History
The History of Exmouth Choral Society
1867–2026
Exmouth Choral Society has been bringing people together to make music for almost 160 years. During that time it has survived two World Wars, changing musical fashions, financial challenges and, most recently, a global pandemic. Generations of singers, conductors and musicians have contributed to a remarkable musical tradition that began in Exmouth in 1867 and continues today.
The Early Years
In 1867, William Vinnicombe and Arthur John Wilmot formed the Exmouth Branch of the West Country Music Association, incorporating the old Exmouth Harmonic Society. Vinnicombe, organist of St John’s Church, Withycombe Raleigh, became its first conductor.
In 1896 the Exmouth branch was reformed and became Exmouth Choral Society, with A. Raymond Wilmot as conductor.
The Society quickly developed an ambitious repertoire. By 1910 it had performed 37 different works, including Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Gounod’s Faust. In 1912 it gave the first performance in the West Country of Elgar’s The Music Makers, shortly after the work’s premiere at the Birmingham Festival.
The First World War inevitably affected the choir. Messiah was performed in 1914 and Elijah in 1915, but concerts were eventually suspended because of the shortage of singers, resuming in 1920.
A memorable concert took place at Holy Trinity Church Hall in December 1924 with a 33-piece orchestra including Royal Marine musicians. Among the first violins was the young Donald White, who would later play a major part in the Society’s history.
War and the Post-War Years
By 1937 the choir and orchestra had been amalgamated to become the Exmouth Choral and Orchestral Society.
The Second World War again brought difficulties, particularly a shortage of male voices, although servicemen stationed locally occasionally joined the choir. Music continued whenever possible and concerts were given in support of wartime charities.
A performance of Handel’s Messiah filled Holy Trinity Church in March 1944, and Mendelssohn’s St Paul followed in May 1945.
After the war, a memorable Victory Concert was held at Exmouth Pavilion on 29 November 1945, involving a choir of 61 and an orchestra of 24 musicians, eight of whom were Royal Marines.
In 1948 Donald White became conductor. Under his leadership the Society presented religious works alongside concert versions of Tom Jones, Maritana, The Bartered Bride and Carmen. The accompanying orchestra was strengthened with professional musicians.
One of the Society’s most ambitious productions came in 1971 with a complete performance of Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha at Exmouth Pavilion. More than 120 performers took part, including 11 soloists, eight dancers and a 35-piece orchestra, with the singers appearing in costume.
The Brian Northcott Years
Donald White conducted his final concert in March 1983 and died two months later. Brian Northcott, then Director of Music at Rolle College, was invited to take over.
Brian conducted his first concert with the Society in December 1983 and remained Musical Director for 27 years.
His years with the Society were characterised by adventurous programming. He introduced singers and audiences to works that were little known in the South West, alongside the established choral repertoire.
A notable milestone was David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus at Exmouth Pavilion in 1988, combining live performers with recordings of African music, chanting and speech.
The 1990s saw increasingly ambitious collaborations. In 1991 Exmouth and Ottery St Mary Choral Societies performed Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius in Exeter Cathedral. Further cathedral concerts included Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.
In January 2001 Bach’s Mass in B Minor filled Holy Trinity Church, with people having to be turned away at the door.
A New Century
In 2003 Brian celebrated his 20th anniversary with the Society with an ambitious performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers, involving period instruments, six soloists and Exeter Girls Choir.
For generations, singers had experienced difficulty seeing the conductor when standing on the same level. Specially designed staging finally solved the problem. Stored beneath Holy Trinity Church, it continues to require a dedicated team of volunteers to assemble and dismantle it for concerts.
In May 2006 the Society performed Zelenka’s Missa Ultimarum Sanctorum, with Brian singing the alto solo as well as conducting. It was the first British performance of the work.
Brian conducted his final concert, Handel’s Messiah, in April 2010.
Laurence Blyth and 150 Years
Laurence Blyth succeeded Brian Northcott as Musical Director in 2011, continuing the Society’s adventurous programming and introducing Choral Workshops. His tenure included performances of major works including Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s and Brahms’ Requiems and the 2017 150th Anniversary celebrations, culminating in Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony in Exeter Cathedral with a choir of more than 200 singers.
Following Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in January 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic brought live music to a halt. Laurence kept the choir connected through online rehearsals, maintaining the friendship and community at the heart of the Society. Concerts resumed in 2022, and his final performances in 2023 included Bach’s St John Passion and a programme featuring Duruflé, Elgar and Vaughan Williams.
A New Generation
In 2023 Matthew Jeffrey became Musical Director, beginning the latest chapter in the Society’s history. A young conductor with strong connections to Exeter Cathedral and the University of Exeter, Matthew brought fresh energy and a new generation of musical leadership to the choir.
In January 2024 the choir performed Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Parry’s I Was Glad and Mathias’ Let the People Praise Thee. May brought Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, Mozart’s Spatzenmesse, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens.
Mendelssohn’s Elijah returned in January 2025. In May, Britten’s Saint Nicolas was performed alongside Finzi’s God Is Gone Up and Dies Natalis, and Rutter’s The Lord Bless You and Keep You.
In January 2026 the Society returned to one of the most enduring works in its repertoire – Handel’s Messiah.
The Story Continues
From the singers who first came together in Exmouth in 1867 to those performing Messiah in 2026, Exmouth Choral Society has maintained an extraordinary musical tradition for almost 160 years.
It has sung through periods of prosperity and difficulty, performed in local churches and the magnificent surroundings of Exeter Cathedral, introduced audiences to unfamiliar music and returned time and again to the great masterpieces of the choral repertoire.
Successive Musical Directors have each contributed to that story: from William Vinnicombe and Raymond Wilmot, through Archibald Marcom, Donald White, Brian Northcott and Laurence Blyth, to Matthew Jeffrey today.
Yet throughout nearly 160 years of change, the essential character of the Society has remained remarkably constant: the enjoyment and challenge of making great music together, combined with the friendship and sense of community that comes from singing in a choir.
The story that began in 1867 continues.
This history draws on the original history of Exmouth Choral Society compiled by Gerald Millington in 2001 from the Society’s archives, programmes, newspaper reports and personal recollections; the continuation compiled by Rosemary Longhurst for the Society’s 150th Anniversary in 2017; and subsequent records supplied by Exmouth Choral Society.
