Participating Choirs

Churchdown Male Voice Choir

Now in its 45th year, Churchdown Male Voice Choir goes from strength to strength. During the last year or so 8 new members have been recruited and, against the usual trend, four of these are under 40 years of age. The choir performs around 16 concerts a year raising thousands of pounds for local and national charities.

The choir has an extensive repertoire, including traditional male voice pieces and operatic choruses, songs from the shows and modern songs. The choir has in the past performed specially arranged songs with Russian military bands, orchestras, brass bands and church organs.

Since 1981, with a few exceptions, an annual tour has been an important part of the choir year. The choir has visited Holland, Jersey, Bavaria, Isle of Man, Germany and in 2000 the most spectacular trip yet, to Washington DC.

On Sunday August 2 the choir was invited to sing at Cheltenham Racecourse for the Centenary Celebrations of Morgan Cars in a spectacular concert to close the weekend celebrations. On Thursday November 26 the choir performed at Cheltenham Town Hall with the Kazakhstan Central Band.

In 2010 the choir is looking forward to an exciting programme of concerts, including a concert with the Band of the Blues and Royals in Cheltenham Town Hall on September 11. More details can be found on www.churchdownmvc.com

Warley Male Voice Choir

The choir was formed in 1943 by a group of air raid wardens based in Smethwick. From those humble beginnings a fine and well respected choir has grown. The choir performs about 15 concerts a year throughout the Midlands and the UK. As well as concerts the choir has participated in music festivals and competitions such as the Sainsburys Choir of the Year in which they reached the final 16 out of 350 entries. The choir has also entered the Llangollen International Eisteddfod on two occasions achieving encouraging results and has twice participated in the 1000 English Voices Festival at the Royal Albert Hall. Outside the UK they have toured in Germany, France, Belgium and Holland. They have also visited Cornwall three times raising money for the RNLI and also North Yorkshire where they again raised money for the same charity.

In addition to their regular commitments the choir is a member of the English Association of Male Voice Choirs (EAMVC). In 2006 the choir were given the responsibility of organizing the Annual Gala concert in the Great Hall at Birmingham University, which raised over £3,000 for charity.

Now led by a young team of enthusiastic musicians, under the direction of Stephen J. Allen, the choir has introduced a more dynamic and modern approach to its music. We have welcomed several new members recently and look forward to an exciting future.

Amongst the many recent additions to the choir repertoire are My Way, made famous by Frank Sinatra, When I'm 64 recorded by The Beatles, Bohemian Rhapsody written by Freddie Mercury and Sailing recorded by Rod Stewart.

Rehearsals are every Thursday night at the church hall of Warley Woods Methodist Church, Abbey Road, Bearwood, B67 5LS starting at 7:00 pm.

Please contact Mr. Keri Morgan on 0121 544 6695 for further information or go to our website.www.warleymalechoir.co.uk

Solihull Male Voice Choir

The Solihull And District Male Voice Choir was formed in 1951 by a group of twelve Welshmen led by David Thomas who served the choir until his death in October 2000. Four years later they became the Solihull Gleemen. In 1964 Solihull became a Metropolitan Borough and the choir requested permission to wear the Borough Coat of Arms on its uniform.

Permission was granted and the choir became the Solihull Male Voice Choir and is proud to wear the Coat Of Arms where ever it sings. The choir is a member of the English Association Of Male Voice Choirs and is also a member of the National Association Of Choirs. The choir performs several concerts each year, both within the borough and further afield. One of the objects of the choir is to raise funds for local and other charities. Over the years several thousands of pounds have been raised and we have given concerts to assist other organisations in their fund raising. Our Musical Director, John Hackett was appointed in 2002 and is ably supported by our accompanist Rachel Jackson and our Chairman is David Hewston.Contact, johnfhackett@freeuk.com

Gentlemen Songsters

The 60-strong Gentlemen Songsters Male Voice Choir was founded in 1957, and is a member both of the English Association of Male Voice Choirs (EAMVC) and the National Association of Choirs (NAC). In 2009 it had the honour of being the host choir for the annual EAMVC concert held in Lichfield Cathedral

The choir performs about 16 concerts per year, including three major concerts in its “home base”, Dudley Concert Hall.

The choir has sung in many unusual venues including the top of Ben Nevis, in Kent's Cavern, the Channel Tunnel and on The Birmingham Wheel. More traditional venues have been The Royal Albert Hall, The National Exhibition Centre, Cardiff Arms Park, Birmingham Symphony Hall, and Birmingham International Convention Centre.

In recent years, the choir has toured in the USA, Germany, France, Portugal and the Netherlands

Raising funds for local and national charities is very high on the Gentlemen Songsters’ agenda, and its popular Christmas Charity Concerts alone have raised many thousands of pounds over the years.

In recent years, the choir has greatly benefited from the hard work and dedication of a very talented Music Team led by Musical Director, Mike Wells and Deputy Conductor, John Walley, very ably assisted by Accompanist, Neil Bolton and his Assistant, Steven Swindells. A strong team effort has improved the existing repertoire, and has significantly expanded the range of styles of music, giving the choir the opportunity to adapt its performances to suit the occasion.

Rehearsals are held every Monday evening at 7.45pm at Stream Road Methodist Church, Kingswinford, and any gentleman (young or old) who would like to go to listen, and perhaps eventually to join the choir, will be made most welcome.

More information on the choir can be found on its website www.gsmvc.org.uk or by email at gsmvchoir@googlemail.com

Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir

Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir is Birminghamís oldest male voice choir, formed around 1900. The choir has a proud history

and, under the musical direction of Steve Roche, has a reputation for varied musical programmes and high standards. The choir

performs at various venues around the Midlands and has also performed in the USA, Malta and Ireland.

In the year 2000 the choir, joined by other Midlands based choirs, formed a 350 strong ensemble to celebrate its centenary concert in Symphony Hall in Birmingham. It is one of the founder choirs of the Birmingham St. George's Day Association and has participated

in six sell out concerts. On the 28th of June 2008 they took part in a 300 voice mass male voice choir concert at the Birmingham

Town Hall arranged for the English Association of Male Voice Choirs by Icknield as the host choir, which was a near sell out. Last year

they embarked on a successful tour of Ireland. This year appeared in the EAMVC mass concert at Lichfield Cathedral on 20th

June. Each year, the choir puts on an annual concert at the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire. Last year it was on 10th

October at 7pm.

On October 9th 2010 Icknield will celebrate its 110 yr of existence at the Birmingham Symphony Hall.

The choir is always looking for new members. If you can sing in tune (no formal audition), enjoy good company and are free most

Tuesday evenings, please either come along to rehearsals at the Grimshaw Room behind St Chad's Cathedral, Shadwell Street at

7.30pm., or contact our Concert Secretary, Stewart Bissell on 01922 451870or email stewart_bissell@blueyonder.co.uk