In 1953, a small group of dedicated singers founded the Southminster Choral Society with the local head teacher, Sydney Ling, as its first musical director, and Hilda Farrell as its secretary. Southminster Choral Society (SCS) gave their first concert in 1954 and have gone from strength to strength. In the late sixties, Doris Jesset used her skills - gained at Sadlers Wells - to produce operettas on the stage of the Memorial Hall, and she engaged the expertise of some members of the Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society in the principal roles.

For over forty years, the Society has produced an operetta in May each year and a concert in November. The recent move to St. Peter's High School has allowed us to take advantage of the extra facilities and encouraged by our success we changed our name to Southminster Operatic and Choral Society.