Some of the choir relaxing during the recording for BBC's
Sunday Half Hour at St Andrew's Church, Churchdown.
Formed in 1965 in Churchdown near Gloucester, the 70 strong choir takes its members from all over the county of Gloucestershire, as well as some from Oxfordshire and Herefordshire and one member who travels the 230 mile round trip from Stevenage and who rarely misses a concert or rehearsal.
In the last few years the choir has had the great privilege of appearing with orchestras, choirs, brass and military bands and, in concerts with the English Association of Male Voice Choirs and National Association of Choirs, has shared the platform with such luminaries as Shirley Bassey, Dame Vera Lynn, Sir Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Max Boyce, Dennis O'Neil and other major stars.
Under its conductor Ralph Barnes, and accompanists, Mike Haines and David Jones, the choir performs around 20 concerts a year raising money for local and national charities.
Last year the performed in a number of interesting and varied venues. A concert in Gloucester Cathedral for LINC (Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy) in February raised over £3,250 towards the renovation of the Jenner Wing of Gloucestershire Hospital. On April 18, 30 members of the choir were invited to Twickenham to sing at the start of the EDF Rugby Final between the Gloucester Cherry and Whites and Cardiff Blues - a most memorable day for all those concerned. On Monday May 18 the choir recorded eight hymns for the BBC's Sunday Half Hour.The first of the two programmes was broadcast on Sunday June 21 and the second went out on Sunday August 23 on BBC Radio Two at 8.30pm
The choir was one of the founder members of the English Association of Male Voice Choir, which currently comprises 9 member choirs who together perform one concert a year. To be directed to the website click the button
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Churchdown Male Voice Choir
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