Item posted 22/04/2013

PRESIDENT'S PLATE AWARD 2013 WON BY PELYNT MALE VOICE CHOIR

At the recent Federation AGM, the President's Plate was awarded to Pelynt Male Voice Choir. The award was closely contested by excellent and worthy candidates. This year Pelynt Male Voice Choir was chosen in acknowledgement of their extensive and enthusiastic work involving the wider community. They have worked on projects in particular with schools and various types and ages of youth groups, sponsoring a School Choir in a major event and many other ongoing projects - bringing the joy of taking an active part in singing to an ever growing number of people in the community.

Graham Hicks of Pelynt MVC receives the President's Plate from Terry Hodge, Federation Chairman
Pictured left to right: John Trethewey, Musical Director of Pelynt MVC, Graham Hicks and Terry Hodge

Item posted 22/04/2013

TREVERVA MALE VOICE CHOIR ON THE MOVE

Treverva Male Voice Choir was formed in 1936 with Treverva Methodist Chapel as its base. Following the last service at the Chapel in July 2012, the Choir continued to rehearse there but as the building is now for sale we need to move.

After the final practice at Treverva Chapel on Monday 11 March, the Choir will move their base to: The Space, The Memorial Grounds, Penryn Rugby Club, Kernick Road, Penryn, TR10 8NT.
Practices start at 7.30pm and will continue to be on Mondays at Penryn.

If you want to see whether joining the Choir is for you, why not come along? Just turn up or you can contact Choir Secretary, Ann Trudgen 01326 210444 or email: ann.trevervachoir@hotmail.co.uk.

Sent by John Barraclough, Treverva MVC
Item posted 05/03/2013

Timothy Hosken retires as MD of Marazion Apollo MC

Following the recent Annual General Meeting of the Marazion Apollo Male Choir, the members wish to acknowledge all that their retiring Musical Director, Timothy Hosken and the choir achieved together over the past nine years. This ranges through the very successful tours, for the Choir Centenary (2004), in Brittany 2008, and for Cornish Cousins in California 2009. There have been visits to Wales, Somerset and Devon during 2010 and 2011 together with many successful concerts within Cornwall. The choir has also successfully competed in the County Music Festivals.

The choir wishes Timothy well for the future.

Sent by Stuart Meyers, Marazion Apollo MC
Item posted 17/01/2013

Marazion Apollo MC raises funds for the 'Movember' Charity

Following the loss of two members to cancer during 2012, Marazion Apollo Male Choir members decided to support the Movember (grow a moustache for male cancers) movement during November. Several of the choir members and the Musical Director were sponsored individually and the choir was sponsored collectively by other people. At the end of November a concert was held at St Peter's Church, Newlyn, with a retiring collection for Movember. The total raised by the choir, and passed to Movember, has reached £1,624.00.

If you would like to give to the 2012 effort you may still do so through any choir member or by logging on to: www.movember.com and search for Marazion Apollo Male choir.

The choir continues to support 'Help for Heroes' with the sale of its CD of the same name and copies are obtainable through Members, at several local retail outlets, at Kingsley Village or via the choir's website: www.apollo-choir.co.uk.

Sent by Stuart Meyers, Marazion Apollo MC
Item posted 17/01/2013

Rehearsals held at Redruth and Liskeard for the Royal Albert Hall Concert

On 13 January rehearsals were held at Redruth and Liskeard Methodist Churches where choirs based in the western and eastern halves of the county held successful and enjoyable rehearsals for the forthcoming concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Here are some images taken at the Liskeard rehearsal. The singers at this rehearsal, with musical directors Stephen Lawry and Elaine Tangye and accompanist Annette Turton, worked hard together for an uninterrupted 2 hours, everyone giving it their all, cheerfully and harmoniously. The sound was wonderful.

News and photos by Linda Jones, Federation Secretary
Item posted 14/01/2013

St Stythians MVC helps to celebrate the 50th Birthday of Huntingdon MVC

Peter Davies, the Director of Huntingdon Male Voice Choir, invited St Stythians Male Voice Choir to participate in the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the Huntingdon choir. This took the form of a massed choir concert with 6 other choirs in Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire. The participating choirs were: Huntingdon, St Stythians, Basingstoke, St Edmondsbury, Northampton, Alcester and Brighton Welsh - 270 voices in all. The soloists were Kate Woolf (soprano) and a professional concert brass group, Prime Brass of Cambridge.

