Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir

Choir in song for Olympics

Jef — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:07:41 +0000

The choir are delighted to be participating in a singing event being staged on July 11th to celebrate Much Wenlocks historic connection as the founding place of the modern Olympic Games. Eliza Carthy, a well known folk musician, is producing lyrics for four songs, based on traditional music, to be performed at four U.K. venues connected with the Olympics – Stoke Mandeville, Weymouth, Chipping Campden and Much Wenlock. The event will be televised from each place, with a performance in the Priory at Much Wenlock marking the annual Wenlock Olympian Games.

Eliza Carthy with Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir

In preparation for the event the choir yesterday (Wednesday Apr 25th) joined Eliza at The Priory, Much Wenlock, and were filmed by BBC Midlands. Footage of the event has appeared since appeared on You Tube, courtesy of ‘Virtual Shropshire’.

BBC Radio Shropshire were also present and spoke to one of the choristers, Les Pinder, for the event. Les has a long association with the Wenlock Olympian Committee and has been a choir member for many years. Broadcasts of the interview have been aired on Radio Shropshire and televised footage of the choir has been shown on BBC ‘Midlands Today’.

Paste the following link into your browser to see the televised footage: www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150666925931266 also www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150666926351266 – to hear Eliza’s version of ‘Farmers Boy’, one of the songs that will be performed at the Priory in July.

If you would like a ticket for the ‘Welcome Song’ at the Priory on July 11th these are being marketed by Dartington, and the box office can be contacted on 01803847070. See www.welcomesongs.co.uk for further details.

St.George’s Day Extravanganza

Jef — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:59:00 +0000

The choir joined with seven other Midlands choirs on Saturday 21st April to form a 200 strong St George’s Day choir, performing to a packed audience at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Flags were waving to the sounds of the ‘England Anthem’ and ‘There’ll always be an England’ led by Soprano Sharron Burns with the choir singing chorus. The evening saw a wide variety of entertainment with solo performances from Sharon and Tenor singer Ian Hayward and rousing music from Sovereign Brass Band.

Also appearing were Solihull Chandos choir, the Novelli Dance School, Hillstone Primary School childrens choir and the Midlands comedian, songwriter and musician Malcolm Stent. The choir and band were conducted by Steve Roche, an experienced Birmingham based Musical Director who has conducted massed choir events on a number of occasions.

The evening was rounded off with rousing performances of ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘Jerusalem’ and Elgar’s ‘Pomp and Cirumstance’. A truly memorable evening to mark the St George’s Day celebrations, the proceeds of which went to support the John Taylor Hospice….if you missed it this year make sure you get a ticket next time!

AGM/New Chairman Appointed

Jef — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:03:13 +0000

The choir held its AGM at the William Brookes School, Much Wenlock on Tuesday 27th March following which Mr Gary Jones was unanimously appointed as chairman for the coming year.

Gary Jones

Mr Jones paid tribute to the work of Mr Tony Mathers who was stepping down from the post. Mr Mathers was praised for steering the choir through a turbulent period, overseeing the appointment of a new Musical Director and Accompanist and for a conscientious and sensitive approach that had ensured the continued success of the choir.

The choir will be next be performing at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 21st April in a massed choirs concert

Hadley & Wenlock in Song

Jef — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:39:44 +0000

The choir joined forces with Hadley & District Orpheus Male Choir in a concert at St Michaels Church, Madeley on Saturday 18th February. Joint pieces included Gwahoddiad, The Lord’s Prayer, Bring Him Home and You Raise Me Up. Paul Kelly and Robyn Davies shared the rostrum to direct the choirs and the accompanist was Nykko-Mickael Gregoire.
The audience enjoyed a wide variety of music including medleys of ‘Back to the 60′s’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ from Much Wenlock with ‘I dreamed a Dream’ and ‘Bobby Shaftoe’ from the Hadley choir.
The choir will be travelling to Bishops Castle on Saturday 10th March to perform at St John the Baptist Church – a coach will be available from Much Wenlock, for further information contact Lionel Gosden 01952 728126 or Harry King 07852 991910 or see the online page at www.bishopscastle.co.uk/tourism/events

Busy December for Choir

Jef — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:45:31 +0000

The choir carried out several concerts in December commencing with the Gala Charity Concert at the Great Hay on December 2nd, followed by the Christmas Fayre event in the High Street at Much Wenlock on Saturday 3rd, when the choir sang under the Corn Exchange, entertaining the large crowds of shoppers visiting the annual Christmas street market. In the evening on the same day they travelled to Highley to perform in a joint Concert with Highley Brass Band at the Severn Centre.

