There was a Bromsgrove Musical Club in 1939 which gave organised concerts but this ceased to function during the war years.In 1947 the Bromsgrove Society of Arts was formed and the choir began to rehearse again.In 1955 the choral section became a separate society as an evening class of the Bromsgrove College of Further Education.
In 1978 the society ceased to be an evening class and became an individual charitable society, so the members were responsible for all expenses of running the society and engaging soloists and orchestras. This was made possible by a charitable trust and grants from the County and District Councils. For many years the choir flourished under the baton of Lyn Davies. When Lyn retired we were conducted by Carleton Etherington and after him by Simon Bertram. John Brierley took over in 2009.
In June 2015 the society held its first singing workshop day directed by David Lawrence. The work performed was Bob Chilcott’s Requiem.
Recent works performed by the choir include:
Mozart – Coronation Mass, Ave Verum and Laudate Dominum
Handel – Dettingen Te Deum and Zadok the Priest
Andrew Carter – Laudate Dominum
Choruses from various operas
Britten – St Nicholas
Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man
Duruflé – Requiem
Charpentier – Messe de Minuit
Stainer – The Crucifixion
Fauré – Requiem
Bach – Christmas Oratorio (excerpts)
A miscellany of show songs
Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Haydn – Spring (from The Seasons)
Schubert – Requiem
Mendelssohn – Elijah
Handel – Part 1 of Messiah
Rutter – When Icicles Hang
Rutter – The Sprig of Thyme
Vivaldi – Gloria
Cole Porter – Begin the Beguine and Let’s do it
