Description:Pictured is the front cover of a programme for the Stone Choral Society’s performance of Handel’s Messiah in 2008.
The Stone Choral Society was formed in 1968 following a call for volunteers from Alrene Lees (nee Wainwright), better known as Olly, a music teacher at Alleyne’s High School in Stone, for a ‘one off’ performance of Handel’s Messiah.
Over the years the Society, with around 70 singers, has developed a wide repertoire. They hold rehearsals at St Dominic’s Church Hall in Stone and have performed at many venues around the country including: Ingestre Hall, Ealing, Little Moreton Hall, Malvern Priory, St Mary's Collegiate Church Stafford, the Victoria Hall, Hanley and in Leeds. They established links with other choral groups overseas with performances in Belgium (2010), Czech Republic (1997), Italy (2004), and Poland (2008). The Society entered the 1992 Sainsbury's Choir of the year competition and were ‘piped at the post’ in the contest heats which were held in Leeds.