West Barnes Singers was founded in 1972 by Josephine (Jo) Richardson, a well-known local soprano. West Barnes refers to the ward within the London Borough of Merton.
Since then, the choir has continued to rehearse weekly at Holy Cross Church Hall in Motspur Park and has given a wide variety of concerts in the Merton area.
Over the years our repertoire has included many of the greatest names in choral music, covering masses by Haydn, Mozart, Rossini and Puccini, requiems by Durufle, Faure, Verdi and Brahms and oratorios by Mendelssohn, Janacek, Bach, Poulenc and Vivaldi. In a lighter vein we have sung operettas and opera choruses as well as jazz classics and songs from the shows.
WBS has enjoyed a fine reputation not only for music-making but also for the long-standing commitment of its singers - one founder member is still in the choir.
WBS is an intrinsic part of Merton's cultural heritage and continues to enrich the local community with the great gift of music.