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Exmouth Choral Society
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • More about the team
  • Concerts
    • Past Concerts
    • Concerts (by composer)
    • Concerts since 1895 by date
    • Other events
  • Members
    • Key Dates
    • Next Concert
    • Rehearsal Files
    • Concert protocols
  • Gallery
  • Join us
  • Contact us
  • Policies
  • Latest News

History of the Society

The Exmouth Choral Society was founded in 1867 by William Vinnicombe, who was organist of St John the Evangelist Church, Withycombe Raleigh which had been built only two years before. The Society was reorganised in 1896 by Raymond Wilmot and by 1910 had performed 37 different works.

During the First World War concerts were abandoned but, from 1920 to 1934, regular performances were given. However, support waned after that and no more concerts were given until 1937, when Archibald Marcom took over as conductor. There have been no further gaps in continuity of performances. The Society performed regularly during the Second World War and in the immediate post war period hosted two music festivals. 

We had three musical directors for the 75 years from 1948: Donald White (1948 to 1983) and Brian Northcott (1983 to 2009) and Laurence Blyth (2010-2023). Matthew Jeffrey, our current MD, took over in September 2023.
Picture
 St John the Evangelist, Withycombe Village Road.
The opening concert of our 150th Anniversary year
- J S Bach's St Matthew Passion - was held here.

In 2001, Gerald Millington wrote a more detailed
History of the Society, which can be read here: 
1867 - 2001
Rosemary Longhurst has added an update covering 
the recent years up to our 150th Anniversary.
2001 - 2017

Details of music sung and past concerts,
​listed by composer can be found here:
Music Sung LISTED BY COMPOSER

  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • More about the team
  • Concerts
    • Past Concerts
    • Concerts (by composer)
    • Concerts since 1895 by date
    • Other events
  • Members
    • Key Dates
    • Next Concert
    • Rehearsal Files
    • Concert protocols
  • Gallery
  • Join us
  • Contact us
  • Policies
  • Latest News