Perth Choral Society
About us
We are a friendly mixed voice choir of about 90 people joined by our love of singing. The choir performs two annual concerts, showcasing a variety of classical and secular music in Perth's magnificent concert hall and St John's Kirk in the city. These are great occasions when we are joined by some excellent soloists and orchestra.
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As Perth's "choral society" we enjoy being part of the local community and engage in local events, often in smaller groups. We also have close links with the Royal Marines Band based in Rosyth. We team up with them regularly at Perth Concert Hall where a packed audience always enjoys a musical smorgasbord!
You'd be very welcome to join us.... or come along to enjoy one of our concerts.
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Our Musical Director -
Peter Rutterford
Born in Cambridge, Peter began his musical education at the age of 9 where he played the cornet in his local band. He joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1964, studying the cornet and violin at The Royal Marines School of Music at Deal, Kent. On completion of his training, he travelled extensively with the bands visiting many countries. On his commission, Peter studied advance conducting and composition at Goldsmiths College, London with the composer and conductor Edward Gregson. He was then appointed Director of Music to the band of the Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland. During this tenure, he performed concerts throughout the UK and overseas and made several successful recordings and broadcasts. Following this appointment he went to Staff College at Greenwich and then became the Supply Officer (Music) where he was responsible for the procurement of all musical instruments for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. He also became editor of the Blue Band Magazine.
On his promotion to Major in 1996, Peter was appointed as Director of Music to the Staff Band in Plymouth where he remained until his retirement from the Royal Marines in 1999. Thereupon he became the Director of Music for the Sultan of Oman's Royal Navy where he trained the Navy band for the next 2 years. On completion, Peter returned to Perthshire, where he lives with his wife Janet and his Samoyed dog Troika. During his career Peter has been the Musical Director for a number of choral groups and music societies and enjoys making music with local communities. He has been the conductor for Perth Choral Society since 2004. Peter is a Master of Music, a Batchelor of Arts, a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music and an Associate of the Royal College of Music.
Our Committee
A small group of able and willing volunteer trustees, led by Claire Sawyer our president, coordinate the work of the choir and support our musical director.
Perth's Choir, since 1890
Perth's choral singing history spans over 135 years and the Perth Choral Society was first named in 1890 and has been performing (with only a break for WW2) ever since.
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The first record of choral singing in Perth dates from around 1840. The precentor of a local church had gathered a group of singers who formed themselves into a society, meeting weekly in the Guildhall. In 1861 the Perth Choral Union was founded under the direction of Mr David Bayne, from Glasgow, but lapsed in 1867.
​Our own Choral Society was founded in 1890 by Stephen Richardson, the organist at St Ninian's Cathedral. Known as Mr Richardson's Choral Society, performances were given at the Perth City Hall and St Ninian's Cathedral with many distinguished soloists. Mr Richardson died suddenly in 1937 and a group of Perth businessmen met to determine how best to help the society for it was felt that it should not perish. At the Annual General Meeting in 1938 the name was changed to
"Perth Choral Society founded by Mr Steven Richardson in 1890". A long name but self-explanatory!
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​The Society did not meet from December 1940 to April 1948 because of the Second World War. It was then revived and from then the society has grown and progressed under the baton of several fine conductors. The Constitution of the Society (now named Perth Choral Society) states that it exists for "the performance of major sacred and secular works, in public or private - and to promote the appreciation of the art of music"​. For many years the Choral rehearsed in St Leonard's-in-the-Fields Church in James Street, but moved to a new rehearsal venue in St Matthew's Church, Tay Street in September 2023.
