffin Boys' Choir Yadapa Yoga You creative rebel

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter

* indicates required

Contact us

email: info@kingstonarts.co.uk

Connect with us

  • facebook
  • twitter

Supported by

Copyright © 2021 · Kingston Arts · Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy

This site uses cookies: Find out more.