Bingham and District Choral Society start rehearsals for Southwell Minster concert with new musical director from Newark Parish Church

A choral society has begun rehearsals with their new musical director after a successful year.

In 2022 Bingham and District Choral Society celebrated their 50th anniversary with a series of celebratory concert, culminating in a ‘Last night of the Proms’ in Southwell Minster.

Now, the choir is eagerly looking ahead to its first concert of the new year, which will once again take place in the Minster on April 1.

At this concert the group will be joined by Southwell Choral Society and the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra to perform Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony.

2023 also sees a very important transition for the choir as their musical director for seven-and-a-half years, Guy Turner, takes early retirement.

A society representative said: "We have had to bid an affectionate farewell to our musical director, Guy Turner, who has decided to take semi-retirement.

"Guy has inspired and guided the choir through an excitingly diverse range of music, often enriched by his own compositions.

"We will miss him but we count ourselves very lucky that Stephen Bullamore will be taking his place as MD."

The new MD Stpehen Bullamore is a talented and experienced choral conductor.

Stephen is director of music at Newark Parish Church and has previously held posts at Waltham Abbey, Lincoln and Guildford Cathedrals respectively.

Rehearsals for the concert series began this month and will take place each Wednesday from 7.15pm until 9.30pm at Carnarvon Primary School in Bingham.

Anyone wishing to sing with the group can take part in a three-week trial period for new singers, with no audition necessary.

For more information, visit www.binghamchoral.org.uk or call 0115 9332834.