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 a group of 50+ gentlemen, based in Harrogate, who gather every Tuesday evening (from late August to the following June) to rehearse together in preparation for approximately twelve performances in the year. Their main objectives are to have fun while doing this, to maintain high standards of musical performance and to raise funds for a range of charities. They are seeking a Musical Director who will take up this post in late-August 2020. The ideal candidate will be someone who is able to make HMVC a priority, someone who has considerable experience and expertise in choral training and who will teach and continue to develop the choir in a wide variety of styles and genres.
The choir rehearses at Woodlands Methodist Church Hall, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SG, from 7.30 – 9.30 pm, on Tuesday evenings. The current Musical Director is Patrick Lee (since April 2014) and he will be vacating the post in May 2020. We also have two excellent pianists – Mr. David Mawson and Mr. David Ward-Campbell. The administration of the choir is undertaken by the main Choir Committee and the MD is an ex-officio member of this committee. The new Musical Director should expect to be at all rehearsals (up to 40 per year) and concerts and will also be required to attend meetings of the main committee (approximately 6-8 p.a.). Furthermore, the MD is the lead member of the choir’s Music Committee.
The choir has created an outreach project, “Sing Out”, which is intended to foster close working relationships with local primary school choirs. The inaugural joint concert of this initiative, on 20th May 2017, was hugely successful and rewarding for all concerned, as was the second Sing Out performance in 2018. This year, 2019-2020, is the 50th Anniversary of the choir. The major celebratory concert was held at the Royal Hall in Harrogate last May, when we welcomed the internationally renowned vocal ensemble, VOCES8, as our principal guests. We will be picking up the reins of the Sing Out project again in 2020, collaborating with two primary schools – Grove Road Primary School in Harrogate and Masham Primary School.
The Musical Director of Harrogate Male Voice Choir post offers an honorarium – details will be discussed with individual candidates at the interview.
Interested applicants should submit two documents to the Chairman, Mr. Peter Allen, peterallenhouse@icloud.com, tel. 07828 582461.
1. A letter of application explaining what the applicant feels she/he can offer Harrogate MVC . It should also include the applicant’s views on the future for MVCs and their thoughts on how they will accommodate singers of all abilities.
2. A copy of their Curriculum Vitae, covering musical background and experience.
The closing date for applications is Saturday 14th December 2019. Please ensure that a postal address is included in the letter of application.
We offer an open invitation and welcome to all applicants who wish to attend our regular rehearsal on 7th January 2020 when they can discover the choir’s capabilities at first hand. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview and audition which will take place on either 21st or 28th January 2020. If you are unable to attend on one of these two dates, please let us know in your letter of application. For further information, please visit the Harrogate MVC website, www.harrogatemvc.org.uk, or search on YouTube for our videos.
HMVC Member Reviews
Testimonials
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?
Born in Cardiff I enjoyed singing in school and as a Church choirboy up until the age of about 11. We rehearsed on a Thursday evening and sang at morning and evening service on the Sunday. I do remember it as a worthwhile activity especially when our singing made the old ladies get their hankies out and also the choir trips to Weston Super Mare on the paddle steamer. I had a long break and I was 28 when I joined a Male Voice Choir in Bedfordshire and was hooked. I am now aged 68 and I still enjoying singing, perhaps more than before as Harrogate Male Voice Choir now performs confidently as the result of fresh musical direction. I would encourage any man who has the slightest inclination to sing to come in and give it a try and you will not regret it.
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?
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 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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.