HGCS: 23 years of choral music

Hall Green Choral Society was founded in 1983 following an open invitation to people in the Hall Green area to join a new choir.  Clive Jones was the conductor of the choir at its inauguration, and he has continued to lead the choir since then.  Gaynor Leighton-Hoggett (a co-founder) was the original accompanist.  Gaynor also acted as the choir's secretary, until she moved away from Birmingham some years later.

While the original membership was drawn from Hall Green, it quickly attracted members from some of the surrounding districts in South Birmingham and Solihull.  Membership has typically been around 30-40 singers.

Under Clive's guidance, the choir developed a pattern of concerts which has continued to the present day.  In the Spring, one or two major works are performed.  The Summer concert is more varied and in lighter vein.  It will usually include popular song arrangements, part songs. madrigals, opera choruses, and arrangements of songs from the shows.  In December, the concert is dominated by Christmas music, often including a larger-scale choral work. 

Over the years the choir has performed major works such as Mozart's "Requiem", Handel's "Messiah", Haydn's "The Creation" and "The Seasons", Rossini's "Stabat Mater", Poulenc's "Gloria", Puccini's "Messa di Gloria", and Rutter's "Requiem" and "Magnificat".

Many professional solo singers have taken part in concerts over the years.  The choir has developed links with Birmingham Conservatoire, enabling young soloists to gain experience at the beginning of their careers.

The choir has a loyal following for its concerts.  Periodic reviews appear in the local press.  In 1994 a reviewer commented: "The HGCS is more than doubly blest in its ambitious and hard-working conductor, and in its highly professional accompanists".

In 2003, the Church of the Ascension celebrated its 300th anniversary, and the choir celebrated its links with the church by presenting concerts with compositions ranging from 1700 to the present day.