The Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society – the Choir – is a vibrant community of people from all walks of life sharing a passion for classical, mixed-voice choral singing. We are a long-established and very friendly choir made up of around a hundred female and male singers drawn from the Kent and East Sussex area around Tunbridge Wells.
The Choir stages its major formal concerts in the spring and autumn of each year as well as a Christmas carols etc. concert in early December. The ‘summer sing’ concert in June or July with its less formal programme provides an ideal opportunity for less experienced singers to try out the experience of choral singing alongside regular choir members.
Weekly rehearsals take place on Mondays between 7.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m., usually at St John’s Church Hall, Tunbridge Wells. Around twelve weekly rehearsals precede each main concert. Sometimes an additional weekend rehearsal is added close to the concert date. A full rehearsal with orchestra takes place on the day of the concert. The rehearsal schedule lists dates for all rehearsals leading up to the next concert. It is updated after each rehearsal with a list of sections for special attention prior to the next rehearsal.
Rehearsals are taken by our Music Director Robyn Sevastos with accompanist Craig Hudson, both of whom are appointed by the committee and employed on professional contracts.
Details of forthcoming concerts can be found on the Home page.
If you would like to join the Choir please have a look at the membership page. You can also support the activities of the choir by becoming a Friend or Patron.
Major concerts are usually staged in the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre, while local churches and other smaller venues are used for the Christmas and summer concerts. The choir works with various professional and amateur orchestras and ensembles. London orchestras recently engaged, have included the Salomon Orchestra, the Southbank Sinfonia and the London Handel Orchestra. Orchestral works are often included in our concert programmes.
RTWCS is a self-governing society enjoying the freedom to achieve our aims through evolution, adaptation and innovation. The organisation and management of the choir – a registered charity – is carried out by the committee according to the requirement of our Constitution. Concerts are inevitably expensive events to stage so financial and other support is vital for the society. Please refer to our support section to find out how you can help the choir.
The Choir has an extensive archive of concert programmes and reviews which can be found under the Archive menu tab. Photographs from concerts and various other events are available under the Galleries menu tab.