WORRALL MALE VOICE CHOIR.
NEWSLETTER September 2009
(Registered Charity No. 515038)
Well, we did it!!Friday, 24th April saw seventy plus chorister, wives and followers board an Andrews of Tideswell double deck executive coach bound for London for the Welsh Association of Male Choirs concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London. What a marvellous weekend it was. Apart from a few problems at the check in desk at the hotel, due to the enormous amount of people all trying to check in, the weekend went without a hitch. The seven pieces of music in Welsh which posed so many pronunciation problems in rehearsal were superb, as was the whole concert. It was indeed a feast of Male Voice Choir singing supported by some very talented young singers and musicians. The Concert opened with the Massed Choir and audience singing the Queen. After the Massed Choirs first spot, we were entertained by an eleven years old schoolgirl from Angelsey called Lucy Kelly. The second half opened with the Musical Directors and Accompanists from the participating choirs being brought on stage and introduced to the audience. This was followed by the Massed Choirs and audience singing “Cwm Rhonda”. Through out the evening, the concert was interspersed with contributions from other young musicians. We were also privileged to hear a very talented 18yrs. old cellist, Steffan Morris and a 21 yrs. old soprano, Eirlys Myfanwy Davies. The guest appearances were concluded by a young male voice choir called Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion from West Wales. They were in the mould of “Only Men Allowed” and they brought the house down with their contribution. (Secs. Note - They eventually went on to win the Male Voice Choir competition at this year’s Llangollen Eisteddford). The evening ended with the Massed Choirs and audience raising the roof with the Welsh National Anthem, “Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau”. It was an inspirational weekend which will live long in the memory. There are CD’s and DVD’s of the concert available at £7.50 and £15.00 respectively. You can see photographs from the event by visiting the “News” page on the Choir’s website:- www.worrallmvc.org.uk
2012 will be the 50th Anniversary of the Welsh Association of Male Choirs and on March 24th 2012 they are planning a Celebration Concert again at the Royal Albert Hall. WMVC have applied to be part of this memorable event.
We followed this with our Spring Concert in June at Wisewood Church. We shared the platform with a young soprano; Harriet Alice Eyley from Burton – on – Trent. Harriet won both the Doug. Crossland and the Michael Peaker Memorial shields at this year’s David Clover Competition for young Singers. She also won the Sheffield Teacher’s Choir Silver Salver for the best overall singer in the competition and is certainly a name to watch out for in the future.
Our Autumn Concert this year is being held on Saturday 17th October in Christchurch, Stannington when we will be joined by the Dearne Saxaphone Quartet. These four musicians are part of the Dearne Valley Big Band and are certainly talented entertainers capable of playing anything from jazz to classics. Why not come along and enjoy an evening of music. Tickets are £6 each and available from choir members, Stannington Church or myself. Just give me a call on 0114 234 4374.
On Saturday 24th October our Support Group is holding it’s Autumn Fayre in Wisewood Church Hall from 12-00 to 3-00 p.m. Everyone is welcome so why not come along and search out a bargain or try one of our top tenor, David Stone’s, famous all day breakfasts.
Saturday 14th November sees us return to the Niagara Sports Club for an old fashioned evening of fun with a Race Night. Anyone who has been before will know what is involved in getting a wooden horse along a 25 ft. length of string to the winning line. Once again, everyone is welcome so why not come along and try your hand at being a “jockey” or indulge in a small flutter on your favourite.
We then have our usual busy run up to Christmas (yes ladies it won’t be long now !!). Our Christmas Concert this year is once again to be held at the Sacred Heart Church in Hillsborough on Friday 18th December. It promises to be something a bit different when we are joined by seven ladies from around the Stockport area. They are a close harmony group called “Capella” who sing a variety of musical styles and also like to involve all the audience so we wait with baited breath to see what the evening holds.
Planning for our 40th Anniversary celebrations is well underway opening with the concert in Sheffield Cathedral on Saturday, 11th September. A singing tour of Cornwall is also being planned for 2011. If you are interested in joining us for a week’s holiday please let me know and I will send you details as and when they are available.
Our Chairman, Lewis Atkinson is putting together a small book of the Choirs’ forty years of history which we hope to have completed and on sale for the anniversary year. If anyone has any anecdotes or stories, funny or otherwise, of things which have happened in the past 40 years whilst you have been with the Choir, then please let Lewis or I have them. There is still time to include them in the book.
Recruitment is still a major problem and a worry. The Choir membership now stands at 40 members and the average age of the Choir is 68 years with a number of members in their 80’s. It should go without saying that we need some “young blood”.
In the March Newsletter I told you of some discussions we were proposing to hold with our friends; Bolsterstone MVC with regard to recruitment. Things have moved on apace since then and the “Come and Sing” project has been instigated. Indeed you may well have had a flier through your door. So gentlemen, if you at a loose end and looking for something to do on a winter evening, why not come along to the Venue at Stocksbridge at 7-30 p.m. on a Wednesday evening. You will be involved in a unique experience when we will be setting up a brand new choir from scratch to take part in a concert on 17th April 2010 at the International Hall, Ponds Forge together with WMVC, BMVC and Sheffield Youth Orchestra. Our first Introductory Session for the new Choir was held on Wednesday, 23rd September when 22 men elected to come along and all were accepted into membership of the new Choir. This does not mean that we cannot recruit independently of each other so if there are any men out there who fancy singing with an established choir, and a very sociable group at that, then please feel free to come along on any Monday or Friday night at 7-30 p.m. to Worrall Independent Chapel on Towngate Road and you will be made more than welcome. We appreciate it can be a scary proposition on that very first occasion to “put your foot over the doorstep”. Please don’t let that put you off. Give me a call on 0114 2344 374 and I personally will bring you along or arrange a lift with a more conveniently located member to bring you so that it is not such a daunting experience.
It was again with great sadness that we had to recognise the passing and say goodbye to two stalwart supporters of the Choir and our Support Group when Wendy Else, wife of Baritone Terry, passed away in May after a short illness. Our thoughts and prayers are with Terry, Robert, Sarah and the family. Only a few weeks ago we also had to say goodbye to the Chair of our Support Group, Edna Cammoile, wife of Baritone Wilf. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wilf and his family. They will both be very sadly missed.
As always there is an up to date Diary Sheet at the back of the Newsletter. We will be delighted to see you at any of the concerts or events listed.
We are always looking to cut costs and help the environment. If you are on E Mail and would like to help us cut down on the amount of paper we use you could receive the Newsletter electronically. Drop me an E Mail to Secretary@worrallmvc.org.uk and let me know if you would like to receive the Newsletter this way in future.
Ian Pasley – Secretary Worrall Male Voice Choir – October 2009
Last Updated: October 12, 2009