DALSTON
MALE VOICE CHOIR
Musical
Director: Hilary Hodgson LRAM, ARCM.
Chairman: Michael Williams
Treasurer: Derek Heyes
Secretary: Geoff Noonan
Tel and Fax 01697344985 e-mail ganoonan@AOL.com
The
Choir had its first meeting in February 1985 when
an enthusiastic group of 16 men met together to
discuss the formation of a Choir.
A
number of the founder members are still singing
with the Choir which is now 40 strong. The members
are mainly drawn from the immediate area around
Dalston and rehearse in Dalston Methodist Church,
Dalston. Since its formation, the Choir has developed
consistently under the skilled and energetic guidance
of its Director, Hilary Hodgson who has been with
the Choir since its inception.
Hilary
trained at Eaton Hall, Retford and then at the
Northern School of Music, Manchester, gaining
an LRAM diploma for class teaching and conducting,
and an ARCM diploma for piano teaching.
The
Choir, from its inception has had a Constitution
which includes the following Clause:
“The
objects of the Choir shall be to advance the appreciation
of
male voice singing ......by the presentation of
public Concerts .....
to give pleasure to others and to help charitable
causes.”
The
Choir has honoured this Clause and now gives about
8 concerts each year to support many causes including
Church funds, NSPCC, Macmillan Nurses, Eden Valley
Hospice, WI, Woman’s Guild, Guide Dogs for
the Blind, Overseas Aid Trust, Crossroads, Cancer
Funds, Christian Aid Tear Fund, Rotary International
Charities and the Jubilee Sailing Trust.
Concerts
are largely in Cumbria but have also been in Northumberland
and Dumfriesshire. A Christmas Concert is given
at Scalesceugh Hall for the Cumbria Cerebal Palsy
Society. This has become an annual event which
is not only enjoyed by the Choir but very clearly
enjoyed and appreciated by the incumbents and
staff of the Hall.
As
well as local concerts the Choir, over the years,
has sung with the World Choir at Cardiff Arms
Park (8000 male voices!) and at Atlanta USA. In
2000 the Choir took part in the Massed Male Voice
Millennium Extravaganza at the Manchester Evening
News Arena in Manchester and, more locally, the
Cumbria Massed Male Voice Choir Millennium Celebration
Concert in Whitehaven.
The
Choir has always tried to give opportunities to
encourage young up and coming musicians in the
County by inviting them to appear as Guest Artists
at Concerts. This has given them encouragement
and the experience of performing to audiences
as well as giving many people, including the Choir,
much pleasure.
The
Choir produced a Tape Cassette in 1994 which sold
about 750 copies and a CD in 1999 from which almost
500 copies have already been sold.
St
Michael's, Dalston - "Down Memory Lane"
**Choir's 20th Anniversary Concert**
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