The Gainford Singers was formely the Gainford Choral Society that gave its first concert in 1956 under the leadership of the late Derek Davis when Derek stepped down in 1977 there was no conductor until Neville Kirby took over in 1979. Neville was conductor for 26 years and retired in 2005. Since September 2005 the choir has been conducted by John MacKenzie.
Most of our concerts take place in St Mary’s Church, Gainford and performances have been accompanied on the church’s Brindley organ and more recently by a chamber orchestra.
Since 1984 there has been an international dimension to the choir’s activities which has come about via the Durham County International Exchange Department. The choir has visited and performed in Tubingen, Germany; Amiens, France and Durham, North Carolina.
The choir has hosted the French singing group Abelesco and the Orange Grove Gospel Choir from Durham, North Carolina.
Members of the choir have regularly joined in with other choirs for fund raising events such as the “Last Night of the Proms and the Christmas Cracker Concert both at Darlington Dolphin Centre which raise money for the St Teresa’s Hospice.
In 1990 the choir performed in ITV’s Highway series with Sir Harry Secombe and during the programme Sir Harry said “What a lovely choir to sing with”
The choir decided to change it's name in 2008
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