Aims

The choir was founded in 1969 with just 5 members. Today, membership stands at around 50. Its principal aims are a) to develop male choral singing in Harrogate and the surrounding area by performing varied programmes for the pleasure of both public audiences and choir members and b) to raise much needed funds for charities and local community projects.

Types of Music

The choir’s repertoire is made up of works from every musical genre, many modern items being included amongst the more traditional male voice choir numbers. More recently the choir has sung a number of items composed and/or arranged by Musical Director, Patrick Lee.

Community and Joint Concerts

Whilst most public performances are held in local community halls or churches, the choir has sung in cathedrals, castles, country houses and, on several occasions, in the Royal Albert Hall alongside other male voice and ladies’ choirs from all round the UK, raising funds for Cancer Research. The choir also enjoys hosting joint events with other choirs, recent visitors having been The Sally Barnes Singers, The Yorkshire Saxaphone Ensemble and Dursley MVC.  One of the most ambitious projects recently undertaken was the “Sing Out” project, reaching out to and involving children from local primary schools in joint performances.  Central to this is a new, specially commissioned piece of vocal music called Here and Now, written for children’s choir and male voice choir with piano accompaniment, by Patrick Lee and libretto by Zimbabwean poet Penny Sylvester.  This short vocal piece was the centre piece of the choir’s annual concert 2017, which was shared with singers from Bilton Grange and Richard Taylor primary schools in Harrogate.

Special Occasions

The choir is also available for, and has performed at a variety of, private functions, including weddings, landmark birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events.

Musical Team

The choir is led by Musical Director Patrick Lee and Accompanist David Mawson.