Billingshurst Choral Society (BCS) is a lively and well-established choir based in West Sussex. Founded in 1986 by a group of friends including our founding Musical Director George Jones, the choir has grown steadily in experience, repertoire and numbers.
In 2015, after 29 years of building and developing the choir George Jones decided on a well-earned retirement from BCS, and we were delighted to appoint Cathal Garvey as our new Musical Director. Cathal continued to develop the choir from the strong tradition built by George Jones, and his work with us has attracted critical acclaim. At a similar time we appointed a new rehearsal accompanist, Helen Wharmby. Over recent years we have continued to grow as a choir, and to perform highly enjoyable concerts to audiences in the south east and beyond.
2020 of course saw enormous changes for everyone and, like all choirs, we have had to interrupt our musical activities. As part of the re-planning of our future direction under these very different circumstances, we have now appointed a new Musical Director, Marcio da Silva.
The choir has a wide repertoire, ranging from music by Handel, Bach and Beethoven to Verdi and Vaughan Williams, and modern composers such as Rutter, Chilcott, Jenkins, Todd and Goodall.
As well as performing locally, we also embark on regular tours to venues further afield.
Membership is currently around 60, but we’re always keen to welcome new members! Our weekly rehearsal time is at 7:30 pm on Tuesday evenings - for more information see the Join Us page.
BCS is pleased to support Midhurst Palliative Care as its charity for the season.