We stayed for 2 nights at a riverside hotel in the delightful town of St Ives (Cambs). It was a privilege to be invited to represent Cornwall at such an exciting event in this massive Cathedral and it was well worth the 700 mile round trip. We were presented with a commemorative plaque (illustrated here) to mark the occasion. Peter Davies is, of course, well-known to Federation members in his role as Director of the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival.

Sent by David Hutson, St Stythians MVC
Item posted 11/11/2012

FEDERATION CHEQUE PRESENTED TO CORNWALL HOSPICE CARE

Federation Chairman, Terry Hodge together with Treasurer, John Trethewey, presented the Federation's cheque last week for £875, to Sally Davies, Senior Staff Nurse who received it on behalf of Cornwall Hospices. The funds in aid of the Cornwall Hospices were raised at recent Federation Male Voice Choir Concerts.

Item posted 11/11/2012

NOT IN MY NAME - The National Federation of Women's Institutes looks for support for their forthcoming campaign

Bois Goetre-Hen a’r Cylch Male Choir is offering their support to the Not In My Name campaign recruiting male ambassadors to speak out against domestic violence. For further details click on this link: White Ribbon Press Statement

Choirs raise £1100 for Marie Curie Cancer Care

St Stythians Male Voice Choir, with guests the City of Truro and Four Lanes Male Choirs, staged its 65th Anniversary Gala Concert at Stithians Methodist Church on Saturday 13th October. John Hitchens, Cornwall’s erstwhile twice national euphonium champion, provided the solos. Bruce Taylor of Millers Countrywide chaired the concert. The audience were treated to a varied programme with the three choirs singing their separate selections interspersed with virtuoso solos by John Hitchens accompanied on the piano by St Stythian’s Kathryn Downing. Philip Hunt (of Radio Cornwall’s Sounds of Brass) was present to introduce the first (vocal) performance of Goff Richard’s band composition A Special Place by the St Stythians choir. The lyricist, David Dearlove, had put words to this music some time after its composition. He was also in the audience to hear this new arrangement by Alan Simmons which was commissioned by Paul Martin of PM Sound in memory of Goff Richards. The choirs completed the concert as a combined choir singing three pieces conducted respectively by Michael Uren (Four Lanes), Hannah Stevenson (Truro) and Ken Downing (St Stythians).

Representatives from Marie Curie Cancer Care were present to say something of the work of the charity. The St Stythians Male Voice Choir would like to thank Millers Countrywide for supporting the concert, J C Williams (Furnishers) of Helston for continuing sponsorship and the audience who gave so generously for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Anniversary Gala Concert Programme Cover

Sent by David Hutson, St Stythians MVC
Item posted 29/10/2012

Article on Bonded Coach Holidays

At the recent Federation meeting, an article in the GTO Magazine was discussed, regarding the Bonded Coach Holiday scheme. Click on link below to read the article:

Bonded Coach Holidays

Sent by Rob Spowart, Federation
Item posted 20/10/2012

Cornish Federation choir welcomed to York Minster

Mousehole Male Voice Choir has just returned from a very successful visit to Yorkshire which included a morning recital of sacred music in the magnificent setting of York Minster where a large audience had gathered to listen. The men did not disappoint them as they sang with verve and attention to detail, led by their Musical Director, Stephen Lawry, and his assistant, David Williams. Annette Turton was at the piano, as always. After the six pieces which the men sang in their brief but poignant presentation the audience was visibly moved by the singing, and many stayed to talk to members and pour out their feelings after such a wonderful sense of occasion had left them overwhelmed. The men had a chance to get the feel of the vibrant city of York during the afternoon in their down time, before setting off to sing in the Micklegate area of the city in the evening, at Holy Trinity Church. Here the men gave a full programme of their current repertoire, and were commended by the Archdeacon of York for the variety, quality and passion of their performance. To give the choir a break in each half of the concert Buccas Four performed. Three of the members, along with the MD, who make up the Buccas, were very well received with their performances. The audience was much taken with some of the choir’s unusual songs, including Franz Biebl's wonderful setting of Ave Maria, in Latin text, with its requirement for an overlaid 3-part chamber choir and three cantors. And the Irish song, ‘Star Of County Down’ featuring the solo voice of Colin Trevorrow, was a great success. With Annette Turton at the piano ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was always going to be a favourite, and after a lengthy closing applause, the choir sang ‘From Cornish Cliffs’ as a very popular encore. Another feature of the evening, in the middle of the concert, was a fine performance on the wonderful church organ by Nigel Holdsworth of the Hornpipe from Handel’s ‘Water Music’. The evening performance raised a good amount for the York branch of the Royal British Legion and the Holy Trinity Church. The concert was followed by an eventful afterglow at the Railway Institute Club.

