About Basingstoke Choral Society (for enquirers)

Basingstoke Choral Society (BCS) is a long-established, friendly and welcoming choir of around120 singers, based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Our excellent Music Director (MD)   is Jordan Theis, in his second season with us, and our accompanist is the amazing Mark Kinkaid, who has been with us for 40 years.

BCS, under its present organisation, came into being in May 1948, although there is evidence that there was a choral society in Basingstoke as long ago as 1889.

Our aim is to bring audiences the highest quality musical events, performing with some of the country’s leading professionals. The choir has a wide repertoire, selecting traditional choral works by composers such as Bach, Brahms, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Elgar, interspersed with more modern pieces by living composers such as Karl Jenkins, Will Todd, Janet Wheeler, and Bob Chilcott. 

We perform three or more concerts a year with renowned professional soloists and instrumentalists, in top class venues such as the Anvil, Basingstoke. 

Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays from 7.30 to 9.30pm, September through to late June/ early July, at The Vyne School, Vyne Road,  Basingstoke. RG21 5PB. There is plenty of parking availability. If you are using public transport, the walk from the railway station (and buses) takes about ten minutes. Rehearsals take place in the main hall on the ground floor, and the building is accessed via the (marked) reception area. Bring a pencil and water (if needed). We do run a weekly wine raffle- bring along a pound if you would like to take part. 

Members are expected to miss no more than three rehearsals in a term in order to be able to take part in the concert. In particular, the final Wednesday rehearsal before a concert is mandatory. Members should speak directly to Jordan if they wish to sing and have not met the minimum requirement. 

We always like to meet and greet new members so please make sure that the membership secretary knows that you are planning to come along. Do also let us know if you have any particular access requirements.

Our 2026-2027 season starts on Wednesday 2^nd  September 2026.

Key dates for 2026-2027 

2^nd September 2026: Start of new season combined with social gathering

15^th November 2026 The Anvil Basingstoke. Haydn Nelson Mass and Michael Haydn Requiem

28 November 2026 Come and Sing Messiah, 10-5 Christ Church, Chineham

  9^th  December 2026 Annual carol concert . Queen Mary’s College

12^th December 2026  Carol Singing in The Malls, Basingstoke.

17 April 2027 Handel’s Messiah at Anvil Basingstoke

July 2027 Details tbc 

20^th November 2027: Anvil, Basingstoke. Programme tba

We also, on occasions, join with other local choirs to sing with them in the Basingstoke Festival of Choirs and for Carol Concerts. Carol singing in the town centre, Basingstoke also takes place in December.

Joining Basingstoke Choral Society

New members are welcome at any point during the year although it is always advantageous to join us at the start of a new term.

Basingstoke Choral Society invites prospective new members to try us out at a few rehearsals before committing to join us. Do bring along a pencil and water to drink.  It is very useful to be able to read sheet music but not mandatory.  A willing commitment to learn is definitely an advantage and you will be expected to do some work on the pieces in between rehearsals; we do have learning aids to help with this. 

Toilets are available, including one with disabled access

New members will be asked to undertake an informal voice consultation with our musical director after being with us for a few weeks, and to pay an annual subscription towards venue hire and professional costs.  The annual subscription is reviewed each year and, for this season 2026-7 it is £200 per year, which represents excellent value at around £5 per session. Subscriptions are paid for the whole season by the end of September each season. The facility to pay by monthly standing order is available. Members who join later in the year will pay a pro rata rate.  New members to BCS currently have their first term free of subs..

Additional costs for members include the hire or purchase of music, a black folder (£10) and appropriate concert dress for performances. 

We have a greatly subsidised Bursary Scheme (currently £30 pa) for young singers who are aged under 30 years of age or in full time education at the start of the new season (1^st September)   

Do have a look at our website www.basingstoke-choral.org.uk where you will find more information about us and about our previous concerts. 

We also have a facebook page ‘Basingstoke Choral Society’. 

For members we have a membership portal which is accessed through the members’ section on the website www.basingstoke-choral.org.uk,  where we store lots of useful information about BCS, links to learning aids and to recordings of our rehearsals. You will be given a personal log in and password when you join us. Do take the time to look through the information and have a look at who we are. 

We also have a members whatsapp group and a private facebook group for members. Once you have joined us you can search for Basingstoke Choral Society (members) and ask to join. You will be given a link to the whatsapp group to join in the chat if you wish. 

Please contact membership@basingstoke-choral.org.uk for more information and to arrange to join us for a rehearsal. We look forward to meeting you soon.

Ruth Knight – membership secretary