To post your choir's news items or notices on the CURRENT News & Notices page, contact the Federation Secretary, Linda Jones on
linda@fed-cornishchoirs.org.uk or tel: (01726) 61180

February 2010: This Archive has been cleared of many earlier items which are now saved separately. Contact the Secretary if you are looking for an old news item and cannot find it here.

Newquay Male Voice Choir perform at the prestigious “Regatta Concert” in Fowey

Newquay Male Voice Choir were delighted to be invited to support the Fowey Regatta week by providing the entertainment for the opening (Sunday) evening concert in Fowey Parish Church. A mixed programme of entertainment was planned, with a range of music which was designed to suit a very wide audience.

A break with tradition was the way in which the various members made their way to the venue. The majority of choristers travelled by a coach which left Newquay in good time to get to the Church but a small group of enthusiastic basses, determined to be different, left Newquay on Sunday morning to travel via Mylor. It was all the idea of sailing enthusiast Nick Brown, who invited the group from the bass section to sail around to Fowey aboard his vessel “Solitaire”. A number of eyebrows in the port were then lifted, especially aboard the water taxi in Fowey harbour, as 5 members of the bass section of the choir were joined by baritone Billy Mander (who was formally made an “honorary bass” for the day) all in full dinner suits, approaching the town quay. “We were determined to approach this regatta concert – and the Parish Church in an appropriate manner – from the sea” said Rob Spowart who went on to compere the very successful and entertaining concert.

The group found a good wind after the Dodman Point and had made excellent time along the coast, in superb sailing conditions, passing a number of familiar towns and villages – more familiar to most of the crew from the landward side! Billy’s baptism into the bass section was complete when, clutching the bow line, he stepped off the boat, onto the pontoon (briefly) and into the water. Fortunately, after a shower onboard, he was little the worse for his involuntary dip and the audience at the concert was most impressed by his attempt to swim to the engagement! “You can never tell what they’re going to do next” said Judith Mumby, the choir’s relieved Musical Director who met the crew on the Town Quay in Fowey, along with Colin Terry (another NMVC bass who had also decided to sail to the engagement with another boat-owning friend).

Choir members were delighted with the reception which they received and the evening was completed as the sound of social singing floated across the harbour from a pasty-supper reception held at the Fowey Gallants Sailing Club.

Sent by Rob Spowart, Newquay MVC
News item posted 26/08/2009

Marazion Apollo return from successful trip to California

Marazion Apollo have recently returned from a highly successful tour to Grass Valley California, having been invited to sing at functions during the 15th Gathering of Cornish Cousins. Singing with the Grass Valley Male Voice Choir and with a 150 piece Concert Band were two of many highlights.

Marazion Apollo are indebted to men from other choirs who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to join us on the tour. It is safe to say without them it may not have gone ahead. The men are as follows:-
Francis Gendall, Constantine; Mike Hattam, St Buryan; Trevor Hugo, Pelynt; John Moon, St Columba Celtic and Wadebridge; Terry Rowe, Wadebridge; Mike Stone, Wadebridge; Dennis Teague, Nankersey; Ken White, Wadebridge and Ray Wilson, Wadebridge.

Sent by Jim Roberts, Marazion Apollo MVC
News item posted 17/08/2009

TINTAGEL ORPHEUS MVC'S 80th ANNIVERSARY CD - recorded LIVE!

Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir's latest CD, recorded "LIVE" at their 80th Anniversary Gala Concert is now available to buy online on the choir's website. Click on link: www.tintagelmalevoicechoir.org.uk/sales.htm.

Sent by Alan Dawe, Tintagel Orpheus MVC
News item posted 10/08/2009

St Buryan Male Voice Choir AGM -
Awards for Long-Serving Members

From left to right: Phil Hitchens, George Bennetts and John Jackson

Three members of St Buryan Male Voice Choir have been presented with Certificates to mark their long service with the choir. The only founder member still singing with the choir from when it was established in 1941 is John Jackson, while the second longest serving member is Philip Hitchens, whose certificate records more than 40 years service. The ‘new boy’ of the trio is George Bennetts, with over 30 years to his name.

The certificates were presented at the Choir’s Annual General Meeting on 16th July by re-elected Chairman Steve Kettlewell who thanked all three recipients for their dedicated service to the Choir and for the example and inspiration they gave to newer members.

