One of Tavistock’s best-known choirs, Mount Kelly Choral Society, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2026.
Performing regularly in Tavistock and the surrounding area, the choir has recently been awarded a “Tavi Thanks” Certificate of Appreciation by Mayor Steve Hipsey as a token of thanks for the support it gives to the community.
Founded in April 1976 as Kelly Choral Society by the Reverend Anthony Curry, Director of Music at Tavistock's Kelly College, the aim was to establish in Tavistock a mixed choir that could perform major choral works for pleasure.
The first concert, Schubert’s Mass in G Major, took place in St Eustachius’ on 20th June 1976, and the choir has continued this tradition, giving three concerts a year at venues in and around Tavistock, as well as carols at Lewtrenchard Manor and Tavistock Hospital. Recent performances have included Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Jenkins’ The Armed Man, and Faure’s Requiem.
In the early days, the choir travelled a little farther afield. Long-standing members Felicity Hawken and Rosemary Turner have fond memories of choir trips abroad, including to Celle and Hermannsburg, Germany (1979) to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor, and to Pontivy, France (1985) where they gave a concert with excerpts from Bach’s St John Passion and Handel’s Messiah.
A particularly memorable performance in the early 1980s was Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius in Exeter Cathedral under the baton of Sir David Willcocks - a joint venture with other Devon choirs, and with a total of 400 voices. During the rehearsal there was a terrific thunderstorm just as the soul was passing the gates of hell - truly atmospheric and magical!
Today, the choir numbers between 60 and 70 voices. It maintains close ties with the college; current choirmaster Dan Robson is Director of Music at Mount Kelly, and in recent years students have regularly performed with the choir, sometimes taking soloist roles.
MKCS is dedicated to fostering talent, harmony and friendship through a shared enjoyment of singing and performing the classical choral repertoire, and meets at Mount Kelly from 7.30-9.30 on Thursday evenings during term-time.
New members are always warmly welcomed, whatever the level of experience; no auditions are necessary, though the ability to read music is an advantage.
Mount Kelly Choral Society launched their anniversary season, and this year’s Tavistock Festival, with a sell-out concert in Tavistock Town Hall on 25th April, where they were joined by Exeter Festival Chorus in a thrilling performance of the haunting Pergolesi “Stabat Mater” and the majestic Handel “Coronation Anthems”.
The next event in this celebration year is a Come and Sing workshop to be held at Tavistock Methodist Church on Saturday 27th June, focusing on favourites from the choral repertoire, including works by Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Rutter and more.
All are welcome, whether experienced or new to choral singing. The workshop begins with registration at 13.30 and ends with an informal performance at 17.00. The cost is £10, to include all music, and light refreshments (free for students and U18s). Concert entry is free for all - no need to book. For further information and to register, contact [email protected].
The finale to the anniversary celebrations will be a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, together with Schubert’s Mass in G, the choir’s first ever concert piece, on Saturday 12th December in St Eustachius’ Parish Church.
If you wish to find out more about joining the choir, or about forthcoming concerts, there is more information available on the MKCS website: www.mkcs.org.uk.
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