Prior to the Second World War some music appreciation classes were given by a Dr. Staton in Cole Street School (sadly now demolished), Dr. Staton was a musician, organist and adjudicator. The music mistress was Miss Florence Shaw and she, along with interested others, tried to start some singing classes. These were popular and formed the beginnings of our Society.

The present organisation was formed immediately after the Second World War and in 1995 the 50^th Anniversary was celebrated.

In the 1944-45 season the conductor was Mr. Eric Curtis who was music master at Scunthorpe Grammar School and organist at Gainsborough Parish Church – Miss Shaw was the Treasurer for many years.

In 1945 the Society performed "Acis and Galatea" at the Savoy Theatre in Cole Street, rehearsals were held in the Cole Street School Hall but were later held at the Grammar School Hall on Doncaster Road.

Mr. Curtis also conducted societies in Gainsborough and Doncaster who combined with us to become the NORTH MIDLANDS CHORAL UNION giving concerts at the three towns and gave great enjoyment to the members of the three choirs. Concerts in Scunthorpe were given at the Pavilion Cinema on Doncaster Road as bigger staging was available – during this time many professional orchestras and famous singers of the time were engaged for the concerts.

Photograph of the Pavilion Cinema courtesy of North Lincolnshire Museums Service, All Rights Reserved.

Mary Windley became deputy to Mr. Curtis shortly before he retired becoming conductor from 1956 to 1973. Performances moved, briefly, to the College of Technology on Kingsway before moving to their current venue the Baths Hall on Doncaster Road.

In 1969 Donald Hunt was invited as guest conductor and since then has had a close and valued relationship with the Society; he introduced us to some wonderful works and it is through his expertise that the Society has become one of the foremost societies in the North of England.

We have performed most ofm the established choral works as well as many modern compositions. We have had many guest conductors over the years, including Stuart Collins, Gordon Stewart and Clive Timms from Opera North, David Lawrence and Gill Wilde.

Our current chorus master is Neville Ward who is an accomplished and professional musician who works tirelessly on our behalf – Neville conducts many of our concerts.

Thanks are due to Mary Windley for the above information.