FOUNDED 1957 : CONDUCTOR : JOHN WRIGHT
Lady Bliss
has taken a personal interest in the Choral Society over many years. This came
about through her meeting one of its members, Gerald Towell, at the Cheltenham
International Festival of Music in 1976. In that year the Meditations on a
Theme of John Blow was included in the programme as a tribute to the man who
had done so much for the Festival and who had died the previous year.
In our Society's first Newsletter (published in the Spring of 2003), Gerald - now the
Chairman of this Society - tells the story of how the deep impression that this
music made on him at that performance led to a treasured friendship with Lady
Bliss that has lasted ever since.
Out of this, a close affinity between Lady Bliss and the Choral Society has
grown, and Sir Arthur's music has featured in the Society's programmes. They
have twice performed Pastoral, once in the presence of Lady Bliss and her
family. In November 2001 the Society performed Morning Heroes at
Cheltenham Town Hall, with Peter Ainsworth MP as Orator. That programme also
included the march from Things to Come, and the Concerto for cello and
orchestra, with the Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra conducted by Denise Ham, and
Emma Denton as soloist.
click here for the Charlton
Kings Choral Society's own website