Steve also expressed the Choir’s thanks and appreciation to Diana Jenkins, standing down as President after nearly 15 years. Taking over as President will be Mr Jack Williams of St Levan, a long-time and keen supporter of the Choir, who received a warm ovation when he came along to the first practice-night after the AGM. Thanking the members for inviting him to become President he said how honoured he was to accept the position and that he felt he owed it to many old friends who had been associated with the Choir over the years, including the Choir’s first musical director Hugh Rowe, to do his best to help maintain the Choir in good health.

With Diana’s retirement, the Choir are looking for a replacement deputy accompanist to work alongside Norman Bunney. Anyone interested in this post (perhaps combined with singing in the Choir) is invited to call secretary Brett Farmer on 01736 811263.

Sent by Dick Waterson, St Buryan MVC
News item posted 10/08/2009

St Stythians and City of Truro Male Voice Choirs
raise £1250 for the Handstand Appeal

The St Stythians Male Voice Choir (Director: Ken Downing) recently organised a concert with the City of Truro Male Choir at St Michael’s Church, Helston. The concert was in aid of Handstand, in support of Marshall Janson, the little boy who suffered a meningitis attack earlier this year. The Truro Choir (Director: Paul Triggs) gave its services free, reciprocating a visit of the St Stythians Choir to Truro last year for the Precious Lives Appeal.

Alison Harvey was the soloist and Bruce Taylor, of Miller Countrywide, was compère. The two Musical Directors assembled a programme that made the most of the excellent acoustics of St Michael’s Church.

Miller Countrywide supported the concert. The St Stythians MVC also wishes to acknowledge on-going sponsorship from J C Williams (Furnishers) of Helston.

Sent by David Hutson, St Stythians MVC
News item posted 05/08/2009

NEWLYN MC WELCOME NEW MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Newlyn Male Choir are delighted to welcome their new Musical Director, Mr Neil Shepherd BA (Hons) ALCM. Neil Shepherd moved to Cornwall from Lancashire at the end of December. The Choir has already enjoyed practices with him and are looking forward to working together.

Sent by Bryan Marshall, Newlyn MC
News item posted 18/01/2009

AN INVITATION TO JOIN NEWLYN MALE CHOIR

The Newlyn Male Choir will resume rehearsals on Monday 5th January 2009 in the Chapel, Royal National Mission of Deep Sea Fishermen, Newlyn, Penzance, commencing at 7.30pm. Hopefully we will have a new Musical Director and will start a fairly new programme of music. So we will all be in the same boat. Starting from scratch.

If you were thinking of joining a Male Choir this is the ideal time to do it. We are a friendly bunch of chaps, with a good sense of humour who enjoy our singing. So if you are interested come along on the 5th. Have a listen to us, and if you like what you hear give us a try. You will be made most welcome. Nervous of an audition? Don't be. All you need is a reasonable voice and able to pitch a note, and that will be between you and the Musical Director only.

See you there? Enquiries to Bryan Marshall, tel: (01736) 361189.

Sent by Bryan Marshall, Newlyn MC
News item posted 22/12/2008

LICENSING ACT 2003 - how it affects Choirs

Choirs have made enquiries about where they stand with performance rights and licensing under the 2003 Act. Attached is a copy of National Association of Choirs' Advice Sheet 803 prepared in 2006 as a result of problems reported from Cornwall. The Act is currently the subject of a Parliamentary Review Committee to assess its impact among the population.

This information has been provided by Fred Bidgood of Nankersey Male Choir, who kindly made enquiries of the National Association of Choirs on behalf of Federation members. It is pointed out that The Trustees of the National Association of Choirs offer advice to their members in good faith. Those who follow the advice given do so at their own risk and judgement. The Trustees accept no responsibility for any harm, physical, financial or to reputation, occurring to those who follow the advice given.

Licensing Act 2003.

TINTAGEL ORPHEUS MVC celebrate their 80TH ANNIVERSARY!

This year is the 80th Anniversary of Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir. The Choir is pleased to present a Colour Souvenir Brochure - the cover is shown on the left. Copies can be obtained at all their concerts or by contacting the Choir's Press & PR Officer, Valerie Stephens, on 01840 770360 or press@tintagelmalevoicechoir.org.uk . Look out for their Joint Concert in May with The City of Newport Male Voice Choir. See poster on the right. For more information about the Choir and its activities, visit the Member Choirs page on the link shown at the top of this page. To find the full Concert List click on Future Concerts link or visit the Choir's own website listed under Member Choirs.

Sent by Alan Dawe, Tintagel Orpheus MVC
News item posted 27/03/2009

Loveny Male Voice Choir's Visit to Italy

Loveny MVC has returned from their wonderful trip to Italy.

