Doncaster Choral Society began life towards the end of 1888 under its earlier name of Doncaster Musical Society. Little more than two months after its formation, Messiah was presented with 230 performers and J M Kirk as its first conductor. Membership flourished and, in a little more than five years, Kirk had established the Society on a firm basis and memorable performances were given. So things continued until 1915 when there was a break of four years during the course of the First World War.

The progress of the Society continued and it celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 1938 with a performance of Messiah. Unfortunately, a decrease in membership numbers caused the Society to be disbanded in 1940. However, in 1943 the Doncaster & District Choral Society emerged with most of the DMS’s members joining the new society. The first concert in 1945 was Acis and Galatea under its new conductor Eric Curtis, whose association with the choir lasted 25 years. The choir was then directed for the next sixteen years by Robert Lawrence with increased numbers of members and an associated restoration of self-confidence.

Since then the choir’s numbers have waxed and waned (currently it is 70 strong) but the quality of its performances has continued to improve and the range of its repertoire has expanded, especially under its distinguished conductor, the late Dr Roger Bullivant MBE, appointed in 1986 and continuing in office until 2003.

Throughout its life the Society has enjoyed the services of other notable musical directors of the calibre of Wilfrid Sanderson and Dr Percy Saunders, incumbent musicians at St George’s Parish Church – now Doncaster Minster; more recently, and now named Doncaster Choral Society, this tradition was continued with the accomplished Alan Eost.

It now looks forward with confidence to a new era under its renowned and most recently appointed conductor Dr Simon Lindley.