The Early Beginnings and Onwards
The Chester le Street Civic Choir was founded in 1964 by Mr
William Henderson, of Newcastle Road, at the request of the late councillor Mrs
Dorothy Riddell, who became the choir’s President. The first concert, a
performance of Bizet’s "Carmen”, was given on 15th April 1964. Mr
Henderson remained as conductor until 1971 and was succeeded for a short time
by Mr Fred Wilson, and then in 1972 by Mr Roy Badshaw.
Mrs Katherine Ottosson took over in 1984 and remained in the post
for over thirty years. Under her leadership the choir flourished and spread its
wings, enjoying successful exchange visits with a choir from Alingsas, Sweden,
and Sordlandska Korverksted, a choir from Norway. The current Musical Director,
Mr Philip Dixon, took over in January 2015 following Katherine’s retirement.
Mixed and Varied Music
Since its formation, the Civic Choir has given many and varied
concerts in the town, and surrounding districts. The repertoire has included
Opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, Choral works, songs from Shows and many
miscellaneous items.
Famous professional singers have appeared with the choir and they
have included Owen Brannigan, John Heddle Nash, Thomas Round, Angela Jenkins,
Barbara Rowbotham and Lesley Garret, to name but a few. The choir has also collaborated
with various Brass Bands in joint concerts.
Memorable Highlights
Some of the highlights over the years have include recording
fifteen items for Tyne Tees television for The Epilogue; performing Haydn’s
Creation with the Methodist Church choir as part of the 1100 Anniversary
celebrations in May 1983; hosting Scratch concerts of Vivaldi’s Gloria and
Handel’s Messiah; sharing the stage with Lesley Garrett for the Lords
Taverners’ fund, at the Riverside, in 2002, and a 50th Anniversary Concert in
2014.
Recent Years
Pre Covid, the choir (then sixty strong) enjoyed a very successful
exchange visit, in 2016 and 2018, this time with Sheffield City’s Teachers’
choir, and was performing three concerts a year in Chester le Street.
Post Covid, the Choir is once again looking to entertain our
audiences, both in Chester le Street and further afield, with a wide variety of
music, under the Leadership of our Musical
Director, Mr Philip Dixon.
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