A fascinating report from the Chairman gives a lively insight to the details of the tour. Click here:
Loveny's Visit to Italy

Sent by Brian Carder, Loveny Male Voice Choir
News items posted 21/07/2009

Youth Music Opens New Grant Making Programme

Youth Music, the UK’s largest children’s music charity has announced that its grant making programme is now open for applications. Through its Open Programme, grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 will be available to support projects that provide structured, regular and progressive music-making activities for children and young people in support of Youth Music’s goals of working with Early Years, Children and Young People in Challenging Circumstances, Encouraging Talent and Workforce Development. To be eligible, projects will need to work with children and young people aged 0-18 years (or up to 25 if they have special educational needs, disabilities or are in detention) and children and young people will be at the heart of the decision making for all projects.

There will be a number of funding rounds throughout the year and the first closing date for applications is the 10th August 2009.

See: www.youthmusic.org.uk.

Sent by Jim Christophers, Tamar Valley Male Voice Choir
News items posted 16/07/2009

CORNISH FEDERATION OF MALE VOICE CHOIRS PRESENTATION
TO BENEFICIARIES OF THE 2008 SILVER JUBILEE CONCERTS

On Friday 10th July, at one of its quarterly meetings in St Austell Parish Church Hall, the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs was very pleased to present cheques to those charities identified as beneficiaries of the concerts held last year to celebrate the Federation’s Silver Jubilee. Receiving cheques on behalf of the charities were Gerald Patterson, Clay Area Committee, Friends of Children’s Hospice South West; Douglas Cadey, Regional Manager of the Mission to Seafarers West of England Office; Dave Nicoll, Area Fund Raising Manager for the RNLI, accompanied by Bob Kretowicz, Chairman of St Austell RNLI; and Pudsey Bear representing Children in Need.

The Federation were able to donate £1600 to each of the Children’s Hospice South West, Mission to Seafarers and RNLI and £4,597.01 to Children in Need, the latter representing the funds raised during last year’s Trelawny Challenge.

Each recipient gave a short presentation to the meeting outlining the ways in which the donations would be able to contribute to their work. Gerald Patterson talked of progress with the ‘Little Harbour’ intiative in Porthpean, explaining how it will enhance the lives of children who are seriously ill and their families in Cornwall. Douglas Cadey referred particularly to the loneliness often experienced by seafarers of all nationalities when they are far from home, especially when they are confined to their ship, even when it is in port. Dave Nicoll explained how the donation would be used specifically to support the training of crew members from St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly. Pudsey didn’t say anything but he was clearly delighted with the sum raised and representatives from Children in Need have confirmed how valuable the money will be in supporting initiatives, particularly in the South West.

The photograph above shows representatives of member choirs of the Federation together with the recipients of the donations. Federation Chairman, Terry Hodge, is presenting the cheque to the RNLI.

Sent by Jim Christophers, Publicity Officer
News item posted 29/07/2009

UPDATE!! GREAT TRELAWNY CHALLENGE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED - 2009

This year for the third, and probably the last, time the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs is challenging Cornish people, wherever they may live, to raise £20,000 for Children in Need by singing ‘Trelawny’.  In the last two years we have raised a total of £16,500 so another £4,500 would take us to our target.

THERE ARE FIVE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE:

1) If you would like to take part in a ‘synchronised sing’ across the South West on 20th November, then you need to be tuned in to Radio Cornwall by 9.00pm when Duncan Warren will be giving the countdown.  The words are available on this website - scroll down this page.

2)  If you attend a male voice choir concert in the next few weeks you are likely to be invited to join in the singing of Trelawny and to make a contribution to Children in Need for doing so.

3)  Look out for male voice choir singers in your local pubs and clubs and join them in a social sing, including Trelawny.  Even better, don’t wait for your local choir to contact you, contact them and invite them around!  Contact details are on this website under MEMBER CHOIRS.

4)  If you are a school, link up with your local male voice choir and invite them to sing to and with young people.

5) Anytime and anywhere you get together with your family, friends and/or work colleagues, why not have a sing and collect for Children in Need?  There is a recording of a Federation choir singing Trelawny on this website on the HOME page: just turn up the volume and sing along!

More details are available on this news page (including how to pay money in) or ring Jim Christophers, Publicity Officer, on 01822 612140.

