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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.

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 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.

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.

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 have improved our performance level enormously during the last five years with our Musical Director, Patrick, at the helm. This climaxed with our 50th Anniversary Concert in the Royal Hall which we shared with our guests, the brilliant Voces8 singers. 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, and that they fit in very easily. Why not give it a go?

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.

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.

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.