Bracknell Choral Society was founded in 1960 with 14 members. We now have about 80 members. In most seasons we perform two major and two smaller concerts in the Bracknell area. In recent concerts we have sung major works by Elgar, Walton, Bach, Beethoven and many others. To see what we have performed recently, click here

Our smaller concerts consist of a Christmas Carol Concert each December and a summer concert at the end of June with themes like 'A Night at the Opera' or 'A Victorian Serenade'. During school term time we rehearse from 7.30 pm for two hours each Wednesday evening at Ranelagh School, Bracknell.

Producing concerts is an expensive activity, and we are grateful to receive financial assistance from seasonal sponsors and our friends. The Society is a Registered Charity (No 282753).

Our President is Ronald Corp, Founder and Artistic Director of the New London Orchestra and New London Children's Choir, and Musical Director of the London Chorus and Highgate Choral Society.

The New London Orchestra has gained an excellent reputation for its innovative programming, and Ronald Corp has made it his mission to breathe new life into a wealth of little-known music from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as commissioning many new works. The New London Orchestra is now the resident orchestra at the UCL Bloomsbury, and performs concerts at the theatre as well as being involved with outreach and research projects with the theatre and the University.

Corp's engagements have included concerts with many well known orchestras. He also works regularly with the BBC Singers, and at the BBC Promenade Concerts, where he has conducted the 'Family Prom', and the 'Children's Prom'.

Ronald Corp is also a composer. Recent compositions include Cornucopia, a major choral work for children's choir and orchestra (1997), Piano Concerto (1997), the cantatas A New Song (1999), Mary's Song (2001) and Adonai Echad (The Lord is One) (2001) In May 2003 the Highgate Choral Society premiered the Missa San Marco in St Mark's, Venice.

Our Musical Director is Barney Smith. As a chorister at Westminster Abbey, he appeared as a treble soloist on many important occasions, including the Proms. He spent a gap year singing with the Winchester Cathedral choir and as a member of staff at the Pilgrims’ School. After singing at Manchester Cathedral in 2004, and studying at the Royal College of Music with Robin Blaze, he is now reading for a degree in music, whilst continuing vocal studies with international baritone soloist Christian Immler. He has also won prizes for his solo singing from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and The Bedfordshire Singing Festival.

Barney deputises regularly at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He also co-founded and conducts the promising young chamber choir Voces Cantabiles, leading them to a record eight awards at the 44th International Choral Grand Prix, including one for best conductor. He is also the deputy conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra’s St. Luke’s Community Choir. Away from music, Barnaby is a keen sportsman; he currently represents his university at first team level in Badminton and enjoys a good kick-around in the park.

Nicholas Austin, our accompanist is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied under Carola Grindea and Harold Dexter. He spent a year at King Alfred's College, Winchester, where he qualified as a teacher.

An avid showtune lover, Nick has been Musical Director for the Crowthorne Musical Players since 1988: recent productions have included Singin’ in the Rain, Annie Get Your Gun, South Pacific, The Boyfriend, Me and My Girl and Die Fledermaus. He has just directed ‘A Night at the Oscars’ – an evening of music from the movies, and is now rehearsing for Oklahoma at South Hill Park in May.

Past years have seen Nick conducting 400 children in performances of Yanomamo, Ocean World and African Jigsaw by Rose and Conlon at the Bracknell Schools Music Festival. He has also conducted the South Berkshire Music Centre's Corelli Orchestra, including a tour of Germany.

Nick joined Stanmore Choral Society as Musical Director in September 2006. Performances since then have included Faure’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Dixit Dominus, performed with members of the award-winning a cappella group, Voces8 and the Senesino Players. His first season with them concluded with ‘A Night at the Opera’. This season will include Mozart’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Purcell’s Come Ye Sons of Art.

An expert repetiteur, Nick has been rehearsal pianist for the Bracknell Choral Society since 1981 and conducted a complete Messiah for the society in November 2005. He regularly accompanies and plays continuo in their concerts.

Nick is currently working for Royal Mail and, in his spare time, he orchestrates, arranges and composes for various musical and dance groups – one big project underway at the moment is writing a complete ballet on the theme of Aladdin.
He is also a Science Fiction fan and is fascinated by the mystery that is our Universe.

bc2 updated 20-mar-08