INGATESTONE
CHORAL SOCIETY
History of The Society
The society was formed in 1948 by Miss Elma Russell, who had conducted the Village Choir and
the Ingatestone Women’s Institute Choir during the war years. She was keen to set up a local SATB
Choral Society.
Their first conductor was Mr. Arthur Davis from Chelmsford. He was quickly succeeded by
Mrs. Dorothy Bayman, who rehearsed the choir in her house, Tor Bryan in Ingatestone. She also
conducted the Shenfield Choral Society (now Hutton and Shenfield) and the two Choirs gave
several combined concerts. The first performance was a complete work of ‘Merrie England’ in May
1949. In celebration of our Golden Jubilee we revived this very performance of ‘Merrie England’
and a booklet has been published commemorating not only this celebration but that of our 60th
Anniversary.
ICS has frequently performed with Billericay Choral Society and Brentwood Choral Society,
mostly in Brentwood Cathedral on a regular basis. We also hold out own ‘standalone’ concerts at
Christmas and in the Summer.
ICS has had a few ‘ups and downs’ over the past 73 years! Its regular participation in the Essex
Musical Association Festivals held each May for many years, saw them hovering between
Divisions 1 & 2 until competition gave way to cooperation in combined performances of major
works seen as simply too large for a small number of singers
Ingatestone Choral Society was led for many years by Bruce Pennick whose devotion to the Choir
was immeasurable, after over forty years he had to retire due to ill health but is still a supporter.