Send money raised for TRELAWNY CHALLENGE 2009 to:
Piers Margetts, CFMVC Treasurer, 16 Colletts Court, Feadon Lane, Tregea Hill, Portreath, TR16 4PE. Cheques payable to The Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs. Please include a note saying it is for the TRELAWNY CHALLENGE 2009, stating who raised the money, where and how. By doing this the Federation can identify how much has been raised by Trelawny Challenge before sending the total to Children in Need. The results will be posted on this website.

Sent by Jim Christophers, Publicity Officer
News item posted 18/11/2009

TRELAWNY LYRICS

You're going to need the lyrics for Trelawny when you take part in the Trelawny Challenge! Here they are:

Trelawny Lyrics

Listen to the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs singing Trelawny at the Royal Albert Hall (click on the Soundtrack link on the Home page - turn up the volume!!) Home

Can you take part in Christmas Sing Out for Marie Curie Cancer Care?

Marie Cure Cancer Care are looking for singers to support Marie Curie Cancer Care with a special Christmas performance. Whether you’re singing with a choir or with friends, family, your local church, or a club, you’ll be helping Marie Curie Cancer Care provide vital nursing to terminally ill cancer patients. Choose a date anytime during November and December to hold your event.

If you would like to stage your own Sing Out event please call 08700 340 040 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/singout. Enquiries: Valerie.onsurez@mariecurie.org.uk.

Sent by Marie Curie Cancer Care
News item posted 29/10/2009

Nankersey Male Choir hold Open Evening at Penryn College

Nankersey Male Choir held an Open Evening/practice session recently at Penryn College. As usual the session was open to any aspiring singers who were able to sing along with the choir. Among those who turned up was a College pupil aged 16 - and he and two others have since come to subsequent practice evenings.

Nankersey with Imerys Mid Cornwall are appearing together on May 31st at the College - for College funds. It is hoped to foster more of the young male singers at the College and the Choir has invited the College to perform with them on the 31st May.

Sent by Fred Bidgood, Nankersey MC
News item posted 11/02/2009

A Warm Welcome to City of Truro Male Choir

At the recent Federation meeting, members were delighted to learn that the City of Truro Male Choir has joined the Cornish Federation.

The City of Truro Male Choir has a varied and interesting history. In July 1991 two neighbouring choirs, Chacewater MVC and Carnon Vale MVC merged to become Chacewater Carnon Vale MVC, with Ann Birch as Musical Director. The new choir enjoyed considerable success. In 2002, the choir felt their traditional village base was no longer representative and due to demographic changes in the membership, the Choir decided to relocate to Truro and to change their name to reflect this. Paul Triggs had become the Choir's Musical Director in 1998. Paul has made a name for himself with his exciting and varied concert programmes. These usually include some of his own arrangements of modern pieces for the choir, which frequently involve the joint use of piano and organ accompaniment.

A warm wewlcome is offered to City of Truro Male Choir and members of the Federation look forward to working together with them. Details of the choir will soon be included on the Member Choirs page on this website. Meanwhile you can find more information about them on www.cityoftruromalechoir.co.uk.

News item posted 18/02/2009

CORNISH SINGING DAY WITH STEPHEN CLEOBURY!
Saturday 5th September 2009

West Cornwall's Laudate Chamber choir is presenting a one day come and sing workshop with STEPHEN CLEOBURY, Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge. The event takes place on Saturday 5th September 2009 from 11.00am to 4.30pm in Truro School Chapel. The workshop will feature music drawn from the O.U.P. publication 'European Sacred Music' and will be an extremely enjoyable day.

The course fee for the day is £10.00 which includes loan of the music to be used.

Further details and a booking form can be obtained by logging onto the Laudate website which can be found at The Laudate Choir.  Alternatively, contact Neil Shepherd on 01736 759944. Email: neilshepherd@yahoo.co.uk.

Tell your choir members and friends about this event and ask them to come along!

Sent by Neil Shepherd, MD for Newlyn Male Choir and Laudate! Chamber Choir
News item posted 05/05/2009

Sent by Brian Crowle, Loveny MVC
News item posted 29/07/2009

Norwegian and Welsh Choirs visit Falmouth for St Stythians MVC Annual Gala Concert
on 12 September at 7.30pm

St Stythians Male Voice Choir is holding its Annual Gala Concert at All Saints’ Church, Falmouth at 7.30 pm on Saturday 12th September. There will be two choirs as guests: the Beaufort MVC from Ebbw Vale, South Wales and the Norwegian male choir - The Fuglset Mannskor from Molde, a small town on the fjord coast of western Norway. The Fuglset choir, taking a short holiday in Cornwall, asked the Federation for contact with Cornish Choirs and happily our dates conveniently coincided. The Choirs will meet informally after the concert at the Falmouth Rugby Club.

