Ipswich Choral Society marks double anniversary with a concert in the park
Crowds gathered at Christchurch Park in Ipswich, Suffolk, for this special performance by England’s second oldest choral society. The event was made possible by a Community Grant from the Thomas Wolsey 550 project and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, plus the support of McCarthy Stone’s Thomas Wolsey Place, a Retirement Living community for the over 60s in the town.
Ipswich Choral Society commissioned three new choral which were performed for the first time at the event in front of a packed-out audience. Two of these compositions reference Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful statesmen in England, alongside King Henry VIII.
The third, ‘Dreamers’, was written by former ICS Music Director, Stephen Rumsey, and celebrates the tradition of choral societies.
Kath Cockshaw, Thomas Wolsey 550 Project director, says, “We were absolutely bowled over by the turnout for the Première in the Park concert. It’s brilliant to see so many people’s admiration for this style of music. Ipswich Choral Society are a fantastic group who have performed all over the world, from France and Belgium to Austria and Turkey – and to keep it going for 200 years is a great feat. We’re delighted to have supported this event with help from McCarthy Stone. The concert not only celebrates an incredible milestone for ICS, but also helps to build profile and legacy in his home town for Thomas Wolsey, who helped shape politics, law, and religion in this country.”
David Meachem, Divisional Sales Director at McCarthy Stone, added: “It’s been a pleasure to support Ipswich Choral Society and its Première in the Park event through our sponsorship donation. At McCarthy Stone, we’re committed to supporting local activities and initiatives in the towns and communities in which we build, to help create a lasting, positive legacy.”
The Thomas Wolsey 550 project was launched in March 2023, with a huge range of activities scheduled over 550 days, ending in September this year. Activities included creating a short film about a vast college Wolsey had planned to rival Eton and Cambridge. Building work started in 1528 but was never completed because Wolsey famously fell out of favour with the King—half a century later the land is now the site of McCarthy Stone’s Thomas Wolsey Place!
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