Looking back on 2011.

With the passing of 2011, the Macclesfield Male Voice Choir yet again looks back over another successful twelve months. Their reputation grows with each concert, acclaim and achievement are the rewards for hours of relentless practice. Whilst the choir members are willing participants their excellence is due in no small way to the direction and control of their Musical Director Mr David Court, he in turn, has superb support from the choirs Assistant Conductor Mrs Pauline Davies. Completing the team that make sure all musical presentations are of the highest quality is the choirs Accompanist Tatyana Guncharuk, who not only plays for the choristers, but, on many occasions treated the audience to a solo piano recital.

The reputation of the choir must account for its continual growth in numbers as they now approach a choir strength of 74 which enabled them place 57 chorister on stage at their Annual Spring Concert, and thereby achieving a long held ambition of the choir’s former and current Chairman George Lewis and Trevor Davies, respectively whose aim was to have 50 Male Voices singing together. Members are now coming from afar a field as New Mills, Disley, Knutsford, Biddulph, Congleton, Wilmslow, Cheadle, Poynton, Hale, with the local villages adding to the numbers with members from Bollington, Gawsworth, Sutton and Rainow.

Members from a wide catchment area which boasts also a cosmopolitan input, there are English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Swiss, and a German all singing in complete harmony, and not a ‘veto’ in sight. The friendship and camaraderie excels, which in turn is demonstrated in their love for singing each time they take the stage.

Whilst the membership continues to grow, it is with heart felt sadness that 2011 saw the passing of a number of well-respected members, Bob Davies, Eric Newton and Paul Trahearn, also a dearly loved Lady, wife of the former Secretary, Vera Heritage, who not only hosted committee meetings at her home but in years past had been a very able accompanist for the choir on many occasions. Her speciality, was to accompany John Moss when the choir sang ‘The Rhythm of Life’ a truly wonderful and gentle lady her greatest enjoyment was to listen to the ‘boys’ sing.

To commence 2011 the choir kicked off with what is becoming something of a yearly event singing in Bollington, at the Methodist Church, the treat being, the staged was to be shared with pupils from St Gregory’s Primary School. This was for everyone a wonderful treat, who will forget those delightful youngsters giving their all and in particular one young girl whose dance movements to the song they were singing, which held everyone enthralled. This was truly, talent on show for the future, and a pleasure to be a part of.

The choirs’ activities moved outside of its normal bounds of singing by holding a ‘coffee morning’ at the Macclesfield Methodist Church, at the beginning of March, the aim was to raise funds towards financing the choirs trip to the Isle of Man. The success of this event was due in no small measure to the choirs ‘Ladies’, wives, girlfriends and partners who put in a tremendous amount of effort before, and on the day. The MMVC are very fortunate to have such loyal support from the ‘Ladies whose following is greatly appreciated by everyone.

April 9th, Venue, St Michaels and All Angels Ch

urch, Market Place, Macclesfield, the event, Macclesfield Male Voice Choir, Annual Spring Concert. Guests: The Chanterelles. Large notices on both of the large imposing front doors of the church declared ‘Sold Out’ Such was the attraction of the Macclesfield Male Voice Choir and their Guests, award winning Ladies Choir, The Chanterelles from Leicestershire. Making this a somewhat unique occasion was that both choirs had a vested interest in each other. Both of the Conductors, Mr David Court, for the MMVC, and, Mrs Shirley Court, for the Chanterelles are, husband and wife. Each delivered a truly professional performance getting the best from their respective charges. The evening’s entertainment justified fully the status of a ‘Sold Out’ designation. The icing on the cake for the audience was when both choirs came together to sing ‘Rhythm of Life’, with over 80

voices giving a sensational ending to a wonderful evening of musical excellence. The quality and tone of both choirs was in evidence later in the year, with both choirs winning awards in separate Music Festivals, the MMVC in the Isle of Man and The Chanterelles in North Wales.

With the weather improving, the month of May saw the choir performing at the Heritage Centre with pupils from the King’s School as part of the Towns Royal Charter 750 years celebrations, once again a full house were treated to a musical delight, with the students from King’s excelling with their skills on their musical instruments.

The Macclesfield Methodist Church on the 11th June, the choir along with Bollin Brass performed a concert in aid of Network World Missions, yet again, to the choirs delight, they were given the opportunity to deliver a programme that they were working on for their forthcoming Festival of Choirs in the I-O-M to a full audience. The talented musicians of Bollin Brass were an excellent addition to the choir programme.

With the Towns continual efforts in the revival of the Barnaby week the MMVC, yet again took the stage at the United Reformed Church, Park Green with another junior choir the Silkworms, who, in spite of their numbers being depleted due to holiday calls delivered a sound which received a wonderful reception.

In between extensive rehearsals in preparation for their forthcoming visit to take part in The Isle of Man Festival of Choirs, the choir managed to fit in a couple of bookings where they were required to sing at a couple of Weddings, this feature of the choirs versatility is becoming a regular occurrence with requests for small numbers of chorister being required to provide background music before and during the Wedding service.

