A Musical Journey: 60 Years of SBMS

As St Botolph’s Music Society celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026, we look back at the people, performances and milestones that have shaped our musical journey since 1966.

The Early Years

St Botolph’s Music Society (SBMS) was founded in 1966 by Colin Nicholson and Rodney Tomkins. They initially formed a choir, which was soon followed by an orchestra to provide accompaniment. Before long, SBMS was holding regular orchestral concerts alongside performances with its choir.

Over the years, Colin worked hard to keep both the choir and orchestra running smoothly. He was supported by his late wife, Gill, and their children. Together, they helped establish the firm foundations on which the Society stands today.

In 2010, Jonathan Abbott joined SBMS. He already had strong family ties to the Society through his father, who had served as SBMS Secretary and remains an active member today. Jonathan became Principal Musical Director in 2015.

The choir continued until 2018, giving its final performance at the Christmas concert, A Festival of Festive Music, on 9 December 2017. Colin conducted his last SBMS orchestra concert in April 2019. He remains an important part of the Society as our President.

A Changing Society

In March 2024, SBMS introduced a fresh new look to reflect changing times. The rebrand included a new logo designed by Emily Blaxill, a recent Graphics Design graduate with family ties to Colchester.

At the end of 2024, we said farewell to Jonathan, bringing his time with SBMS to a close as he moved to pastures new. In January 2025 we were delighted to welcome David Rowland as our new Musical Director.

Looking to the Future

Throughout its history, St Botolph’s Music Society has organised festivals, concert series, and holiday courses. We have welcomed talented local performers as well as renowned international soloists,including distinguished classical pianist Philip Smith and acclaimed pianist Noriko Ogawa. Our close relationship with St Botolph’s Church also continues today. We regularly provide music for special church services and have held fundraising concerts to support the church, including raising money for essential tower repairs.

Supporting young musicians remains an important part of our work. With continued support from the Hervey Benham Charitable Trust, SBMS offers performance opportunities to talented young and emerging local musicians. Interestingly, Hervey Benham himself performed with the Society in 1985!

We are also grateful to our loyal supporters, whose generosity helps us continue bringing live classical music to Colchester. Find out how you can support us by becoming a Friend of SBMS.

As we celebrate 60 years of music-making in Colchester, we’re marking this special milestone with our 60th Anniversary Gala Concert on Saturday 21 November 2026 at St Botolph’s Church. The concert features a wonderful programme of music by Saint-Saëns, including his spectacular Organ Symphony, with soloists Melinda and James Greenfield and guest organist Philip Elwell. We’d love you to join us as we celebrate six decades of music-making. Find out more and book your tickets on our 60th Anniversary Gala Concert page.

Today, St Botolph’s Music Society continues to go from strength to strength. From Beethoven to Bizet, Haydn to Gershwin, and Rachmaninov to Shostakovich and Williams, our musicians rise to the challenge of every concert. We look forward to sharing many more years of live orchestral music with audiences in Colchester. Visit our What’s On page to discover our upcoming concerts and join us for an evening of live orchestral music in Colchester.