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The Choir

Penzance Choral Society is a mixed choir of over 100 voices. We perform twice a year, once during the Spring and again at Christmas, singing a wide variety of repertoire with recent concerts including works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Puccini, Mozart, Elgar, Verdi and Vaughn Williams. Our principal venue is St Mary's Church, Penzance, seen above with the Society performing at our 2004 Spring concert.

Timothy Hosken - Musical Director

Tim has been making music all his life and when at Humphry Davy Grammar School was a member of the school choir and orchestra, also Falmouth Youth Orchestra and the Cornwall Youth Orchestra. His music teacher at Humphry Davy was Russell Jory who is now President of Penzance Choral Society.

On leaving school Tim joined the Penzance Orchestral Society and the Cornwall Symphony Orchestra and also played in local Operatic Societies at St Ives, Penzance, Redruth and Falmouth. Tim went on to become Chorus Master of St Ives Operatic Society and then Musical Director, a post he held for seven years. Tim has also been involved with local choirs as a singer and accompanist and formed the St Just Circuit Choir which he conducted for eight years.

Tim has been Musical Director of Penzance Choral Society since September 2000 and is also Musical Director of The Marazion Appollo Male Choir, a position he has held since February 2003.

In the Summer of 2005 Tim was awarded the Cornwhylan Cross for musical performances which include a religious element. The Cross was presented by the Grand Bard at the 2005 Open Gorseth. The members of Penzance Choral Society are delighted that Tim has received this well deserved award.

Tim was made a Cornish Bard in the year 2008 in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contribution to the Cornish Music scene.

His Bardic name is Map ylowek Eglosberyan meaning "Musical son of St. Buryan".

Nigel Wicken: Accompanist & Deputy Musical Director

Penzance Choral Society is fortunate to have acquired the services of Nigel Wicken at the start of the 2008-2009 season. For a few years the Society had the services of the young and multi-talented Paul Marks-Joffe and faced a potential difficulty when Paul moved on at the end of the 2007-2008 season. But - cometh the hour, cometh the man – and Nigel Wicken has moved to Cornwall following a summer of organ playing in Germany.

Nigel was taught initially at school in Cirencester by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, now the Master of the Queen’s Music. He then studied trumpet and organ at the Royal College of Music and, after a period with the Arts Council, moved on to teaching at Cheltenham College, then as the director of music at schools in Wiltshire, Sussex and Surrey.

In the few months since moving to Cornwall Nigel has played with the Belerion Ensemble and the Southwest Chamber Orchestra as well as with Surrey Opera at the Minack Theatre. He is currently a member of the Penzance Orchestral Society and brought his musical expertise to Penzance Choral Society in time for the grand finale of the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2009. Recently appointed Organist and Director of Music at St. Mary's Church Penzance.

Russell Jory - President

Russell Jory has been President of Penzance Choral Society since June 2003 and is a highly respected figure in Cornish music making. He has recently retired as Director of Music at St Mary's Church, Penzance, where he worked for thirty five years. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, a Licentiate of Trinity College of Music and a Cornish Bard.

For many years he directed the music at Humphry Davy Grammar School and for seven years at Penwith Sixth Form College until his retirement in 1987. In that year he established the Sinfonia of St Mary's, which he continues to conduct, and began a twelve year association with the Cornwall Chamber Orchestra as Conductor.

Penzance Choral Society rehearsals are at 7.30pm on Friday evenings at Humphry Davy School, Coombe Road, Penzance. We are a friendly group and new members are always made very welcome. There are no auditions so come and sing with us!

Vocal Scores of the Stanford "Requiem" (77 Copies)

with voice part C.D.s (112 copies)

are available for hire at the cost of £300 for four months hire.