The Howard Wallace Chorale

The Choir

Based in Shenfield, Essex, close to Brentwood, Billericay, and Chelmsford, the Howard Wallace Chorale was formed in 1980 with the purpose of performing high quality music from as wide a range as possible, in a style not offered by the many other excellent choral societies and opera groups then existing. A range of lighter popular music is sung in the choral tradition; this has had an immediate and lasting appeal, and there is now a regular attendance at performances of the Chorale's middle of the road repertoire - music sacred and secular, popular classics, folk-songs, show music, and especially the arrangements created by Howard Wallace, our founder.

Tim Rhys-Morgan - Musical Director

Tim studied the piano with Jana Frenklova at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. He is accompanist to a number of professional and semi-professional singers, instrumentalists and choral groups. As a qualified primary teacher he develops his school choirs to such high standards that they have been used by the BBC in their Music Schools programmes. 'Scirocco', his trio - consisting of two clarinets and piano, perform in the Essex area. He is also an active member of the Sussex based English Concert Singers who specialise in singing their repertoire in the language in which it was originally written. Tim's piano, like Sparky's, is magic, and it frequently comments, sometimes acidly, (though always in a constructive and helpful spirit!), on our singing and intonation. Tim was our accompanist for many years and has contributed greatly to the success of the Chorale in that role.

Our Accompanist - Natalie Thurlow

Natalie was classically trained by Thorpe Bay based teacher, Honor Jackson and by the age of 18 had passed her diploma. For the past 9 years, she has accompanied and directed various amateur dramatic groups and choirs, including Ingatestone, Romford, Chelmsford, Rainbow (based in South Benfleet) Southend, Leigh Operatic and now the Howard Wallace Chorale. She is also the Musical Director for the Basildon Music Festival which involves 270 children taking part in a concert once a year.  On the other side of the coin, Natalie is a performer! She worked with a six-piece band for two years before changing direction and fronting a duo act. Two years later, she decided to choose another path, and has now settled herself with a trio who travel the UK and Europe on the line dance scene! Watch this space; it will be Punk Rock next!

Howard Wallace - Founder, now Life President.

 Howard is a genuine cockney, having spent his childhood in the Kings Cross area of London. After being bombed out twice he went to Creaton, in Northamptonshire, for some peace and quiet. After the war he returned to Ilford, on the London/Essex border. His musical talent showed from an early age, when he sang as a soloist for the choirs of the Shaftesbury Homes. After leaving school he joined the Essex Regiment as a bandsman, where he studied the trumpet and cornet and related instruments. He became principal cornet/trumpeter and began to write and arrange music for military bands. Upon leaving the Army he became Bandmaster at the Ilford Salvation Army Corps. Broadening experience and participation in musical competitions led to his desire for a wider musical future, resulting eventually in the foundation of the Howard Wallace Chorale in 1980.

After 25 years in charge, Howard retired in 2005 and handed the thriving Chorale over to the Management Committee and the new Musical Director, Tim Rhys-Morgan.

The Repertoire - " Sing whatever is well made"

We tend not to perform complete classical works, but extracts; the Triumphal March from Aida, "The Heavens are Telling" from The Creation, "The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" from Nabucco, and the "Easter Hymn" from Cavalleria Rusticana are typical, along with items like the Cantique de Jean Racine. Occasionally we have put on Gilbert and Sullivan, and Music Hall programmes. Our other speciality is in performing Howard Wallace's own arrangements, which are very distinctive, perhaps echoing his brass band background, and challenging and rewarding to sing. These include selections from Les Miserables, South Pacific, and Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter medleys among many others. Whatever we perform, our primary task is to entertain, inspire, and uplift the spirit of our listeners - a duty which comes with the gift of music.