Saturday saw the choir members going all over York in their free time before boarding the two Mount’s Bay Coaches for a trip around the Yorkshire Dales, ending up at Skipton in time to see the grand market, held on Saturdays there. The choir was responding to an invitation to sing with the Steeton Male Voice Choir from Yorkshire, who visited Cornwall in 2010 and sang with Mousehole at the old Richmond Chapel. After a buffet tea provided by their hosts, they joined with the Steeton Male Voice Choir to give a concert in Holy Trinity Church, Skipton. The event was a sell out, and choir members even had to give up seats to accommodate the large audience who had gathered to hear some fine singing. Both choirs were on great form, and the special guests also performed to the highest level. Buccas Four sang a piece in each half, and an accordion soloist, Thom Hardaker, proved to be very accomplished, and delighted the audience with his superb playing. The concert concluded with the choirs combining in a piece arranged by each conductor, with a fine performance under Alan Clark (Steeton) of his arrangement of ‘Anthem’ from the musical ‘Chess’, before Stephen Lawry (Mousehole) drew things to a conclusion with a wonderfully sympathetic performance of his arrangement of ‘The Fields Of Athenry’, by Pete St. John, to provide a fitting climax to the evening, followed by a lively social gathering back at the pub!

This action packed long weekend saw the largest choir which Mousehole has ever taken on tour and required two coaches for the choir members and their nearest and dearest who were able to travel; they not only enjoyed fine music, but also enjoyed very fine food and great company along the way. All went smoothly from the early start on Thursday morning to the return on Sunday evening. Thanks were expressed to both John Hobbs and Tim James, Mousehole’s organisers, for a most enjoyable weekend. On Monday evening it was straight back to work in preparation for the immediate busy schedule to come with concerts on Sunday, 23rd September at Camborne Centenary, with Holman Climax Male Choir and Mabe Ladies Choir; at Penponds Church, near Camborne, on Friday, 5th October, with the St Aubyn Singers; and then the next "big one", the annual sell-out concert for Paul Feast on home ground in Paul Church on Sunday, 7th October, when the special guest will be Sylvia Berryman, Soprano, from Northamptonshire.

Sent by Trevor Walker, Mousehole MVC
Item posted 19/09/2012

Rousing Rendition for Mrs Romney

Ann Romney, wife of US Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has been welcomed back to her grandfather's home town of Nantyffyllon with an unbridled ‘GWAHODDIAD’ by a chorus of traditional Welsh Male Voice singing. Bois Goetre-Hen a'r Cylch (Boys of Coytrahen and District) from the Lower Llynfi Valley treated the First Lady-hopeful to a series of inspiring numbers at St Cynwyds Church, Llangynwyd as she took a break from her attendance at the Equestrian Events at the London Olympics to visit her Welsh roots. Dale Evans, the young Musical Director of the choir, said 'It was an enormous honour and privilege to sing today for Mrs Romney’. Bois Goetre-Hen provided Mrs Romney with a warm-hearted Welsh welcome, singing some traditional Welsh hymn tunes, including the very appropriate and poignant ‘Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn’ synonymous with the surroundings; and just to prove to Mrs Romney that Welsh Male Voice Choirs are not restricted to the traditional repertoire she was treated to a medley of songs by the famous American West Coast group ‘The Eagles’ which included the very emotive ‘Desperado’. Mrs Romney’s American-Welsh tears flowed as the Choir sang her favourite ‘Cwm Rhondda’ and her highly charged emotion continued throughout the choirs polished performance. Following their recital, Choir Secretary Richard Howells thanked Mrs Romney for inviting Bois Goetre-Hen to sing for her and remarked with ‘tongue in cheek’ that a repeat performance would be fitting on the lawn of the White House in January of next year. "Wouldn’t that be just grand!" was the response. He then presented Mrs Romney with an engraved plaque of Welsh Slate, and Choir Vice-Chairman, Tony Hill presented her with a framed poem entitled ‘In Passing’ by Brian Harris to remind Mrs Romney of her ‘Welshness’. Mrs Romney responded by announcing that "This really is the highlight of my visit. Thank you all so very much; you were wonderful." The entire event was covered by NBC the American TV Network and is scheduled to be broadcast to a WorldWide audience of over 850 Million on THURSDAY 16 AUGUST. Bois Goetre-Hen perform regularly in the South Wales area as well as throughout the UK. They are currently preparing for a performance with the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 2 November 2013.

