Donate to GLOC
GLOC has recently lauched a Friends' Scheme, our Angels & Archangels, for current and former members of the society, and regular audience members, to show their enjoyment and support of our activities, and maintain regular contact with us. Please click here for more information.
To make a direct donation via the website, please click here. We are entirely funded by your kind donations, and so any contributions are very gratefully received.
Looking to join GLOC
Join GLOC and help make next year even better than this year. We are a young, friendly and sociable society and new members are always very welcome, both in lead roles and in the chorus.
About GLOC
GLOC is London's leading G&S Society, and one of the only amateur operatic societies both to rehearse and perform in Central London. As as result, we attract a membership largely of young professionals who work in the centre of town, together with some students attending one of London's universities and colleges.
We perform at least one fully-staged G&S production, accompanied by a professional band, every season and supplement this with other staged and semi-staged concert performances, together with other opportunities to improve our members' singing skills and repertoire knowledge. We are a very sociable society, and organise events and parties for our members, find occasional busking opportunities, and invariably find time for a catch-up with each other in the pub after rehearsals. We pride ourselves on being friendly and welcoming to new members.
History of the Society
The company was founded in September 1949 by John Wilmshurst, its purpose being to study and perform the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. Over the years it has become the leading amateur company in London for presenting the Savoy Operas and has staged all thirteen of them.
The name of the company derives from the original intention to rehearse and perform within the bounds of the Grosvenor Estate in Westminster as a focal point for members and audiences from Central London and the Home Counties.
Since its formation the GLOC has staged over 70 performances of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. It has developed close links with other operatic societies in the Greater London area as well as having sung with principals from both the old and the new D’Oyly Carte at various concerts and open-air performances in Holland Park and the Royal Albert and the Royal Festival Halls. During June 1997 the company were engaged by Carlton Television to provide the music and staging of Trial by Jury for an episode in a series of Kavannah Q.C.