Our History


Our History...began in 1933, when a group of people interested in forming a Choir to represent the City of Toowoomba in the Brisbane Eisteddfod met and this resulted in the formation of the Toowoomba Musical Union. In 1940, the name was changed to the Toowoomba Choral Society, later to become Incorporated.

Initially, the Choir was led by Mr Thomas Slatyer, who retired in 1950 and was replaced by Mr Mansel Jones, a youthful Queensland Education Music Specialist working in Toowoomba. He had, four years earlier, formed a youth Choir of the Society, assisted by his Accompanist, Gwenda Tomkins who later became his wife. Mansel now assumed control of both Senior and Junior Choirs and led them for the next 34 years to a string of successes in Competitions, as well as giving tremendous pleasure to the citizens of Toowoomba, attending the various Concerts and Stage Productions produced by the Society.

Mansel Jones retired in 1984 and was replaced by Mr John Penny, who also conducted the Youth Choir as had Mansel, but this joint control was discontinued and a separate Conductor was appointed for the Youth Choir. In 1997, Robyn Morris became our Musical Director for the Adult Choir, having previously been the Senior Accompanist for the Adult Choir for a number of years and earlier, the Junior Choir Accompanist for Mansel Jones. Robyn also commenced a young Adults Choir, "Contemporary Choral" comprising initially, many of the members from the Society's very successful Stage Production "West Side Story". This Choir has become a great Ambassador for the Society and has continued to grow steadily in numbers and popularity with Toowoomba audiences.This 'injection' of new young voices, has refreshed and changed the Choir's tone and augers well for the future of the Society, particularly as Toowoomba's Representative Competition Choir and a leader in the Choral Activities of this City.

2010 saw the appointment of Martin Paroz as Musical Director of the Adult Choir following the resignation of Robyn Morris due to health issues. Apart from leading the Adult choir to both the 2010 and 2011 Eisteddfodau, Martin was also the production director for Toowoomba Choral's musical productions 'Guys and Dolls' (2010) and 'Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' (2011). Following the 2011 Eisteddfod, Martin stepped down as Musical Director to follow further career pursuits.

In July 2011, Egbert Guichard was appointed Musical Director of The Toowoomba Choral Main Choir.  

 


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Last modified: October, 2011