A collection will be made at the concert for Cornwall Hospices.

Further details may be obtained from Kathryn Baldry (01872 863008) or David Hutson (01326 319943).

Sent by David Hutson, St Stythians MVC
News item posted 05/08/2009

MARAZION APOLLO CHOIR TRIP TO GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
FOR CORNISH FESTIVAL, 19th-31st JULY, 2009

Marazion Apollo MVC has accepted an invitation to visit Grass Valley, California for the Cornish Festival on the weekend of 23rd - 25th July. Alun Howells, Secretary, says: "We will be hosted by local families and are planning to do four concerts and various trips while we are there. Apart from spending-money, we estimate the cost will be around £1000 per singer.

"We are urgently looking for more tenors (1sts and 2nds). Would you like to join us?

"We will subsidise any singer to the tune of £500! This means that you would have a trip to California for much less than the air fare! The unsubsidised cost for your partner would be £1000. We will arrange for practices to enable you to become familiar with our repertoire. Some pieces we will sing at Grass Valley you will know very well already.

"This is a great opportunity to join Timothy Hosken and the members of the Marazion Apollo Choir on a very special trip to America. Several Cornish choirs have enjoyed this Festival in recent years. Rest assured that we will be looked after very well by our Grass Valley hosts. Our members will be very grateful if you are able to join us.

"As the booking of flights is crucial we need to set a deadline. If you would like to come, please let me know by Saturday, 24th January, 2009".

Contact Alun Howells, Secretary of Marazion Apollo MVC tel: (01736) 360618 or 07761823858 or email alunhowells@msn.com for further details.

Sent by Alun Howells, Marazion Apollo MVC
News item posted 20/12/2008

TINTAGEL ORPHEUS MVC TAKES TO THE SKIES

Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir have returned from an enjoyable and successful trip to Ireland. Accompanist, Alan Dawe, says:

"We sang four times in all ... A concert at Killarney Methodist Church, during Mass and after the service at Killarney Cathedral, an impromtu sing at Waterville Lake Hotel on our Ring of Kerry excursion and then on the last night of the trip we were joined by the recently formed Killarney Golf Club Male Choir for a joint effort.

"Slight hitch for me .... when we arrived at the Cathedral, we found that there was no piano, so I had to use the church organ, which as you know is an instrument for two feet as well as two hands. Being one short, I had to invent a technique on the spot. My remaining leg thought it had gone into overdrive as it played both the bass pedals and the two swell pedals at the same time. Managed to get through it without disgracing myself thank goodness. Might start hiring myself out for church weddings now!"

SPONSORED 200 MILE WALK

Member of Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Gordon Davison, is celebrating his 74th birthday by undertaking a 200 mile sponsored walk from coast to coast in June. He will start out in Yorkshire and complete his walk in Cumbria. The funds he raises will go to both Tintagel Orpheus MVC and the charity Disabled South West. See: www.disabledsouthwest.co.uk.

You can find out more details about this walk on www.everyclick.com/gordon-davison.

Sent by Alan Dawe, Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir
News items posted 24/05/2009

ST COLUMBA CELTIC MVC SING WITH THE BEDFORDSHIRE POLICE CHOIR

St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir have just returned from a very successful trip to Luton to sing with our old friends, the Bedfordshire Police Choir (which includes some of the former Luton Girl's Choir members - alas no longer girls!).  The concert held in the Trinity Methodist church at the kind invitation of the minister and with our very own John Bennallick as MC was received with great approval. Included were three numbers new to our concert programme - 'With Cat Like Tread', 'The Fishermen of England' and 'Down to the River to Pray'.

During the Sunday service, the choir sang 'Down to the River to Pray' as an introit and 'The Lord's prayer' as anthem.

Our hosts could not have made us more welcome and special thanks go to our old friends, John and Margaret Mead. We stayed in the Menzies Strathmore hotel in Luton town centre - a very good venue with attractive pricing and very attentive and helpful staff.

Sent by Steve Burstow, St Columba Celtic Male Voice Choir
News item posted 16/05/2009

CORNISH TRIUMPH at the INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL of 2009!

Congratulations for outstanding achievement go to Four Lanes Male Choir who took first place in their section (40 voices and over) and to Mevagissey Male Choir who took second place. This is the first year a Cornish choir has won in this Festival. Congratulations also to the Cornish choir, 8 in a Bar, who took first place in their section (under 40 voices). Likewise, this is the first time a Cornish choir has won in this section.

