South Devon Choir is a large, non-audition, mixed voice choir. We rehearse on Thursday nights, usually at St Pauls Church Hall, Locarno Road (off Torquay Road), Preston, Paignton starting at 7.30pm until 9.30pm but during September 2021 we will be switching to Central Church, Tor Hill Road, Torquay TQ2 5RN in order to utilise the larger and more ventilated space to help mitigate the risks associated with Covid-19. We shall also be shortening our practices to one and a half hours with arrival commencing at 7.30pm, singing starting at 7.45pm until 9.15pm. We hope to switch back to our usual venue and times in due course.
Over the years the Choir has sung with many leading amateur and professional orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, the Bristol Symphony, the Bands of HM Grenadier Guards, Household Cavalry and Royal Marine Commandos, Lympstone.
Nearly all the historical oratorios, cantatas and choral works have been performed at concerts as well as 20th century compositions. The Choir has visited France four times including the Quimper Music Festival, has hosted choirs from Holland, France and the USA and created links with societies in Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire and North Yorkshire.
The Choir has actively encouraged local school choirs to participate in works which include parts written specially for young people.
For two, if not three of the concerts performed during a season, professional soloists are engaged and the Festival Orchestra, formed by the Choir using professional instrumentalists and music teachers, usually accompany us at least once each year.
Registered Charity No. 800116