York Musical Society, or YMS as it is usually known today, was founded as a choral society 150 years ago. Its ‘First Grand Concert’ took place on the evening of 28th December 1876 when a total of 200 singers and instrumentalists performed Handel’s Messiah to a large audience at York’s Festival Concert Room.
YMS has been in continuous existence ever since, and to celebrate this landmark anniversary, archivist Dr Rosemary Anderson has written a fundraising booklet charting its history.
After a description of how YMS began, eight short chapters tell the story of the Society from then until the present day. These are organised via the musicians who have led YMS, picking out notable concerts and developments during their era.
The booklet includes posters and programmes, going as far back as a concert in 1879, and photos of performances from 1931 to recent times.
Discover the fascinating past of a choral society that has been a part of the York cultural scene for the last 150 years.