CHEPSTOW Choral Society has recently commenced rehearsals for the new 2014/2015 season, which promises to be a very full one for the Society.

After a few weeks enjoying a well-earned summer break, the Society is now starting to prepare for a substantial programme ahead which this year will involve four major concert presentations instead of the normal three.

In addition to the annual Christmas, Spring and Summer concerts, the Society is performing a "Commemoration in Words and Music for 1914", which will take place on Sunday 2nd November at 3.00pm, St Mary's Priory Church, Chepstow.

It was agreed by the CCS committee more than twelve months ago that a programme in commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War was something that the choir should do for Chepstow and the surrounding areas, which would reflect the enormity of the event, and the terrible costs and sufferings that were to follow in the subsequent years for all who were involved.

Indeed, not a family in the land was probably unscathed by the conclusion in 1918.

The names of famous musicians, poets and artists who gave active service during the war have been brought into prominence in recent months and this commemoration presentation will feature appropriate music and words which will include items by Ralph Vaughan Williams, CH Parry, and a 10-minute cantata written by Alan Grey, which is a beautiful setting to the words of three of Rupert Brooke's "1914" poems.

Also, items by Gabriel Faure, George Butterworth (a young British composer of brilliant promise who was killed on the Somme in 1916) and two choruses from Karl Jenkins' "Armed Man".

Other contributions will be from students of Chepstow Comprehensive School, the 1st Rifles Battalion, readings will be given by John Lloyd and the organist will be Peter Cook. The performance will be conducted by the Society's Musical Director Graham Bull.

The Society has decided that there will be no admission charge for this occasion, but there will be a voluntary retiring collection , the proceeds of which will be passed to the "Care for Casualties", the charity of our local Army 1st Rifles Battalion based at Beachley Barracks, and which does such wonderful work in helping our wounded army servicemen to recover and rehabilitate their lives.

The Society hope that the townspeople will come along to the occasion and offer their support in memory of all who served and suffered during that period, which, of course, includes those from local families and connections, and indeed some of their descendents who still live in Chepstow and surrounding areas.

Chepstow Choral Society will then turn attention to the rest of their 2014/1015 season.

On Sunday afternoon 14th December, the Society will present its annual Christmas Music programme, again at St Mary's Priory Church, and will be joined by the Dell Primary School Choirs.

March 21st 2015 will see the Society's major concert of the season, which will be a full choral programme with Vivaldi's "Gloria", Schubert's popular Mass in G, and will conclude with Joseph Haydn's "Nelson" Mass. This concert will be with full professional orchestra and soloists.

The Summer Concert for 2015 will take place on June 27th, and will be a mixed programme of popular classics and lighter items.

Chepstow Choral Society looks forward to this approaching season in good heart and with optimism. However, new singing members are welcome. As always, we would love to greet some additional tenors and basses, but there are vacancies in all four vocal sections for anyone who enjoys singing and would like to re-join a choir – or even join one for the first time! There is no formal audition policy and the choir has welcomed many members over the years with widely varying degrees of experience!

For further information please contact Marjorie (tel. 01291 623310). The CCS website is in the process of up-grading, but details and a short history of the choir may be found at: http://www.chep">www.chep

stowchoralsociety.org.uk.