A warm welcome is extended to new members irrespective of level of musical experience, be that considerable or restricted to enthusiastic, impromptu rendition of your favourite songs in the bath. There are no auditions or voice trials involved and an ability to read music, whilst an obvious asset, is not a necessity - indeed only a few of the choir’s members claim such proficiency.
The musical team provides expert guidance and together with plenty of encouragement from your colleagues, new members soon find themselves thoroughly enjoying their new singing experience and the camaraderie of the choir.
Singing is, of course, thirsty work and a little post-rehearsal refreshment is available and frequently enjoyed by many members in a nearby hostelry, The Travellers Rest - see Links.
Recruitment of new Musical Director (MD).
HARROGATE Male Voice Choir is seeking a Musical Director who will take up this post at the end of August 2020. That person will be someone with the experience and expertise needed to continue the development of the choir in a variety of styles and genres, and make the choir their priority.
The current MD is Patrick Lee who, in his six years with the choir, has taken it from the ordinary to highly regarded and has expanded its repertoire significantly across various genres. The choir has become used to fresh challenges and improving its standards. It is seeking an MD who will continue that advancement with a target of becoming the best Male Voice Choir in Yorkshire, singing a widening range of styles and genres. The new MD will be ably assisted by two excellent accompanists, David Mawson and David Ward-Campbell.
The choir has over 50 members of various abilities and rehearses every Tuesday between 7.30 and 9.30pm at Woodlands Methodist Church, Harrogate HG2 7SG from late August to the end of May (Bank Holidays excepted). Its objectives are to enjoy its singing, have fun, continually improve and raise money for charity. With regard to the latter it gives around twelve performances a year.
The choir is managed by an elected Committee, of which the MD is an ex officio member. It has a Music sub Committee, which the MD leads. Rehearsals, concerts and Committee meetings amount to about 50 per year and the MD is expected to attend the great majority of these.
The Choir has developed an outreach project with local Primary Schools, its aims being to foster life long enjoyment of singing in young children. The choir links with two schools per annum and they practice together to produce a ‘Sing Out’ concert. It is thoroughly enjoyed by all. The MD will be expected to continue this initiative.
The Post offers an honorarium, details of which will be discussed with individual candidates at interview.
The closing date for applications is 21rd March 2020. Candidates will then be sent two pieces that they will be asked to conduct at auditions on the 7th April at Woodlands Methodist Church. Your audition will last 30 minutes. Interviews with individual candidates will take place no later than 13th April and a decision on an offer will be made on the 14th and the successful candidate advised. All candidates are invited to attend choir rehearsal on the 31st March to meet its members.
You are invited to submit an application for this post to peterallenhouse@icloud.com
The application should comprise a CV, which includes musical background and experience and a letter, which sets out what you believe you can bring to the choir and how you will help it achieve its objectives. Please include a postal address so that the audition pieces can be sent to you by post
Peter Allen, Chairman. tel 07828582461
A job description can be found in the ‘About Us’ Section of the website.
HMVC Member Reviews
Testimonials
Coming from a ‘chapel’ background I have always been interested in singing and joining a Male Voice Choir seemed a natural thing to do over 20 years ago. The last few years in the choir have seen considerable change with an emphasis on singing with accuracy and control. This has been quite challenging at times but increasingly satisfying and long may it continue.
Having sung for many years in a four part mixed choir I decided to investigate the possibility of joining a male voice choir. I found a warm welcome at Harrogate Male Voice Choir and soon became appreciative of the unique sound produced by fifty or so enthusiastic members. The Musical Director, Patrick Lee, leads the choir with a disciplined approach managing at the same time to share his passion for different choral arrangements of many classics in the male voice repertoire.
I joined HMVC after spending nearly half a century in foreign parts to find one old school mate and another fellow from the same foreign part I had lived in were also Members. A great way to renew old acquaintances. Choir Members come to rehearsals from all parts of the Harrogate area so, if you think you can’t get to the Choir, as I did, you will have very little trouble getting a lift. Very generous and most accommodating people. What a pleasure. Singing helps the breathing and helps to expand the lungs into the lower abdomen. That is my excuse for my waistline growing anyway.
