About Wigton Choral Society

 WIGTON CHORAL SOCIETY was founded more than fifty years ago and has gained a reputation for a high standard of performance with imaginative programming.

The society was originally established with the twin aims of taking part in the Cumberland Rural Choirs Festival (later to become Cumbria Rural Choirs, and, more recently, Cumbria Singers) and entering music competitions. They certainly had early success in this latter aim, winning two cups in the Carlisle Music Festival the following year, but it was not until 1977, encouraged by Hugh Davies, who took over as Musical Director, that the choir embarked on its first independent venture: a concert of Christmas music at St. Mary’s Church, Wigton.

The choir currently has about fifty mixed voices and a repertoire which includes both religious and secular music from the 15th to the 21st centuries. To date, the choir has given two major concerts a year, in December and June, usually at St Mary’s Church, Wigton. Until the re-configuration of Cumbria Rural Choirs as “Cumbria Singers”, Wigton Choral Society also formed a significant part of that organisation, performing a large-scale choral work each Spring with professional orchestra, soloists and conductor.

Our Musical Director is Ian Wright, who took up the post in January 2008.

Membership

Society members come from a wide area of north Cumbria, and new members are always welcome. Membership is free for people under 25 in full-time education.

Singing in a choir is a wonderful opportunity to have voice training, learn some of the gems of the choral repertoire, take part in quality performances - and make new friends. Singing can also help your breathing, your stress levels and your health, so if you read music and enjoy singing, bring your voice along and give it a go! We meet at Wigton Methodist Church, CA7 9PG


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Rehearsal calendars

Please see our rehearsal schedule

Contact

Get in touch with us about joining or any other matter. We’d love to hear from you and will answer any questions you might have:



People

Our Music Director - Ian Wright

Ian Wright was brought up in Wales. He received a classical training at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Guildhall School of Music in London and City University, where he studied for a BSc degree in Music. He also has a degree in Theology from Oxford University.

Ian works as a violin teacher in schools for the Cumbria Music Service. He conducts the Carlisle Youth Orchestra and plays with ensembles such as the baroque groups Consort 1700 and Ensemble Buxtehude. He teaches Singing in secondary schools in Carlisle and West Cumbria and is an accomplished singer himself, singing with The Wordsworth Singers and Ensemble Buxtehude as well as appearing as tenor soloist.

Ian is also Music Director for Cockermouth Harmonic Society.

Our Accompanist - Amanda Wright

Amanda studied music at King’s College London and piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She currently works as a teacher and area manager for Cumbria Music Service. In addition to working with us, she is accompanist for Cockermouth Harmonic Society. You may also be fortunate enough to hear Amanda play at Mirehouse when the house is open to the public.

Our Committee

  • Chair David Rooney
  • Treasurer Bill Angell
  • Secretary Cathy Rooney
  • Librarian Ulrike Smith
  • Publicity Officer Mike Smith
  • Margaret Ferriby
  • Joy Hall
  • Catherine ServantĂ©
  • Jos Stevenson
  • Cressida Thompson
  • Ian Wright (ex officio)

Wigton Choral Society and COVID-19 precautions

Following a period of interruption during 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (at first cancellation and then use of alternative formats and venues for rehearsals), from September 2021 we resumed our in-person rehearsals at Wigton Methodist Church, 48 High Street, CA7 9PG. These rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. We are rehearsing in the Church itself, rather than the adjacent Church Hall as before, because it has a high ceiling to help with the airflow and ventilation. Of course, we ask that you do not come to rehearsal if you feel at all unwell.