Welcome to
Bury Choral Society
We’re passionate about singing & always welcome new members, we are looking forward to our exciting new concert season. Please see events page for details.
Bury Choral Society
Bury Choral Society (BCS) has been singing great choral music for a long time; founded in 1838, we are one of the country’s longest established choral societies.

We are a mixed voice adult choir, with some 70 amateur singers from many different walks of life who are all passionate about singing.  We sing a classical repertoire, from William Byrd to today’s composers, performing four concerts over the season, including our very popular Christmas Festivities; we are usually accompanied by the Bury Camerata and/or our super pianist or organist. There are also occasional other concerts and events such as Come and Sing! and compact concerts, a one hour concert “out of town” on a Sunday afternoon, and charity sing-outs. 

Our professional Director of Music is Royal Conservatory of Madrid trained Juan Ortuño, assisted by our professional accompanists, pianist Jonathan Ellis and organist, Elin Rees.  Our concerts are varied with a wide repertoire of primarily choral music, old and new.

Singing is for everyone.  It is a cultural, collective activity and fosters well-being.  We are open to all sections of the community, welcome new singers, young and not so young, and encourage our audiences and the wider population across the borough and wider district to enjoy and become involved in choral music.

The Society has a long connection with the civic authority of Bury and since 1902 The Mayor of Bury has been a Patron (and usually attends our concerts!).  BCS has a long line of distinguished Chief Patrons and we are delighted that since March 2018 Sir Mark Elder CH CBE has been our new Chief Patron.

Come and join us!

If you are 16+, enjoy singing and would like to consider joining us, you are invited to come and meet us and sit in on a rehearsal. You are assured of a warm welcome. You can also make an enquiry using the form below.
07790 014 309
Chair
Contact Address:
6 Elm Grove, Prestwich,
Manchester, B25 3DN

12 + 10 =

Reviews
Read our latest reviews to discover more about us.
Fauré’s Requiem

Fauré’s Requiem

On Saturday 20th November the Bury Town of Culture Open Day concluded with Bury Choral Societies concert in Bury Parish Church. Titled In Memoriam the programme was put together to remember the recent struggles of the pandemic. The following day the choir performed a...

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Entente Cordiale!

Entente Cordiale!

The advanced publicity promised a large scale opening to the new season but, unfortunately, Elgar’s The Apostles has been postponed. However, the somewhat lighter weight mix of English and French music, including a stunning rendition by Elin Rees of Vierne’s Finale, 1st Organ Symphony…

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Judas Maccabaeus

Judas Maccabaeus

Those who attended Bury Choral Society’s performance of Handel’s rarely sung oratorio Judas Maccabaeus at All Saints Church, Stand, enjoyed a real treat. The choir of about sixty (a few more tenors would be helpful), with good diction, and most attentive to the...

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Of Kings & Queens

Of Kings & Queens

Performed: 16th March 2019 Following the 20th Century English music of Bury Choral Society's concert commemorating the ending of the First World War and the joyful bagatelle of the Christmas Festivities, the choir demonstrated their versatility with a concert of...

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Chief Patron - Sir Mark Elder CH CBE

Our Chief Patron is Sir Mark Elder CH CBE. Sir Mark is the Music Director of the Halle Orchestra, Principal Artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and conducts many of the world’s leading orchestras as well as conducting in the major opera houses.
We are delighted and honoured that Sir Mark agreed to be our new Chief Patron in March 2019; he is the third Knight of the Realm to be Patron of the Society following in the footsteps of former Patrons, Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir Charles Groves.