For further information, please contact Richard Howells, Secretary, at boisgoetrehen@gmail.com or on 01656 737923. www.cobwebs.uk.net/boisgoetre-hen

Sent by Richard Howells, Bois Goetre-Hen a'r Cylch MC
Item posted 06/08/2012

Members of St Stythians Male Voice Choir enchanted the crowds at Trewithen Gardens on Sunday 29 July with their beautiful and joyous singing. The outdoor concert was part of the Trewithen Country & Classics day, in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Item posted 31 July 2012

BECKY LOVEGROVE, NEW MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR NEWLYN MALE CHOIR

The committee and members of Newlyn Male Choir are delighted to announce the appointment of Becky Lovegrove as their new Musical Director. Becky Lovegrove is a music teacher, composer, conductor and professional musician who began playing the violin at the age of three, later taking up both the clarinet and piano. She studied music at Manchester University, the Royal Academy of Music and King's College, London under Professor John Deathridge, Professor Arnold Whittall, Donald Mitchell and Harrison Birtwistle. She won the Hanson Prize [three years in succession], the Adam Prize and the Jessie Galliford Cup. She also gained 'blues' for both field hockey and rowing. Becky specialised in the Musical Analysis of Northern European Lute Tablature, and the music associated with Le Roman de Fauvel. Her Published works include transcriptions of de Vitry's Ars Nova works from the Chaillou de Pesstain, along with various academic guides for study at GCSE and A Level. She is currently working on an A Level book about stylistic choral writing.

Becky has performed with the London Philharmonic Choir, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, the London Mozart Players, and the New London Philharmonia to name but a few. She has also performed on several film soundtracks and played live with Rick Wakeman, ELO, Pulp and Blur in concert. Becky worked closely with Sir Mark Elder on a schools' educational music project in Inner City London. Becky has been a teacher for over 25 years and moved to Cornwall in 2005.

In her leisure time Becky enjoys walking her two labradors, and spends a great deal of time cycling and surfing. She likes to read, eat out, cook and travel to far flung parts of the world.

Newlyn Male Choir is delighted to welcome Becky Lovegrove as the Choir's new Musical Director.

Sent by Newlyn MC
Item posted 30/07/2012

PIPPA DRUMMOND - NEW ACCOMPANIST FOR NEWLYN MALE CHOIR

The committee and members of Newlyn Male Choir are delighted to announce the appointment of Pippa Drummond as their new accompanist.

Dr Pippa Drummond is an academic, author, composer and professional musician. Gaining distinction, and a silver medal, in the Associated Board's final grade flute examination when she was eleven, Pippa went on to become the principal flautist of the National Youth Orchestra. She then studied music under Edmund Rubbra and Egon Wellesz at the University of Oxford where she took the MA, BMus and DPhil degrees. While doing research she was appointed research fellow and director of music studies at St Hugh's College, Oxford, before becoming a lecturer in the music department at Sheffield University. After some years, she resigned her lectureship to have a family and follow a professional flute playing career. Subsequently she was appointed Head of Woodwind at Trent College, Nottingham before moving to Cornwall where she now lives.

Pippa is the author of two books on music - The German Concerto: Five Eighteenth Century Studies (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1980) and The Provincial Music Festival in England 1784 - 1914 (Ashgate, 2011). She has also written several articles on music history and is a contributor to Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. At present she is preparing a book on the History of Music in Cornwall. As a composer she has written choral music and works for voices and instruments, many of which have received their first performance locally.

For several years Pippa was principal flautist of the English Philharmonic Orchestra with which she gave professional concerts in all the major concert halls and theatres of England. She also has freelanced with numerous other orchestras and ensembles (including the English Symphony Orchestra and the English Pro Musica) and given solo recitals in London, Bristol, Bath, Nottingham and Sheffield. She has participated in broadcasts for the BBC and local radio stations and some films. In Cornwall she plays modern flute with Cornish Airs and the Syrinx Trio, and baroque flute with the Heinichen Ensemble. As a pianist Pippa accompanies many choirs in addition to Newlyn Male Choir, including Local Vocalz and the Cornwall Community Choirs.

