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WORTHING PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
 The Choir was founded in 1935 by Herbert Lodge, the Musical Director to Worthing Corporation. Called the OPERATIC CHOIR, the first concert given in February 1936 with 89 singers, was a concert version of Cavalleria Rusticana. Three years later 128 singers had to be accommodated, and in 1940 WORTHING MUNICIPAL CHOIR was born.
After the War the repertoire became less operatic and performances of major choral works followed in quick succession. In 1947 the Choir performed Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and in 1948 a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius so impressed Sir Adrian Boult that he came back the following year to conduct a performance himself! Another highlight for the Choir was a visit from Kathleen Ferrier in 1950 to sing the Brahms Alto Rhapsody in a concert to celebrate the Borough’s Diamond Jubilee. The Choir also sang regularly at concerts with The Municipal Orchestra in the Pavilion and, during the 50’s under James Kershaw, regularly appeared on Friday Night is Music Night and other BBC programmes.
In 1968 Jan Cervenka became Musical Director and 2 years later Donovan Brown joined him as Accompanist and Assistant Chorus Master. In 1979 the Constitution and Rules of the Choir were reviewed and the next year WORTHING PHILHARMONIC CHOIR became the official name. Since 1996 the Choir has become wholly responsible for its financial management and promotion of concerts, with Donovan Brown as Choral Director. The current repertoire ranges through anthems, opera choruses, light music, new arrangements – anything from ancient to modern – not forgetting, of course, the standard choral repertoire. Notably the Choir gave the first UK performance of a new edition of Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, and last Easter performed Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
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