The Fourth Cornish International Choral Festival took place from 29 April - 4 May this year, with choirs coming to take part and sing from across Europe. In addition, choirs from throughout the UK came to Cornwall and joined with Cornish male voice choirs to participate in over 40 different singing events in 30 venues during the six day Festival. In total over 60 male voice youth and boys choirs were involved!

Member of the Festival Panel and Federation Vice Chairman, Phil Taylor, has sent his thanks and appreciation to all Cornish choirs who took part.

News item posted 05/05/2009

AN AFTERNOON OF CORNISH ENTERTAINMENT
Sunday 2 August from 2 pm

A Cornish Concert comprising entertainment with all kinds of music and song, instrumental music, dance, poetry and comedy will take place on Sunday 2 August from 2 pm at the School field in St Columb Major. The event is in aid of the Precious Lives Appeal and Cornish Hospice Care.

The program has been put together by Colin Roberts of the Cornish Gorseth for the Carnival Committee and all the content will be Cornish. The Grand Bard will be opening this inaugural concert. Click below to see the full programme of events:

Cornish Variety Concert

Sent by Jim Christophers, Publicity Officer
News item posted 29/07/2009

TAMAR VALLEY MVC and JERABINKA CHILDREN’S CHOIR from Czech Republic
JOIN IN GRAND GALA CONCERT on 17 JULY

Last June the Tamar Valley Male Voice Choir (TVMVC) made their first international visit (not bad for a choir that then was only just over two years old) to Opava in the Czech Republic where they were royally hosted by the Jerabinka (pronounced ‘Yayzyabinka’) Children’s Choir. TVMVC are delighted to be able to return the hospitality they received in Opava when the Jerabinka Children’s Choir visit Cornwall and Devon this summer. The climax of a very busy week during which the children will sing in Callington Methodist Church; the Eden Project; Fairplace Methodist Church, Okehampton; St John’s Church, Torquay and Bath Abbey, will be a grand gala concert, with TVMVC, to be held in St Eustachius’ Church, Tavistock at 7.30pm on Friday, 17th July. The concert will be compered by TVMVC’s Vice-President, Justin Leigh of BBC Spotlight.

The Jerabinka Children’s Choir are an international prize-winning choir, indeed they are travelling to Tavistock directly from competing at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen. They have previously sung in Poland, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Finland, France, England, the USA and Japan and they have broadcast on both Czech Radio and our own BBC television. They describe their repertoire of secular and religious music as consisting of ‘Renaissance polyphonies as well as compositions by contemporary authors’, and including traditional Czech music, pieces from the musical theatre and spirituals. The choir can sing in seven different languages!

Tickets for the concert (£5) are available in advance from TVMVC choir members, Bookstop in Tavistock and/or Jim Christophers on 01822 612140.

TVMVC are grateful for the support of West Devon Borough Council in the form of a grant to support this project, to the Plymouth and South West Cooperative Society for their assistance through their Stepping Stones scheme and to the Lions Club of Tavistock for their donation.

Sent by Jim Christophers, Tamar Valley Male Voice Choir
News items posted 01/07/2009

LOVENY MVC TAKES TO THE WING!
Two Exciting Tours for 2009

This year Loveny is taking to the wing with two exciting Tours planned, one of long standing, and the other which only came as a surprise invitation in September.

EXMOOR WEEKEND

A long weekend tour to Exmoor in March has been planned where we meet up again with the Barnstaple Choir. Loveny will be staying in Lynton for the weekend and will be singing with Barnstaple MVC on Saturday 21st March in Pilton Church. On Sunday afternoon a concert in Lynton Town Hall has been arranged with all proceeds going to The Calvert Trust who arrange riding for the disabled. On the Monday after a trip over Exmoor a further short concert in Exeter Cathedral has been organised. As you can imagine there was an overwhelming response, and the keenness of the choristers augured well for more ambitious tours in the future.

TOUR TO ITALY

That future arrived sooner than expected. In September, the MD of the City of Soave Choir, Professor Rinaldi, wrote to Loveny in his capacity as Festival Director, inviting “your notable choir” to participate in the European Choral Festival hosted by the City of Soave, in the North of Italy. Soave is mid way between Venice and Milan. It was a very attractive package, but the worry was, would the choristers be happy to take on two tours in the one year, one a major tour? However, the invitation was put to them, the programme outlined, and it was instantly clear that a good sized, well balanced choir would be delighted to take up the invitation.