Sent by Newlyn MC
Item posted 23/07/2012

A WARM WELCOME to NEWTON ST PETROCK MALE VOICE CHOIR,
new Associate Members of the Cornish Federation

The Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs is delighted to welcome new Associate Members, Newton St PetrocK Male Voice Choir.

Based in Devon, the choir sings in both Devon and Cornwall. Newton St PetrocK Male Voice Choir actually developed from a quintet. Five young men from the choir at Newton St Petrock Baptist Church – Ray Bale, Allin Bewes, Colin Johns, Roy Quance and Ray Quance – were encouraged to sing in harmony. They became known as 'The Newton Boys". Over time, as new members were added, it developed into The Newton St Petrock Male Voice Choir.

Members of the Cornish Federation look forward to working together with Newton St Petrock MVC.

News item posted 16/07/2012

LOVENY MVC APPOINTS NEW MUSICAL DIRECTOR, RICHARD BRAEBROOK

Loveny Male Voice Choir is delighted to welcome their new Musical Director, Richard Braebrook, ARCM (Hons). Richard lives in Tywardreath, where he is the Organist and Choirmaster of St Andrew's Church. He has had a long and successful career in music, both as a singer and as a Musical Director, including performing in the "Phantom of the Opera" with the English National Opera, and for some years he was Principal with the world famous D'Oyley Carte Company.

A Yorkshireman, he has now made his home in Cornwall, where for some years he was MD of the Marazion Apollo Male Voice Choir, and also for the County Choir on one of its foreign tours. At home, he teaches piano and singing. Richard stepped in to help Loveny over a temporary difficulty with a specific Concert, but such is the rapport he immediatley made with all the choristers, and indeed the whole "Loveny Family," that finally he agreed to take us on Full Time, and we look forward to a long and enjoyable time working together under his direction.

Sent by Jack Roberts, Loveny MVC
News item posted 05/06/2012

THE FUTURE OF MALE VOICE CHOIRS

Holman Climax MVC has initiated this conversation. If you have any ideas or comments which you would like to add,
please send them to the Federation Secretary, Linda Jones: linda@fed-cornishchoirs.org.uk

THE WAY FORWARD?
Holman Climax Male Voice Choir presents some new style concerts

Like many male voice choirs, Holman-Climax has seen a steady decline over a number of years in both traditional venues and audiences. In considering this problem, the choir firstly concluded it would not abandon its roots and would continue to take engagements in the places it has always done such as churches and chapels. To do otherwise would be a betrayal of generations of tradition.

Were there, then, any changes the choir could implement that might halt the decline? The first thought was an obvious one – to work with young people. Holman Climax is extremely fortunate in having Angela Renshaw, an MD whose day job does just that – encouraging boys and young men to sing. Her success in that area with boys' and youth choirs is too extensive and too well known to document in detail here. Valuable though that work is, there was an awareness that this, in itself, would not be the salvation of male choirs. Young men marry, have families and lead lives so hectic that joining a choir is precluded for most. Like many of us, they might join a choir when families have grown and flown but that result would take many years to come to fruition – longer, perhaps, than some choirs could survive!

Holman Climax MVC has thought long and hard about how to broaden our appeal and has decided on an approach that could run in tandem with our traditional role. On a number of occasions during the year – four as it currently stands but with more preferred – we choose a night, other than a Sunday, and radically change the nature of our programme and the way it is presented to include young artists, vocal and instrumental, as guests, to make community singing (NOT HYMNS) a focal point of the evening, to invite choir members with a talent for entertainment, other than singing, to contribute, and still present a package of male voice arrangements. Further, the evenings are be free of charge and each member of the audience is given a pasty and a cup of tea.

In the past 18 months, Holman Climax MVC has presented 5 such evenings with young guests ranging from a 12 year old piano virtuoso to a wonderful Cornish soprano embarking on a Masters Degree and a professional career. The first night was such a success that people were turned away and subsequent sessions had to be extended to 2 nights – all to capacity audiences - whose enthusiasm had to be seen to be believed. They liked the variety, they liked the young guests and they loved the change from passive listening to active participation – they could sing themselves! What, though, of the financial cost of putting on such a venture? There was none, as buckets on the door covered costs adequately.