When I initially joined ‘Harrogate Male Voice Choir’ I was nervous, hadn’t sung for many years. The Director, Patrick, said “you’re not bad but there’s room for improvement”. Then I realised he was talking to the whole choir. 12 months on and there’s a real buzz as we all feel we are getting better, a lot better. Banter and quips flow around the choir as our confidence grows. Everybody’s included, there’s a good team feel about rehearsals, we’re starting to feel cocky! And the Director says “you are good — sometimes but there’s room for improvement” and we all know that we are going to enjoy the future. Glad I joined, I love it. Even the Director smiles, sometimes.
I was in my 80th year before I learned of the Harrogate Male Voice Choir. Fifteen years of retirement had been wasted on relatively trivial pursuits! Rehearsing on a Tuesday evening has become a joy. Not only do we have good company, but we learn techniques of good singing, and end the evening with a sense of accomplishment. My health has also improved since I took up singing again after a gap of nearly sixty years.
I have been singing with the choir for over ten years now and continue to enjoy it. My colleagues have all been friendly, and experienced singers have helped me with learning how to read my music part and sing well. I enjoy the standard MVC repertoire and the leadership of our MD, and I always look forward to performing at concerts.
I joined HMVC quite a few years ago now, and am still being rewarded with friendship and fun with the guys in the choir. We improved our performance level enormously during our years with Bernard White at the helm and we are now fortunate to have Patrick to take us on a few more steps. The choir welcomes men of all ages and abilities and surprises many new recruits when they discover that they have a talent for singing that was not evident to them before joining. Why not give it a go?
I joined the choir over 20 years ago after hearing about it and being persuaded by another choir member. I had never sung or been in any choir in my life before that. I enjoyed music but only as a listener and having by then reached my mid 40’s had never learnt to read music (but then neither does Paul McCartney). I came as a raw recruit – was told I was a baritone and have been so ever since. I was sat between a couple of other baritones who showed me how to find my way through the music and it really didn’t take me long to join in the singing. I now know we can all sing and it was the help, encouragement and support from everyone else which enabled me to do also. The choir has become a very important part of my life over the years, and I have enjoyed supporting the choir by being on the committee a few times and joining in all the social events.
I have always enjoyed a whole range of music, including the occasional Karaoke number, but it was by pure chance that I became involved with Harrogate Male Voice Choir, not having previously sung with any choir since my primary school days. After a chance meeting between my sister-in-law and a choir member, I was encouraged to make contact to obtain more details. This led to me joining a car-share arrangement to Tuesday night rehearsals. The choir members could not have been more welcoming, with everyone being so friendly and helpful. I was initially placed with the 2nd Tenors to establish my vocal range and was given brilliant support by my mentors which certainly helped to put me at ease, I am still with them. I have been hugely impressed by the sheer professionalism of our Musical Team, made up of Director, Patrick and accompanists David and Fiona. I find the whole experience invigorating, enjoyable, most satisfying and worthwhile, and the results of our efforts a joy to hear.
I joined ‘Harrogate Male Voice Choir’ two and a half years ago. I was then 64 and had never sung in a choir before. I don’t read music very well, but have not found it too difficult to learn the parts – and having learning tracks on the website has helped. I love the variety of songs within our repertoire. We have two wonderful pianists in Avril and David and our Musical Director Patrick has a fantastic way of passing on his years of experience to those of us who have a lot to learn. It has been a great experience for me. We have a lot of fun and laughs – but we are serious about being as good as we can get.
Tuesday Night is music night
The choir rehearses between 7.30 and 9.30pm every Tuesday evening from early September to mid-July, in Woodlands Methodist Church Hall, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SG.
If you would like any further information please contact either :-
John Smith: Members’ Rep – Tel : 01423 547999 / Email : john.smith9567@ntlworld.com or
David Bayne : Choir Secretary – Tel : 01937 360867
or just turn up one Tuesday night when you will be made most welcome.