In the mid 1950s Geoffrey Whitehouse, headteacher of Bishops Cleeve Secondary School, joined the Choral Society and was its conductor at one stage. This began a long association with the school when rehearsals and many concerts were held at the school (later Cleeve School) and the Head of Music was traditionally the choir's conductor. This association lasted until the 1980s.

In the 1960s the choir joined with other local choral societies to perform in Gloucester Cathedral and in 1963 presented a joint concert with Tewkesbury Choral Society in Tewkesbury Abbey.

In the 1970s the choir's performances were particularly well received with reports in the Gloucestershire Echo headlined 'Cleeve Society Excels in Spring Concert' (21.05.70) and 'Musical Talent in Area Displayed by Choral Society' (1.12.72). At this time the society usually performed in at least two concerts each year, at Christmas, in the Spring and often either an informal or a joint concert as well. The choir continued to enter the Cheltenham Competitive Festival until 1960.

In the 1980s the Choral Society suffered from a common problem in mixed choirs - a lack of men, cries for help from the ladies of the choir were published in the local press! In 1983 John Blenkinsopp became conductor of the society and in 1986 the society became Cleeve Choral Society with the aim of attracting members from a wider area. It was during this time that the choir's focus moved away from the school and the Society moved to a new rehearsal venue - Woodmancote Free Church in Stockwell Lane, Woodmancote. The pattern for concerts during the 1980s and 90s was a Christmas concert (or occasionally an Autumn concert) and another concert held in late March or early April. As during the 1960s and 70s the society was usually accompanied by an orchestra or smaller ensemble.

In the early 1990s the choir held choral workshops led by Esther Salaman and Nigel Perrin. In 1995 the Choral society changed its name again, to Cleeve Chorale.

The late 1990s were a time of change for the choir with several changes of conductor. In 2000 Charles Jones was appointed and the number of concerts held each year increased to three (or more). In 2000 the choir took part in a concert with other local groups as part of Bishops Cleeve's Millennium celebrations and in 2000 and 2001 joint concerts were held with the St. Andrew's Singers at St. Andrew's Church, Toddington. Christmas concerts continue to be held at St. Michael and All Angels' Church with concerts also being held at Cleeve School and Bishops Cleeve Tithe Barn. In June 2002 the choir performed at All Saints' Church, Evesham at the kind invitation of the Friends of Evesham Church and Bell Tower and in May 2003 the choir held a concert at St. Mary's Church, Prestbury. The choir continues to sing with a variety of soloists and was accompanied by the Regency Sinfonia for its performance of Mozart's Requiem in 2001.

In September 2002 Iain Cooper was appointed Conductor of the choir.

The choir embarked on a new venture for the society in May 2003, an overseas tour. Choir members toured the Salzburg area of Austria from 24th - 29th May, more photographs are available in the gallery.

In Spring 2005 the choir toured the area around Florence and Pisa in Tuscany singing at churches in Pistoia and Florence. In May 2008 the choir went to Budapest and performed in Ezstergom Basilica and Kecskemet Cathedral. See the gallery for pictures.

The choir has also sung at several weddings. Since 2005 Cleeve Chorale has been encouraging younger singers through our association with local Primary School choirs. Both Grangefield Primary School choir and Bishops Cleeve Primary School choir have sung at our concerts. In September 2006 the choir changed rehearsal venue to Bishops Cleeve Primary School, Tobyfield Road, Bishops Cleeve.

In July 2006 the choir participated in a joint workshop with Bridgwater Choral Society and we performed Brahms' German Requiem in both Cheltenham and Bridgwater in April/May 2007, Mozart's Mass in C minor and Solemn vespers were performed by the combined choirs at Cleeve School, Bishops Cleeve and in Bridgwater in April/May 2009 and in May 2011 we performed Elijah together in Bridgwater and Bishops Cleeve.

September 2010 the choir appointed Alastair Cameron as Musical Director.

We would be interested to hear from any former members of the choir, please contact us. I would be happy to correct any mistakes or omissions and to include more photographs.

To learn more about our history, you can visit the pages about our musical directors and accompanists and past events.