The East Surrey Choral Society (ESCS) are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and its members are making plans to ensure that 2011 is an extra special year for the popular local choir.

Based in Caterham, the choir was founded in 1961 by an enthusiastic amateur singer, Arthur Toms. The first President was Richard Standen, a Caterham resident and well-known singer and professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

When Arthur retired in 1974 the baton was taken up by Michael Pilkington, Richard's Guildhall colleague and noted musicologist. The Guildhall link continues with Ian Kennedy, a professor of singing and former member of the BBC Singers. He has conducted the choir since 1995.

The Guildhall is also a source of fine young soloists and instrumentalists. The choir's accompanists have included Robert Prizeman (whose Libera choir is world famous), Ian Townsend (Music Director for Chicago), and now Jeffrey Gray (Deputy Lay Clerk at Rochester Cathedral and former Director of Music at Caterham School). The choir's President is the world renowned mezzo-soprano Della Jones.

Over the years the choir has participated in local music festivals, sung in Croydon's Fairfield Halls, hosted workshops, sung in the Dene Hospital and last Christmas led the carols under the Cedar Tree on the Hill.

With an exhibition at East Surrey Museum and many social events being planned, ESCS wants to promote the message that they are very much a community choir which has always welcomed anyone who enjoys the very best of communal activities - singing! The choir is inviting members of the public to join them to sing Handel's Messiah in April, and there are no auditions!

Rehearsals, taking place every Tuesday at 7.45pm, start on January 4th at the Centenary Hall (adjacent to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church) in Essendene Road, Caterham-on-the-Hill.

For more information contact Gill English on 01293 786358 or see the ESCS website at www.escs.org.uk