One event during the year which all

members of the choir were delighted in acknowledging, was the 90th birthday of former Choir Chairman, George Lewis, the present day Chairman Trevor Davies was happy to present George with a Life Membership award. George who is a retired Customs and Excise Officer, has been a very active member within the Tenor section of the choir, and was the Chairman when the choir won a Bronze Award at a Music Festival in Prague in 2007.

On the 23rd September the choir

took the ferry from Liverpool and sailed to Douglas on the Isle of Man, their mission was to take part in the Isle of Man’s Festival of Choirs. Forty-four choristers, all well-rehearsed, and ready to give of their best. The choir with their wives and friends were warmly welcomed by the Manx people on the Friday evening where members of all the different choirs mingled and socialised before the fierce competition on the Saturday. It was during this socialising that each choir was called upon to render their ‘party piece’, for the MMVC it was that rousing Welsh Hymn, ‘Rachie’ which aptly starts with the words “For the brave and loyal”. On the Saturday the choir assembled at the Festivals venue, the Royal Hall, Villa Marina, there they were required to perform four pieces of music, one of which had to be unaccompanied. The choir opened their programme with ‘The Lost Chord’ which they followed with the unaccompanied piece, a Scottish Air, ‘My Love is like a Red Red Rose’. Their third number was a lively African/American song ‘Where can I go but to the Lord’, the concluding piece was that stirring song by Samuel Liddle (arr: Doris Arnold) ‘Abide with me’, the lead solo was B

ass singer Martin Tute. In his summing up, the Adjudicator, Jeffrey Wynn Davies from Manchester, congratulated the choirs Musical Director Mr David Court, on his control and guidance on all pieces of music, he added that there were many fine voices within the choir before presenting them with their trophy and a cheque for £500. The choirs winning performance was also

used on the Monday on Radio Manx.  Before sailing back to Liverpool, the choir spent the morning on a coach tour of part of the Island. All in all, lovely weather, good hotel, good food, good company and a successful outcome.

Fresh from their success in the I-O-M the choir travelled to Sale, here they performed a concert which was in aid of St Ann’s Hospice. At St John the Divine, Church, Brooklands Road. Having had very little time to put together some fresh number, the majority of the songs sung were those used at the Festival of Choirs, with the exception of the inclusion of a couple of Gilbert and Sullivan songs, and ‘Shine’ by Sue James. There was also a couple of entertaining numbers by Bass singer Martin Tute and Tenor Joe Ravenscroft, these were very well appreciated by the audience.

November, brought the choir nearer home, a request for a small choir to attend a dinner function at the Higher Hurdsfield Methodist Church, with twenty eight singers on parade. This was a lovely evening, with a very receptive audience. At the conclusion of the concert, the organising spokesperson thanked David Court and the choir for their pleasing renditions, adding, that when she booked the choir, she had been informed that the format of the choir had not yet been set, which prompted her to say, she hadn’t realised that she was getting a ‘Youth Choir’, this prompted a quick retort from a member of the Bass section, “ you should have gone to Spec Savers”

December is always a demanding month on choristers time, however, to start the month the choir had a record turnout for their Christmas Dinner which was held at Macclesfield Rugby Club. Once the meal was over the Chairman gave a short speech followed by the presentation of Life Membership of the Choir to Roy Heritage. 

Roy was Secretary for the choir for the past 20 years and received a standing ovation in recognition of his tremendous contribution. Following on, the Chairman congratulated Glyn Jones and presented him with his 25-year Long Service award. This was followed by 10 year Long Service awards presented to Bill McWalter, John Topham and one was left over to be handed out at choir practice to Eric Appleyard. The evening was concluded in fine style with entertainment from members of the choir doing solo and duet turns.

 

A round of Nursing Homes throughout December, keep the choir members busy plus fitting in the carol services. The last big concert of the year saw the choir conclude with a rousing carol concert at Langley Methodist Church, like last year, there was plenty of snow. Once again, it was a wonderful evening of music, with plenty of audience participation. Even more enjoyable was to hear that star of the Tenor section, Glyn Jones, back singing his solo, ‘O holy night’. Glyn, who has been sadly missed from the Tenor section most of the year, due to a major operation. Now, thankfully fully recovered and has been given the all clear. Great to have you back Glyn. One lady commented” his singing made the hair stand up on the back of my neck”.

Coming to the end of the singing calendar, a number of the choir tur

ned up at the Moss Rose, home to Macclesfield Town Football Club, for ‘The Big Carol Sing’ in aid of The Hope Centre, on a cold evening, with plenty of snow the ‘boys’ did their bit, poor Pauline our Assistant Conductor suffered the most, going down with a case of severe cold or flu?.

We, the chorister thought that with all that time spent watching Stoke City at the Britannia she would have been hardened to it. But full marks to her, she showed us just how tough she is by getting out of her sick bed on the Sunday morning to play the piano for those of the choir who turned up for the carol service at Macclesfield Rugby Club, what a ‘trouper’.

Click here for the Review of 2009

Click here for the Review of 2010