The next 2 evenings are planned for Friday 22nd June and Friday 29th June 2012 at Camborne School at 7.15 pm

Guests for the 22nd will be the wonderful young men’s group “Cousin Jacks” from Richard Lander School and local young singer, Lisa Thomas. Guests on the 29th will be a young Cornish tenor and soprano, Matt Eva and Maria, who will sing songs from popular shows and musicals and local instrumentalists, the Macquarrie brothers from Kehelland. Both evenings will also hear the choir in all its glory, and there will be Cornish humour in the form of dialect stories and the ever popular sing song involving the audience – plus, of course, the pasty and cup of tea. It is all free though you are invited to make a donation on leaving if you enjoyed the evening.

Booking is essential as there are usually capacity audiences by contacting David Oates by phone on 01209 716559 (don’t leave a message as the phone provider is currently unreliable) or by e-mail to david.oates21@sky.com (the best option). Given that there will be different guests on each night you are welcome to attend both presentations – though some of the content will be repeated.

PLEASE NOTE: Holman-Climax will be in France from 4th – 10th June so it will not be possible to confirm bookings during that period.

Come along and give it a try – you might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

Sent by David Oates, Holman Climax MVC
Item posted 29/05/2012

FROM JONATHAN DELBRIDGE, Musical Director for RAME PENINSULA MVC

Holman Climax has some great ideas. Here are some of my thoughts. I guess at the age of 32, I approach this as probably one of the younger male voice choir MDs in the county, working with Rame Peninsula Male Voice Choir, although I have still had a traditional Methodist Church upbringing and was brought up listening to a lot of male voice choir singing. My personal thoughts are:

1. We should keep the best of the traditional. We do need to make sure we keep the classic male voice choir repertoire such as Gwahoddiad, Morte Christi ... going. I also find that songs with a Cornish connection do appeal, especially to tourists.

2. We need to balance this by adding in some much more up to date repertoire. With Rame Peninsula we are trying to add some modern popular songs into our repertoire to appeal to the non-traditional audiences. We also find show tunes go down particularly well with audiences.

3. The choirs need to work with young musicians. This is really one of my passions. There is an enthusiasm at the moment in choir singing with Rock Choir and Gareth Malone. However, I think our male voice choirs are in danger of missing out on this. We need to show the younger generation that singing in a choir is very rewarding and fun. I think doing concerts with young choirs is great especially if they get to actually sing with the male voice choir in some of the songs.

4. Personally I'd love to see us start up a choir for young men in the county (perhaps ages 18-30?). They could do things a bit differently to our more traditional male voice choirs by singing modern repertoire and maybe including choreography into their performances.

5. Perhaps some choirs may like to offer scholarships to encourage young men? The scholarships could be open to young men aged 18-25. They receive free choir membership for a year and the choir would also contribute financially to their music studies (perhaps singing lessons?). I know of mixed choirs who have been able to run a scheme like this very successfully.

These are just some of my thoughts and I'm happy to discuss further if anyone wishes. On a practical note we should also bear in mind that generally young people do tend to move away from the county to study at university and establish their career and sadly often don't move back until perhaps later in life. I know most of my school friends are no longer living in Cornwall as unfortunately they can't find work here. This does mean that there aren't so many young men in the county and those who do continue to live here tend to be pretty busy with their careers. However, I don't think we should let this put us off encouraging the younger men who are here to take up male voice choir singing!

Sent by Jonathan Delbridge, Rame Peninsula MVC
Item posted 29/05/2012

If you have any ideas or comments which you would like to add to this section,
please send them to the Federation Secretary, Linda Jones: linda@fed-cornishchoirs.org.uk

A WARM WELCOME to BOIS GOETRE-HEN A'R CYLCH MALE CHOIR,
new Associate Members of the Cornish Federation

The Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs is delighted to welcome new Associate Members, Bois Goetre-Hen a'r Cylch Male Choir. This choir was established in 2009 - a male choir to represent the Lower Llynfi Valley, something which the choir states was lacking in that area of the County Borough of Bridgend. The Cornish Federation looks forward to sharing in musical interests and activites whenever possible, with our new Welsh Associate Members.

You can find out more about the choir on their website: www.cobwebs.uk.net/boisgoetre-hen

News item posted 23/05/2012

WADEBRIDGE MVC RECORD NEW CD

Wadebridge Male Voice Choir’s latest CD ‘Then & Now’ has just been released. The CD is aptly named, with traditional numbers like ‘Nessun Dorma’ to contemporary modern pieces such as ‘Angels’. Naturally there is a strong Cornish flavour in the CD including songs like ‘Cornish Hearts’ specially composed for the International Male Voice Choral Festival 2007 by Gareth Churcher (held in Cornwall).

