The Hills Choral Society
[Last Updated 2-April-2024]
<Please go to Latest News (PROGRAM) for current information.>
The choir was formed in 1965 with Alan Field being the first Conductor / Music Director, soon followed by William Harrison OAM who was Music Director for 26 years.
The Hills Choral Society is an incorporated community choir based in the Adelaide (Mitcham Hills) area, which has been singing a rich variety of music since 1965, and currently has about 40 members (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass).
The Hills Choral Society: Photo taken in October 2017
Photo by Joel Roosa
Our Music Director is Ian Boath, and accompanist Chris Matters.
We are pleased with the stability and the traditions of the choir.
The choir rehearses each Wednesday night and performs two main concerts each year (most commonly in May and October) – Covid 19 situation permitting!.
We also have a “community” theme with invited special performances given for local groups, for churches at Christmas, for special events such as Anzac Day, festivals and blessings. Traditionally the choir has also sung carols in the wards of the Daw Park Repatriation Hospital, from 1978 to 2016.
For the main concerts the choir is supported by guest vocalists and musicians. The choir has developed a reputation for its broad repertoire and entertaining programming.
Our repertoire includes traditional and classical, religious and opera choral pieces, particularly in the British tradition but with selections from music from all over the world. We also sing from the more modern and popular choral music including selections from musicals and show tunes, jazz cabaret and folk.
The Hills Choral Society has a committee made up of 8 officers (elected at the Annual General Meeting) plus 2 choir representatives, and the Music Director and Accompanist.
The committee meets meet once every month or two or as required.
Patrons
- Heather Holmes-Ross – Mayor of Mitcham
- Catherine Hutchesson – MP for Waite.
- Erin Thompson – MP for Davenport
- Louise Miller-Frost – Federal MP for Boothby
- Lesley Lewis – Former Music Director
= 2024 =
Our May concert is “The Road to the Isles”.
Click on the mini poster below for full details.
Gaelic and Celtic folk songs from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Lots of favourites to tap your toes to.
= 2023 =
Our Christmas concert was “Festive Alleluia”
Click here for details.
Our October concert was
“Back to the 70’s”
(Music from the Bee Gees, John Lennon, ABBA, etc.)
Click HERE for full details.
Our previous (May) concert was “Music Fit for a King”
Please click here for the pictorial report.
= 2022 =
COVID-19 Situation: Practising with masks is now optional for choir members.
Our Christmas Concert was “WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS.”
Our October concert was “GREAT MOVIE THEMES”.
See Latest News (PROGRAM) for information on this year’s program.
2021
[Updated December 2021].
The choir was in recess until about October, when the decision was made to present a shortened Christmas concert, but wearing masks.
The concert was presented on December 5th. See “Latest News” (PROGRAM) page for the report.
Committee meetings continued to be held, at about 3 month intervals.
Covid requirements were being adhered to.
For concerts, we applied current Covid rules.
2020
[Updated 17-Dec-2020]
Rehearsals (subject to Covid measures) restarted in October.
We ran in a limited mode, subject to current Covid 19 limitations.
In December, we did a virtual Christmas concert: This was recorded, and will be placed on Youtube.
We expect to reconvene in late January, 2021, as usual.
[Updated 23-April-2020]
The Hills Choral Society was in recess during this period (Covid 19).
Members however, kept in regular contact, through a weekly newsletter (The Choir Chronicle), personal emails and phone calls.
Music practice from home was facilitated by the use of on-line software, with the practice content provided by the husband of a choir member. (Thanks, Nick).
FOOTNOTE:
Our Bushfire Relief Concert (vide below) was a great success, raising very nearly $6000, with proceeds going to S.E.R.F. (State Emergency Relief Fund) and the local C.F.S. group.
Thanks to all who helped – including local businesses – for supporting us, the two soloists and our own two choir music professionals, for giving their time.
Choral Society President, Nicole Moxham, presenting Sturt CFS Captain, Dale Thompson, with the cheque for the money raised from the concert for that group.
See also our PROGRAM page for information about our next concert.
[Updated 16-February-2020}
Click on mini poster of Bushfire Benefit Concert for full-size version.
The Hills Choral Society 
