Four decades of making music

A musical director has notched up nearly 40 years at the helm of a choral society, which started life as a small singing class.

Mr Neville Ward, 69, formed Bingham and District Choral Society in 1972 from a singing group at Toot Hill School, where he was head of music for 32 years.

To mark the society’s 40th anniversary, members will perform one of Mr Ward’s favourite pieces, A Child of Our Time by Michael Tippett, at Nottingham’s Albert Hall next year.

“I had always hoped the group would last as long as this,” said Mr Ward, of Nursery Road.

“It has been a very important part of my life. Music is a lovely way of bringing people together.

“The group will continue for as long as people want to join it.”

After studying clarinet and bassoon at the Royal Academy of Music, Mr Ward taught in Halifax, where he developed his interest in conducting, before moving to Bingham.

For 30 years he has also been the musical director of Scunthorpe and District Choral Society, and has conducted a number of concerts with professional orchestras, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the English Sinfonia, and the City of London Sinfonia.

“I have always liked the idea of bringing groups together and over the years the Bingham group has performed with choral groups in Mansfield, Southwell, Newark and Ruddington,” said Mr Ward.

“Music is something you share with other people instead of competing with it and our choir in Bingham is one for everyone to join — we have no auditions.

“I enjoy working with the group and I have made a lot of friends.”

The society has performed numerous large-scale works including Herbert Howells’ Hymnus Paradisi, Brahms’ Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria, as well as taken part in concerts with professional orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the English Sinfonia.

The society joined the Cory Band for its centenary concert at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, which was recorded for radio and television.

At present, Bingham Choral Society has around 80 members, but over the years it has had anything between 100 and 150.

Mr David Atkins, 79, of College Street, East Bridgford, has been a member for 30 years.

He said the works that seemed hard at first were later a pleasure to sing.

“Neville is such an enthusing conductor and persuaded me to stay,” he said.

“Now, when the orchestra plays, it lifts the music to a whole other plane of enjoyment.

“I know I will have to stop singing at some point, but not yet.”

Mr Ward said the group was rehearsing for its November concert, but new members were always welcome.

For more information contact choir@binghamchoral.org.uk