And so on Thursday 25th June, a party of 53 will fly from Bristol to Venice. Flying to Venice a day early offered more convenient flight times, and also, as a bonus, will allow the party almost a full free day in Venice before catching their flight home on Monday 29th June.

Professor Rinaldi and his Festival Committee have proposed a most wonderful programme for the weekend. By arriving a day early, the Loveny party can also enjoy a free day in Soave, before meeting all the other Choirs for an evening meal together on Friday, when the other Choirs and their Musical Directors will be introduced. There will be four Italian Choirs and four foreign choirs, and during the meal, each choir will entertain the assembly with one welcoming song of their own choice.

The first Concert is in the great church of San Bonifacio, a nearby town. At each Concert every Choir will sing and then all will join in singing a specially composed Festival song in Italian, with a different MD each night. No doubt there will then be some unofficial socialising before bedtime!

On Saturday, after breakfast at the hotel, all will depart for a morning visit to the city of Verona with its many delights, before enjoying a restaurant meal at Lake Garda. The afternoon will be spent at the historical centre of Sirmione, known as the ’Pearl’ of Lake Garda, famous for it ancient Medieval Village and thermal baths. Then it is back before the Concert in another great Church, the Dome of Soave.

Sunday will be a very special day, and will probably live for ever in the memories of those taking part. After breakfast, the Mayor of Soave will officially welcome us all before we travel some 70 km to the town of Breganze, whose Mayor will be on hand to greet everyone. This will take place in the main square of the town, with all the church bells ringing out a mighty welcome to their visitors. And it gets better, for their local tradition is to invite their guests to a traditional Venetian Lunch, and the visitors will be shared out in groups of not less than 2 to local families. In Professor Rinaldi’s own words, “They will be accommodated with cordiality by the families of Breganze. It is wonderful tradition, that Breganze feels honoured to maintain and it allows the foreign guests to meet the people, enter their houses and taste the traditional cuisine. The time you will spend with the families will be about 2 hours, and the great feeling of the hospitality of the families of Breganze will be guaranteed!" What a wonderful experience!

At 3.00pm we travel a short distance on to Bassano del Grappa, famous among other things for its wine distillery, the home of Grappa Nardini.

The final Concert of the Festival will be in Breganze, where each choir will have a room in which to change, and even a facility to take a shower before changing into uniform after the day's adventures. This concert will take place at 8.30PM, and will be by the visiting foreign choirs and the City of Soave Choir only, after which there will be a Grand Farewell Buffet Supper before returning ’home’ to Soave. On Monday, after breakfast, all choirs will leave to make their way home, but Loveny, of course, will be able to enjoy a full day in Venice before having to board the plane to Bristol.

And how did Loveny come to receive this wonderful opportunity? Well, Professor Rinaldi had not ever had an English Choir to come to any of his Festivals, and he sought the advice of a friend who lives in Paris. As it happened, this friend had holidayed in Cornwall, where he had heard the Loveny Choir sing, and reported that it was “an interesting choir,” and so the invitation was offered to us. You never know who is in your audience!

There are no silver cups to be won at this Festival, only friends, and Loveny will determine to win as many of them as possible, and also to popularise the Cornish Male Voice Choir tradition to a new audience.

Sent by Jack Roberts, Loveny MVC
News item posted 11/02/2009

SING UP!
Free Training for Singing leaders in Cornwall
Come to a free initial meeting – Tuesday 9th June, 5-6.15pm at Perranporth Primary School

Angela Renshaw, MD for Holman Climax MVC and Cornwall Boys' Choir, who is also leading the project Sing Up in Cornwall has sent the attached flyer with further details of this exciting new project to involve children in singing.
Click here: Sing Up!

News item posted 05/05/2009

ALAN SIMMONS CHORAL WORKSHOP

As part of Mousehole Male Voice Choir's centenary celebrations next year, Musical Director, Alan Simmons will be holding a workshop on Saturday 28 March 2009 at Chapel Street Methodist Church, Penzance. This is open to all singers and would-be singers, male and female, from 12 years of age to 112 or more, and from all over Cornwall. See attached for further details.

Details of Music Workshop

Sent by Trevor Walker, Mousehole MVC
News item re-posted 24/03/2009

Tintagel Orpheus MVC sing to aid 'Soundwaves South West'

Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir's concert schedule is filling up rapidly. The Choir's Gala Opening Concert is on 26 March at 7.30 pm at Tintagel Methodist Church. Proceeds are going to Soundwaves SouthWest, a local music therapy charity that provides FREE music therapy to severely disabled children in the region. See: www.soundwaves-sw.co.uk.

