Chester Male Voice Choir
Motto: Sing • Inspire • Support
The Choir is a Registered Charity (Charity Number 501974)
The Choir was founded in 1941 (note that the time on the Eastgate clock also indicates 1941) and for most of its existence it has been known as the Cestrian Male Voice Choir. The name was changed in 1999 to The City of Chester Male Voice Choir in order to be associated more closely with the city of its origin. More recently it prefers the shortened version of Chester Male Voice Choir.
Since its first overseas tour to Prague in 1971 the Choir has undertaken concert tours abroad to Germany, Holland, the United States of America, France and Malta and has also toured extensively in the U.K. to Cornwall, Yorkshire, The Midlands, South Wales, and Scotland. The Choir has sung in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen, and other members of the Royal Family, has made several recordings over the years and has appeared on Television and Radio on several occasions.
Currently the choir has a membership of some 50 singing members.
Sing • Inspire • Support
Our motto signifies that we:
Sing - The reason the choir exists - we love to sing!
Inspire - Our Charity’s Objective is to foster public knowledge and appreciation of choral music - (we want to inspire people!)
Support - We strive to help good causes, charities and community events.
The Choir has raised many thousands of pounds for charitable and other good causes, and has performed in many of the great concert halls throughout the country including the Royal Albert Hall in London, Manchester Free Trade Hall, and the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, as well as having sung in several of the great cathedrals of Europe including Cologne, Rheims, Sens, Notre Dame Paris as well as the cathedrals of Chester, Truro, Hereford, Liverpool, Manchester, Bangor, St. David’s, Carlisle, Coventry and more in this country.
Repertoire
The Choir has a wide and varied repertoire ranging from religious to secular, traditional to modern, and classical to popular. The current repertoire comprises of some 70 pieces of music including rousing opera choruses by Beethoven, Verdi and Wagner, moving spirituals, selections from modern musical stage shows, as wells as famous standards from Cole Porter to Lennon and McCartney and several number one hits from the UK Charts.
How to engage the Choir
The Choir has at least 3 principal concerts a year - Spring and Autumn Festival Concerts and a Christmas Concert. Around these the choir generally performs at more than 20 other events of different types. The Choir is available to sing at civic and corporate functions, weddings and other social functions and charitable events. A well organised concert can raise significant amounts of money. This is particularly the case if you are organising one to raise money for a Charity or other good cause. If necessary, we are happy to share with you our experience of organising a profitable concert. For further information, please contact us
Rehearsals
Rehearsals take place each Wednesday (7.30 - 9.30pm) and each Sunday (7.30pm - 9.00pm) at St Columba’s Parish Hall, Plas Newton, Chester. The Choir welcomes visitors and new members to its rehearsals. We are always looking for new singing members. No formal audition is required, just the ability to sing in tune and a willingness to learn. We will determine your vocal range to help put you initially into the most appropriate section for your vocal comfort. If you are interested to come and take a look at us, simply turn up to a rehearsal or contact us. You are guaranteed a warm welcome.