Kingston Orpheus Choir

Kingston Orpheus Choir is an amateur mixed voice choir which rehearses at St John the Evangelist Church in Kingston upon Thames.

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Kingston Orpheus Choir with an orchestra, (undated believed 1950's), taken at Coronation Baths, Denmark Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. The picture was probably taken at a rehearsal. The swimming pool was covered over and used as a concert venue.

It was formed as the Kingston Orpheus Society at a meeting on 20 March 1944 by George Anderson and about 35 local people interested in setting up a choir to "produce works of high standard, oratorios, concert versions of operas, ballads etc.". The first concert by the Kingston Orpheus Society took place on 17 December 1944 and consisted of Christmas carols. Funds were raised for the Army Benevolent Fund.

George Anderson, who had begun his conducting career in north London continued as conductor and musical director until his final concert at the age of 74 on 2 May 1981 at Kingston Parish Church. George Anderson was a senior salesman for Hawker Aircraft Ltd.

Susan Higgins succeeded George as Musical Director in 1981. After 26 years Higgins was succeeded by Ben Palmer in September 2007. David Condry succeeded Ben Palmer in January 2013.

It is a member of Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies.

External links

• Kingston Orpheus Choir
• National Archives
• /Hawker Association - George Anderson