Wadebridge’s Director of Music, Paul Mitchell, said “I am very pleased with the recording. We rehearsed every piece to the highest standard. This selection is representative of the choir's wide repertoire. Whilst it will appeal to male voice choir supporters, there is something for everyone. I am sure some tracks will raise a smile.”

Joining Wadebridge on the CD is singer, Maisie Tooley. Recently she got through to the national finals of the top UK singing competition ‘Open Mic’. The Judges told Maisie her voice "made their spines tingle" and "she would go far". To get through to the finals in the O² Arena out of 20,000 entries speaks for itself.

Wadebridge recorded the CD in St Ervan Parish Church over two days with professional recording and mastering using the highest quality equipment.

The CDs can be obtained from Bob Cronshaw tel 01208 812349 or from Kernow Harvest and Tourist Information Centre Eddystone Road, Wadebridge, or from Padstow Tourist Information Centre. See www.wmvc.org.uk for more information on Wadebridge Male Voice Choir.

Sent by Brian Wood, Wadebridge MVC
News item posted 30/04/2012

Federation receives donation of LPs by Newquay store owner

A Newquay vintage store presented an array of 'treasures' to the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs recently. Suzanne of Le Shed, on Crantock Street, acquired a collection of vinyl LP records and decided to offer them free to a good home. The Federation was keen to snap them up as the collection contains recordings of choral groups going back to the early 1970s and even includes a recording by Newquay Male Voice Choir from 1984.

Jim Christophers, who was presented with the LPs at the shop, said: "I was touched to pick out my late father on the cover of two of the early recordings of Treverva Male Voice Choir and there is a poignant cover for a recording of St Dennis Male Voice Choir, no longer in existence, which contains the signatures of those in the choir in 1985. The collector was clearly a fan of Edgar Kessel, the old MD of Treverva Male Voice Choir, Climax Male Voice Choir, Devon and Cornwall Police Choir and Mabe Ladies Choir, as there are a number of records of him and his choirs. The Federation is very grateful to Sue for donating this collection of the heritage of music and fellowship enjoyed in male voice choirs today."

News item posted 30/04/2012

PRESENTATION TO GOFF RICHARDS MEMORIAL FUND

On Saturday 29th October last year Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs members, Four Lanes, Holman Climax, Nankersey and St Stythians, along with singers from fellow members, Mevagissey and Newquay male voice choirs, and four Cornish Championship Brass Bands – Camborne, Mount Charles, St Austell and St Dennis - combined to present a concert in Truro Cathedral celebrating the music of the renowned Cornish composer Goff Richards. Goff had an international reputation as a prolific and talented composer but remained essentially a St Minver boy with deep Cornish roots. The concert programme was made up entirely of Goff’s music with the choirs and bands performing separately and together to produce a sound which reverberated around the Cathedral and out into the night beyond. All in all everyone, participants and audience alike, agreed that it served as a very fitting tribute to a remarkable man.

Once all expenses had been accounted for, the concert raised a total of £3,978.56 for the Goff Richards Memorial Fund, created to provide financial assistance to enable young Cornish musicians to further their musical skills. A cheque for this amount was presented by Terry Hodge, Chairman of the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs, to Matt Richards, son of Goff, at the Federation meeting on 18th April. Terry was assisted in the presentation by representatives of some of the choirs and bands who performed at the concert and by Phillip Hunt, Cornish bard, well known Radio presenter, friend of Goff and Secretary of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band (amongst many other things) who also chaired the concert.

Sent by Jim Christophers, Publicity Officer, CFMVC
News item posted 25/04/2012

Terry Hodge, Chairman, presents cheque for the Goff Richards Memorial Fund to Matt Richards
Photograph by Fred Boreham, Newquay MVC

NEW CD - A CELEBRATION OF CORNISH MALE VOICE CHOIRS

Compilation album featuring 20 member choirs of the Federation, together with a bonus track recorded in the Royal Albert Hall

The Federation is delighted to announce its first compilation CD of Cornish male voice choir music. Each member choir of the Federation was invited to nominate a piece of its own choice for inclusion in the compilation and 20 choirs are represented on the disc.

The outcome is a celebration of the variety and vibrancy of the contemporary Cornish male voice choir repertoire. Sacred pieces are mixed with secular and the traditional is juxtaposed with the more modern, while classical lies alongside popular music. The final piece on the CD is a recording of ‘Trelawny’ sung by the massed choirs of the Federation at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1994.

