Rossendale Male Voice Choir
This is a proud Lancashire choir with both a great history and, we believe, a great future. In 2024 they will celebrate a hundred years since their foundation by Fred Tomlinson. He took a group of local singers and made of them a choir which, among other honours, would go on to win the Llangollen Eisteddfod an unprecedented THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES (1952-54).
F
red led the choir for over 50 years before handing the baton to his son, Ernest, an accomplished arranger and composer. The choir continued to win more competitions under the 24-year leadership of Beatrice Wade, and her successors, until our current maestro, Matthew Thomas, took over the reins in 2015. Matthew has brought a 21-st century approach to our repertoire, adding a more theatrical element, 38
and we have been placed highly in every competition we have entered under his tutelage, including “Song of the Competition” at the Cornwall International Choir Festival 2019.
“Singing in a choir can boost your body and mind as well as making you feel even more festive at this time of year. Evidence is growing in studies worldwide that belting out songs with others can strengthen the immune system and reduce stress. It is also said to improve symptoms of conditions including Alzheimer’s, depression and lung problems by improving breathing. On top of all that, being in a choir brings friendship and a sense of belonging” - Extract from The Daily Mail – 20th December 2011 But it’s not only competitions we take seriously. Our love of singing starts here in the Valley, where we regularly perform to raise funds for
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
local charities, which also gives us the chance to let our hair down a little and really entertain our friends and neighbours. As well as our true choir repertoire Matthew has now developed “The Irwell Shantymen”, a parallel group offering a more varied menu of musical offerings. Many of us also join with our sister choir, the Rossendale Ladies Choir, to form the Rossendale Festival Choir, especially for our Christmas and charity performances. And of course, a singalong does you good! So join up today. WHO DO I CONTACT? Peter Beetham is the Choir Secretary. Contact him on N 07808 733892 or email: E peterbeetham@hotmail.com and he will arrange to meet you at the rehearsal venue, St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Avenue, Haslingden, at 7.30pm on a Monday evening. www.lancmag.com