The weekend of December 10th saw the choir perform at the William Brookes School in a joint concert with Much Wenlock Ladies Choir at the Christmas Social.
The annual event was held for the first time in the new William Brookes School and was a great success. During the evening the choirs Chairman Mr Tony Mathers made a presentation of a gold watch and Life Membership to former accompanist Mrs Rosemary Whiteford, in acknowledgement of her many years of support for the choir.

The choir brought Christmas cheer to the residents of the Lady Forrester nursing home on Tuesday 6th December when they performed there and put on a further show at the Wheatlands Care Home on December 13th. The year was rounded off by a spectacular concert in Bridgnorth with the Porthwaen Silver Band, see below for further details.

Mayors Charity Concert

Jef — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:43:53 +0000

The choir travelled to Bridgnorth on Saturday 17th December to perform at Castle Hall with the Porthwaen Silver Band in a Christmas charity concert organised by the Town Mayor Connie Baines. The concert was a sell out success with a packed programme from both the choir and band and included several joint pieces all of which were extremely well received. The Mayor commented that it had been ‘altogether a super evening’. The event brought back memories of past occasions when the venue regularly hosted some of the most well known bands in the country and the performances of the choir and band did justice to it.

Oyster is our world

Jef — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:50:59 +0000

The choir travelled to the Great Hay Golf and Country Club at Telford on Friday 2nd December to take part in a Gala charity raising event hosted by Oyster Communications of Broseley. The guests were treated to a variety of music as the choir with other bands and entertainers produced a memorable festive experience while helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Fabulous at Bromborough

Jef — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:52:00 +0000

The choir travelled to Bromborough in the Wirral on Saturday 22nd October to perform at St Barnabas Church, with soprano Helen Pickett and piano soloist Alan Derrick in an “evening of fabulous music”.

Helen Pickett

Helen performed Lerner and Loewe’s classic ‘I could have danced all night’. George Gershwins ‘Summertime’ and an unusual arrangement of ‘Ave Maria’. The choir performed the medleys ‘Back to the Sixties’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and Alan treated the audience to jazz piano.

The proceeds of the concert raised money for ‘Stick n Step’, a locally based charity that provides intensive support for children with cerebral palsy. Following the concert Mrs Horan the concert organiser commented “sincere thanks to the choir for such a wonderful evening…our congregation are a very welcoming audience and they never stopped talking about what a great night they had”.

Voices and Brass

Jef — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:40:20 +0000

The choir joined forces with the Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) Brass Band to give a concert at the William Brookes School, Much Wenlock on Saturday 10th September, delighting the audience with a wide variety of songs including several joint pieces with the band.

The band, lead by its conductor Simon Platford, treated the audience to a new work ‘Phoenix Rising’ and an unusual arrangement of Scarborough Fair while the joint music, which included the Tom Jones favourite ‘Delilah’ and traditional piece ‘Let There Be Light’, was led by the choirs musical director Paul Kelly. The audience were also treated to solo pieces including ‘Xylophobia’, performed by Oliver James on Xylophone.

Following the concert the band travelled to Bolsover where on Sunday Mr James won the soloist trophy while performing Xylophobia, and the band gained third place in the championship section. The choir are busy rehearsing for their next performance at Alberbury on Friday 16th September, when there will be a joint concert with the Tamar Valley MVC (see concerts page for detail).

Accompanist Retires

Jef — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:28:11 +0000

The choir regrets to announce the retirement of Mrs Rosemary Whiteford as accompanist, after 24 years service. Mrs Whiteford joined the choir in 1987 under the musical directorship of Mrs Ceridwen Constantine and travelled widely with the choir on its overseas trips as well as numerous UK concerts.

She commented on her retirement “I loved the choir and its friendship….I have had some wonderful experiences at a number of different venues, it’s been wonderful to see the reaction of audiences”. The choir’s current Musical Director, Mr Paul Kelly, praised her for her “patience and conscientiousness” over the years, during which time she missed only two concerts. A loyal and steadfast supporter, Rosemary gave freely of her time and musical ability, helping to ensure the choir’s success in learning a wide variety of songs.

The choir is seeking to make a new appointment and has engaged the services of Mr David Fisher in the interim. David is an accomplished pianist and a graduate of Trinity College of Music in London, where he gained a Fellowship Diploma in organ playing as well as teaching diplomas in piano. David conducted the Halfway House Male Voice Choir, near Shrewsbury, for many years in the 1980′s and recently retired from teaching piano and violin. If you are interested in applying to be an accompanist please contact our choir secretary Mr Geoff Draper on 01952728178 for more information.