LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Choirs must give public what they want

The fact is that the choir scene in Rotherham has never been more vibrant and active than it is today. There are many choirs which cover all aspects and styles of music.

I am involved with several choirs of different sizes, from one with a membership going on towards 100, to others with a membership of 20 or 30 members. All of them are working very hard to attract new members, but most are succeeding.

They are singing in harmony, with a good array of voices across the SATB range.

There are also the male voice choirs and ladies choirs, as well as choirs covering music from the new commonwealth.

However, choirs have evolved from what they used to be into something different. There is room for all.

Choirs such as Rawmarsh Choral Society may have folded on the way, but they have been replaced by other choirs such as Rotherham Rock Choir, Friends In Harmony, U3A Choir and Musicality to name just four. Singers today want to enjoy and experience a variety of styles of music, not just stick with one style “in the great choral tradition”. They want to sing songs from the shows, from the films, from the charts as well as smaller works by “classical” composers. They want to be challenged with arrangements that are challenging in new ways from doing complete oratorios such as “The Creation”, “Dream Of Gerontius”, “Elijah” and “The Messiah”.

To read your article would suggest that there is nothing else available, when the opposite is very true.

For Mr Sebestyen to suggest that this town has lost its love of singing is wrong.

I note that Mr Sebestyen has quoted the feelings of one member of Rotherham Choral Society instead of trying to find out the true total picture. And yet, this lady mentions only three choirs.

There are other choirs in districts such as Kilnhurst with over 60 members!

The lady remarks that a recent performance of Faure’s Requiem was poorly attended at Whiston recently. Perhaps Faure’s Requiem, a mass for the dead, is not what some members of the general public want.

 If she was to able to attend concerts elsewhere in such places as Wickersley, she will witness attendances of well over 100! At a choral concert in Clifton held at St James Church held earlier this year, there was an attendance of well over 100. In fact the concert raised several hundred pounds for St James Church, which is in the same Mission area as St Mary Magdelene and St Cuthberts.

Give the public what they want. Variety is the spice of life we are told. To quote Fiddler On The Roof…”A little bit of this, a little bit of that…”

The so called British Choral Tradition still has its place, with choirs such as the Sheffield Philharmonic Choir and the Huddersfield Choral Society maintaining their place. But music is much, much more than singing these wonderful choral works by the masters, such as Mozart, and JS Bach. Music is about life and the enrichment of life, as well as health and fitness (both physical and mental).

The numbers during Covid attending concerts dropped, I agree. However, they are now very much on the rise, and I know that the next concert for Friends In Harmony has already got its “Sold Out!” notices prepared, otherwise I would have invited Mr Sebestyen to attend!

Graham Cowley, Clifton, Rotherham

Editor’s Note: Some choirs may be doing well, but clearly not all and the aim of the article was to publicise those who aren’t in the hope they may attract new members and more people to their concerts, whatever their choice of music. The research conducted for this purpose was more than adequate.