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SALTASH MALE VOICE CHOIR
Saltash Male Voice Choir meets at the Church Rooms of SS Nicholas and Faith, Saltash on Monday evenings at 7.30 pm. Practices end at 9.30 pm. If you are interested to find out more about us please call Vincent Wilson, Choir Secretary. New members will be made most welcome. NEW MUSICAL DIRECTOR SOUGHT FOR SALTASH MALE VOICE CHOIR Saltash Male Voice Choir is looking for a new Musical Director as their present MD is retiring. Anyone interested in this position or with any information should please contact the Federation Secretary, Linda Jones at linda@fed-cornishchoirs.org.uk or tel: +44 (0)1726 61180. A brief history of Saltash Male Voice ChoirThe choir was formed in 1964 at the instigation of Mr Fred Baird with Mrs Betty Pawley as the Musical Director and Miss Elsie Stoneman as accompanist. At first there were only 6 members but the choir gradually grew until it reached a membership of 43 in 1984. The choir has broadcast on local radio and has competed successfully in several festivals including those at St Austell, Truro, Camborne, Roche, Plymouth, Porthcawl and Saltash. in 1966 and 1967 the choir won the Launceston Chamber of Trade Cup at the Launceston Music Festival and in 1968 gained joint first place with Wadebridge. In the same year it won the Indian Queens Festival and the West of England Cup at the Paignton Festival. In 1980 the choir gained second place in Class B (small choirs) at the St Austell Open Male Voice Choir Championships and in 1981 success was gained in both the Bugle and Launceston Music Festivals. In 1986 the choir won the Perpetual Shield for the Intermediate Class at the Roche Music Festival and gained third place in the Small Choir Section at the St Austell Open Championships. The choir made its first recording, a cassette tape, in 1987. Entitled 'Gateway to Song', it proved to be so successful it was decided to make another the following year, together with the Port Isaac Singers and Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir. The recording was made from Radio Cornwall's 'Cornwall in Song' programme, broadcast in 1989. A visit to Brittany was made in 1989, to the twin-town of Plougastel-Daoulas where as well as the pleasure of singing concerts at a number of venues, there was also an impromptu appearance to sing at a local wedding service. In 1992 the choir won the overall cup for choirs in the Saltash Music and Drama Festival, gaining the festival's highest mark and in 1994 won it again with a mark of Honours 92. Another cassette tape was made in 1993, 'Sailing', which proved to be as successful as the first. Two songs were also included in a CD, featuring 'Nine of Cornwall's Finest Male Voice Choirs'. A further tape was issued in 1996, 'Autumn Leaves'. In November 2002 David Lodge resigned and Linda Eastlake, the Saltash Ladies Choir MD, was appointed. The wheel has turned full circle; Betty Pawley was the Saltash Ladies Choir MD when she was asked to become the choir's first MD in 1964. The choir is very fortunate to have such a gifted musician as Elizabeth Donnelly (now Sidebotham) as accompanist and soloist on keyboard and piano accordion. The choir has taken part in all four Federation Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and in the numerous 'Voices for Hospices' and other massed choir events. As with many choirs at present, a drop in membership is causing concern, but we remain optimistic. Concerts are well received, so we hope to continue to enjoy singing and in so doing give pleasure to others and help raise funds for various good causes. |
