‘Last Choir Standing!’ – 90 years and still going!
For those
who have been watching ‘Last Choir Standing!’ on BBC TV, you will have seen
the excellent efforts of Hereford Police Male Voice Choir, and the Bath Male
Choir as they triumphed in the early stages.
We congratulate both choirs for their high quality presentations under
enormous pressure, and for doing so much to spread the message of enjoyment and
quality of Male Choir singing.
Boys do
sing, in fact the 'boys' of the Swindon Male Voice Choir have been singing
continually for 89 years. (Probably explains how some have aged over the years!)
We are looking for singers to help us to celebrate our 90th
Anniversary next year and to enable us to maintain our continued success and to
sustain our performances and the life of the Choir into the future.
For nearly
90 Years we have been raising money for good causes and bringing enjoyment to
the people of Swindon and beyond and overseas (
You could
be part of that tradition. You don't
have to be a Russell Watson - or Paul Potts - just as long as you love singing!
You do not have to be able to read music - it would help - and if you
have not sung for a while your voice will be developed as you sing with us at
rehearsals. You will not have to commit yourself until you have got to know the
Choir (a very friendly bunch) and feel you are ready. An experienced member of
the Choir will be your mentor.
Why not
come along and see what you are missing. Please ring 01793 740653 if you would
like to come.
Late June,
among days of continual rains, winds, and temperatures more reminiscent of
November the Choir filled a coach and headed off to Hayle and St Ives in
At this
point we were introduced to our hosts for the weekend, men from the Praze Hayle
Male Voice Choir. A good opportunity
to enjoy just the one beer before making off to bed early….. learning of the
life and times of Praze Hayle, and comparing how we all work to enjoy our
singing so much. In fact there was
just a little time allowed to actually sing on the Friday evening before early
bed.
Saturday
morning, up bright and early and the sun was really shining, it actually seemed
warm enough to be June. On the coach
and off into the delightful town of St Ives, with its tiny street criss-crossing
the hillside, the delightful harbour and walks around the harbour side, so many
delightful shops in which to browse, millions of pesky seagulls that wanted to
sample everyone’s ice creams and pasties before the human beings could sample
them!! And the sun really did shine,
all day long, an absolute treat.
So to the
evening and Swindon Male Voice Choir met with the Praze Hayle Male Voice Choir
for a combined concert in the Parish Church of St Erth.
A small church, but an absolute treasure of a venue for such a concert.
The rehearsal session was a treat, the first meeting of the two choirs on
stage, and the two choir Stage Managers both agreed on the same things – truly
wonderful.
A little
aside, in the church during the Swindon Choir rehearsal was the Grand daughter
of one of our choir members – the first time she had seen a real live and
vibrant male voice choir, and an extra special moment that Grandad was singing.
Her face was a picture of awe and wonder as she took in the delightful
sound produced by the choir. A very
special moment indeed. I won’t
name her to spare her blushes, but I am sure she will savour the moment for many
years.
And so to
the evening concert, a mix of the finest Cornish choral accents and of the
varied accents of Wiltshire!
We take
our hats off to our friends of Hayle Male Voice Choir, small in number but a
very competent and presenting very good music, clearly enjoying everything they
sung, to great acclaim of their audience.
This
generated just a little gentle friendly competition and the visitors from
But the
night was still but young, with pasties and tea provided for one and all, just
to demonstrate the depth of friendship and camaraderie between choirs on
occasions such as this. The back to
the Hotel, with our hosts from Praze Hayle Choir and without having a care for
the next day, merrily sang into the early hours with some style and panache. A
wonderful evening, long to be remembered for all the right reasons.
Sunday
morning, the sun still shining and actually feeling hot!!
A joyful bunch of travellers boarded the coach after hearty breakfasts to
head homewards, taking in the scenery to Torquay where lunch was enjoyed, and
one or two more lost ice creams to the seagulls.
Safely
back home and able to quietly reflect on the weekend, the singing performance of
the choir was of the very best, generated by the friendship and support of the
men of Praze Hayle Choir.
Our
grateful thanks to Roger Evans and his Choir members for giving us such an
excellent singing experience.
To learn
more of Praze Hayle Male Choir - http://prazehaylemalechoir.awardspace.com/
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