The CD is available directly from member choirs and at Federation events, priced at £10. Alternatively it can be obtained by post at a cost of £12 per CD, to cover postage and packing. Requests should be sent to Jim Christophers (Publicity Officer, CFMVC), 3 Kingsley Meade, Trencreek, Newquay TR8 4PY with a cheque made out to the ‘Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs’ for the appropriate amount. £1 from the sale of each CD will be donated to the RNLI.

LISTEN TO SHORT SAMPLES FROM our CD - Turn up the volume and enjoy! Recordings

News item posted 09/11/2011

NEWLYN MALE CHOIR'S 90th ANNIVERSARY CD

Newlyn Male Choir is delighted to announce the release of their new CD - Reflections. The CD contains old favourites as well as special new recordings in celebration of the choir's 90th Anniversary.

Details are available from the choir's website at www.newlynmalechoir.co.uk/choir_cd.html.

Sent by Newlyn MC
News item posted 11/10/2011

SONG BOOK

A new Song Book has been compiled by members of Nankersey Male Choir. The Song Book contains 51 well known songs and hymns and is intended to be used on informal occasions (possibly with a pint in hand!) whenever choir members get together for a sing song outside of concert "conditions". It is also intended to act as an aide memoire for those who find themselves at a loss to join in because the words are either unknown or temporarily forgotten! Thanks to everyone who has helped in the compilation.

We are pricing the Song Book competitively at £2.50 only and this must represent good value as it is handily sized for placing in a jacket pocket and the cover is laminated for durability. The Song Book is dedicated to Nankersey's 12 founder members and a photograph of those worthy gentlemen appears in the book.

Choir members within the Federation qualify for this bargain price provided the song book(s) can be delivered by hand (at a Federation meeting for instance) or song books may be obtained for £3.50 by post. Anyone who is interested in obtaining a copy or copies should please get in touch with Fred Bidgood, tel: 01326 373984;
e-mail: familybidgood@hotmail.co.uk.

Sent by Fred Bidgood, Nankersey MC
News item posted 06/09/2011

CDs NOW AVAILABLE - RECORDED FROM THE CORNISH INTERNATIONAL MALE CHORAL FESTIVAL 2011

A CD containing highlights of the Festival is now available and can be ordered online at www.aboutsound.co.uk/buycd.html where the track listing can be viewed and some samples can be heard.

Contact Matthew Dilley of About Sound Limited directly if your choir wishes to order multiple copies, shipped directly to one address. Matthew Dilley, About Sound Limited. www.aboutsound.co.uk. Tel: O +44 (0)1480 353367. Mob: +44 (0)7796 953344.

News item posted 7/06/2011

TRURO CATHEDRAL OLD CHORISTERS ASSOCIATION

We have received an update on a previous news item, with revised contact details. Truro Cathedral Old Choristers Association is open to ex-choristers from any Cathedral. There may be old choristers who are not aware they would be eligible to join the Association and some may be singing in Cornish male voice choirs. Once a year, usually the third Saturday in September, members of the Association sing Evensong in the Cathedral with the present choir, followed by a dinner.

If there are any people who used to sing with any Cathedral choir the Association would like to welcome them to join in.

Please contact The Association's Chairman, Andrew Pool email: office@andrewpool.co.uk, or write to him, c/o Truro Cathedral Office, 14 St Mary's Street, Truro TR1 2AF. Or if anyone would like a quiet word, just phone Andrew on (01326) 374433.

SOUVENIRS TO SELL ON BEHALF OF YOUR CHOIR

Cat Laminates, a small business run by Trevor Walker of Mousehole MVC, produces a variety of small gifts which can be personalised with the name of your choir and can include an illustration, provided by you. There is a variety of items available, including jotters, self stick notes, gift cards and fridge magnets; each can bear the logo of your choir and a photo or illustration. These are souvenirs that you may wish to sell at your concerts or other events in order to raise funds. The items can be purchased in sets of 50 and are offered at reduced rates for Federation members. For more information contact Trevor Walker, email: twpzchoral1@btconnect.com or tel: (01736) 731096.

Sample cover page of a Self-Stick Notes pad

ARRANGING A CHOIR TOUR? Neil Shepherd, MD of “Laudate!” and also a qualified travel agent and tour operator has kindly offered suggestions and advice to choirs planning tours. This item first posted June 2009 and retained for reference. Click on the link below. Tours

This page last updated: 18 May 2013 - Linda Jones