Based in Atherstone near Nuneaton in North Warwickshire Atherstone Choral Society CIO (ACS) is a large non-audition SATB choir with approximately 75 members that was formed in 1974. Its members come from a wide area including Atherstone, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Tamworth and Birmingham. Today it maintains a choral tradition that began with Handel (Messiah, 1741) and now extends to include Bach, The Beatles and L’Estrange (Zimbe, 2008).
Rehearsals run in term time on Monday evenings and these are augmented by occasional Saturday workshops.
Sheet music is usually borrowed in bulk through Warwickshire Music Library. The ability to read music is not a pre-requisite for joining the choir, so this is supported by rehearsal CDs which pick out and play the individual parts.
Although ACS does not have a formal regular repertoire, it does have a number of pieces that have become firm favourites over the years, many of them arranged specially for ACS.
There is a choir dress code for concerts. Women wear a black top and long black skirt or smart black trousers with a teal jacket and men wear a black dinner suit with a teal bow tie.
Photo credit to John B. Smith.