Alan Dawe of Tintagel Orpheus MVC says "I hope that other member choirs in the area would also like to consider helping them too, as it is a particularly relevant cause". Based in Bude, the charity also provides free loan of instruments to children in the north of the county who can't otherwise finance a practice instrument. For 2009 they are hoping to set up an archive for Cornwall of old music that would otherwise end up in a skip. I'm sure they would appreciate any help that Federation members could provide in this matter.

As well as their normal summer season of concerts, this year Tintagel will be joining up with The City of Newport Choir, The Bristol University Madrigal Group, the Allen Valley Singers and 'Clear Sounds' - the Bristol based blind and partially sighted choir, amongst others.

Sent by Alan Dawe, Tintagel Orpheus MVC
News item posted 18/02/2009

THE FEDERATION CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE!

After seven regional concerts, a BBC Songs of Praise broadcast and the second ‘Great Trelawny Challenge in aid of Children in Need’, the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs completed the celebration of their Silver Jubilee where it began with the recording of Songs of Praise, in Truro Cathedral.

On Saturday, 6th December a packed Cathedral audience were treated to a gala concert provided by a massed choir of over 100 voices representing 12, mostly of the smaller, of the 26 member choirs of the Federation. Four different Musical Directors, Judith Mumby (Newquay), Roy Wilton (Liskerrett), Phil Taylor (Burraton) and Tony Tournoff (St Columba Celtic) took the massed choir through a repertoire showing off all that is best in Cornish Male Voice Choir singing. With a selection of music from a wide range of genres, there was literally something for everyone. The soloist for the evening was international soprano, Rachael Garcia-Navarro (nee Hallawell) who, having grown up in Cornwall, is as proud of her heritage as the choirs. She used the acoustics of the Cathedral to full advantage in presenting an enthralled audience with nine pieces in all. Familiar pieces such as ‘Panis Angelicus’ (Franck) and ‘Oh Holy Night’ (Adam) were combined with less familiar items such as Bailero – Songs of the Auvergne (Cantaloube) and Del Cabello Mas Sutil (Obradors) to give an evocative programme full of interest and emotion. Also Rachael was joined by the choir in the singing of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel.

Rev Professor Barry Jennings, President of the Federation, chaired the proceedings, at one point reminding everyone of the deep cultural roots of male voice choir singing as he told of an encounter with miners in South Crofty singing as they worked in the depths of the mine.

The Federation owes its origin to the need for choirs to communicate with one another ahead of the first massed male voice choir concert held in the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1983 and it has taken Cornish Male Voice Choirs back there on three more occasions since. At first it appeared natural that the Federation should once again return to the Albert Hall to celebrate its Silver Jubilee but times change and there was not the same will to have such an event as previously. Fittingly then the Federation made the decision to celebrate its milestone anniversary within Cornwall itself, offering people throughout the Duchy the opportunity to hear their favourite choirs in a festival of combined choir concerts in Saltash, Penzance, Launceston, St Just in Penwith, Liskeard, Newquay and Redruth. All member choirs, together with associate member, the Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir, took part in an Anniversary event, singing over 100 different pieces. Proceeds from the concerts, including the Cathedral finale, will be disbursed between four charities, BBC Radio Cornwall’s ‘Precious Lives Appeal’ on behalf of Children’s Hospice South West, the Mission to Seafarers, the RNLI and the Federation itself. There is some final accounting to be done before the amount of these donations can be confirmed. However, each concert included the singing of that great Cornish song, Trelawny, with a special retiring collection in aid of Children in Need. These collections, together with contributions from those who participated in the synchronised event on November 7th, have raised over £5,000 for Children in Need!

To find a choir near you or for any information about male voice choir singing in Cornwall, visit this website or e-mail linda@fed-cornishchoirs.org.uk. On this site you will find the Member Choirs page listing both Full and Associate Members, with contact details. A map at the foot of this page indicates the location of each choir. On the Future Concerts page you will find listed the programmes for each choir which can be selected by choir or by calendar month.

Sent by Jim Christophers, Publicity Officer for the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs
Item posted 16/12/2008

CHOIR MEMBERS!

Please send your reports or simply your comments on this or any of the Anniversary Concerts for inclusion on this page. And send your photos if you have them. Send to the Federation Secretary, Linda Jones on linda@fed-cornishchoirs.org.uk.

MEMBERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS

Anniversary Concert held on 22 November at Redruth Methodist Church