| A list of Venues where DCU have - or may have - performed over the years |
| The two venues pages show all of the concert venues in which the DCU have performed since its inception back in 1866 - right up to modern times. This page shows local venues in the Derby area. |
See the non-local Venues |
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Concert venues in the Derby area |
Performances |
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 Market Hall.
This hall was
opened in 1866 with a performance of Handel's Messiah in the evening with 500 performers!
Following the great success of this event, a 'regular' choral society was formed - this adopted the name of "Derby Choral Union".
Read more about "The Beginnings" of the DCU. |
Tuesday, 29th. May,1866 |
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The Guild Hall.
Also known as the Town Hall, this was where the Derby Choral Union was officially founded on 22nd. June, 1866 after the "the local singers were fired with success" following their performance of Messiah in the new Market Hall.
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It's not clear from the archives whether DCU ever performed here, but it is thought unlikely as the venue is too small. |
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Assembly Rooms.
Derby's old Assembly Rooms was where DCU rehearsals were held for a few years after the initial first ever 'practice' on 21st. September, 1866 in the Bag Lane School Room.
Read more about the "First Season and the Early Years" the DCU.
The picture shows the original location in Derby's Market Place; click on the pic to see it in its new location in the Crich Tramway Village. |
It's not clear from the archives whether DCU performed here, but it is thought quite likely. |
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Corn Exchange.
This was the venue for the DCU's first public appearance in 1867. The following advert appeared in the Mercury on 23rd. January, 1867: "An open rehearsal of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus will be given on Friday, 1st. February at the Corn Exchange by members of the Derby Choral Union...Admission: Reserved seats 3s ... Promenade 6d." This was in effect a "bring & sing" concert.
The earliest performances were given here until Nov. 1869, when the DCU moved to the Drill Hall, except for one further concert in 1891. |
First ever:
Friday, 1st. Feb. 1867
Last: 1891
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Drill Hall, Becket St.
This was where on 7th April, 1926, Vaughan Williams conducted the DCU in his Sea Symphony.
See the programme cover.
Read more about "The Next 100 Years" of the DCU.
Read the 'Beecham' story. |
1869 - 1930s |
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Temperance Hall, Curzon St.
This was built in 1853 by the Derby Temperance Society. It became the "Churchill Dance Hall" before being sold to Derby Conservative Association in 1946 when its name changed to "Churchill Hall". It is now the Elim Pentecostal Church whose exterior has recently been refurbished. |
1907-1910 |
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King's Hall, Queen St.
Formerly known as "Queen Street Baths", these were opened on 30th. July, 1932 by the Duke of Devonshire. They were designed to be multi-purpose and with the main pool covered over, could seat 1,500 people for "entertaining and other leisure activities". It's now known as "Queen’s Leisure Centre".
DCU first performed here in Dec. the year it was opened.
In December, 1970, a joint concert took place here when we performed Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols with the Hallé Choir. This was when Raymond Thorpe was both the Hallé Choir's Musical Director as well as the DCU's. |
First:
Dec. 1932
Last:
22nd. Nov. 1975 |
| No photo available |
Central Hall, Exchange St.
This was used by the DCU for almost 20 years. Two concerts with DCU performing here are recorded for posterity in 1944 & 1947 - click here & here to read the Derby Telegraph reviews respectively - note the three famous names in the soloists line-up.
However, Derby had its first taste of fame and glamour in 1933 when a 32-year-old Louis Armstrong, trumpet in hand, strolled into town and performed here. Who'd have thought that this man, often referred to as the world's greatest jazz musician, played right here?
This building is now occupied by various retail outlets, e.g. Maplins, Quicksilver, the Co-op travel agents and T-K-maxx, from the top floor of which you can still see the striking ceiling and balcony of the original concert hall. |
First: Nov. 1944
Last: Spring 1963 |
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All Saints Church.
This chuch became Derby Cathedral in 1927, and is the current 'home' for DCU's concerts.
It can be traced back to C14th; it was re-built in 1725. However, the tower dates from 1530. It's the smallest Anglican cathedral in England but with the second highest tower.
See more pictures.
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First:
c1945...now
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St. Werburgh's Church.
DCU performed just a few concerts at this church in the Wardwick.
Its oldest parts are the tower, rebuilt in 1601, and the 1699 chancel, now a side chapel. The remainder was rebuilt in 1893-1894. The tower underwent major refurbishment in 2004. The building is now a Chinese Restaurant called Wok Mania. |
First: c1963
Last:
20th. Nov. 1968 |
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St. Alkmund's Church.
Some memorable concerts were performed at this church on the Kedleston Rd. including Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Bernstein's Cichester Psalms and Mozart's Requiem were performed.
However, its audience capacity was only 250, so the Cathedral became our preferred venue from 1980 onwards.
Opened in the early 1970s, this modern church was built to replace the original one demolished to make way for the Derby ring road. |
First:
c1974
Last:
22nd. Mar. 1980 |
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Assembly Rooms.
The new Assembly Rooms in Derby in which DCU performed the first Messiah here in December 1978 (see the photo). For many years, DCU performed the larger choral works and Christmas concerts here. This ended when the annual Pantomine started to be staged here in 2003.
The new building was opened by the Queen Mother in November 1977. It was hoped that this would be a major concert venue for Derby, but the acoustic was disappointing.
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First:
2nd. Dec. 1978
Last: Dec. 2002 |
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Landau Forte College.
Landau Forte College is an Academy in Derby and was founded in 1992 as a City Tech. Its initial principal sponsors were Martin Landau and the Forte organisation. It became a City Academy on 1st. September, 2006.
We sang 'Choral Jazz' music
there - a first for the choir, and very warmly received by the capacity audience. |
First: 12th. Nov. 2011 |
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