WELCOME TO OUR SECOND NEWSLETTER OF 2023

In this edition we:

Review our successful Spring Concert

Report on our tour to North Yorkshire 

Give details of our Autumn Festival Concert

Introduce some latest recruits to the choir

Report on first half year events and performances

Outline our upcoming events calendar

BUT FIRST, WE SADLY REPORT THE DEATH OF OUR MD OF 17 YEARS, RODNEY T JONES

Rod Jones was our Musical Director from 2005 to 2022 when he left to take up the position with Caerwys MVC nearer to his home in Holywell. Rod had suffered from ill health with a variety of respirartory and other problems for two years before he left us. During his tenure, Rod led us in winning competition awards and producing two of our 3 CDs. He was a perfectionist and took the choir to a high level of musical performance for which we gained a proud reputation.

His death on 30 June came as a great shock and our sympathies go out to his family.

OUR 2023 SPRING FESTIVAL CONCERT

Our Spring Festival Concert on 28 April with the excellent Haydock Male Voice Choir was a great success enjoyed by a capacity audience at St Columba's Church. The raffle was dedicated to raising money for the new Chester Charity, KidsBank, and grossed almost £350 on the night thanks to the generous support of the audience and prize sponsors including Tesco and Morrisons.

OUR TOUR TO NORTH YORKSHIRE

For our 2023 Tour we went to Harrogate, staying at the Warners Hotel at Nidd Hall. Of note, on the way to Harrogate on Friday 2 June, we stopped off at Manchester Cathedral and gave a 40 minute performance for a very appreciative audience. Wow! the acoustic in the Cathedral was fanrtastic. What a pleasure and privelage it was to sing in there.

During our weekend at the Hotel, we performed on the Sunday evening for our fellow guests in their wonderful concert hall.

Photo below, in Manchester Cathedral

UPCOMING! - OUR AUTUMN FESTIVAL CONCERT

So, below you'll see that we have been very busy in the first half of the year but what's next is our welcome return to Chester Town Hall for our Autumn Festival Concert. We have the brilliant Chester violinist Philip Chidell as our guest artiste. Philip collaborated with us for our award-winning performance at Llandudno's North Wales Choral Festival Competition a few years ago.

The concert is on Saturday 30th September 

Tickets are £12 Adults and £6 Under 18's and are available on line through our website, www.chestermalevoice.com/concerts, or just click on the link button below. They can also be bought in person from The Visitor Information Centre's box office next door to the Town Hall on Northgate Street.

MEET SOME OF OUR NEW MEMBERS

We've had a steady flow of new potential recruits over recent months. Three have progressed to full membership and three newer guys are in their probationary period. We are still seeking more members and particularly First Tenors and Basses. If you think you might be interested in joining us please get in touch. See our website for details, Here 

Pictured below being presented with their Choir ties by Chairman Blair Wilson as new members are Morgan Jones, Baritone (left) and Peter Tomlinson, First Tenor. Welcome guys!

More recently we have welcomed Colin McNae to the Baritone section. 

2023 PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE

February - The Lord Mayor's Banquet at the Town Hall and a Vigil on the Town Hall Square recognising the Anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

March - two weddings in St Alban's Church in Tattenhall.

April - A peformance for customers on the stage in the new Chester Market 

May - A celebration of the Coronation of King Charles 3rd on the Town Hall Square with 7 other choirs and singing groups. A fabulous spectacle enjoyed by a very big crowd in glorious sunshine. Wonderfully put together and hosted by out President Matt Baker

June - A performance in support of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd at their Summer Fayre and a concert In St Luke's Church in Hoylake on 17 June

July - A concert for residents and holidaymakers at St John's Church Llandudno

Video and photos below are:

1. The choir, led by MD Joe Mann, singing Bui Doi from Miss Saigon at the concert in Llandudno

2. The appreciative and happy audience in Llandudno

3. Chairman, Blair Wilson and the audience at the vigil fo Ukraine

4. The Choir at the Coronation celebrations

5. The choir with Ukranian children singing during the vigil.

6. Dave Marks modelling one of A  Handbag of Harmony's pink boas!

7. The Hoylake concert with guest artist Michael J Fay

WHAT'S COMING UP FOR THE CHOIR?

On Saturday 22nd July at 1pm we'll be singing on the Bandstand in the Groves by the river and will be taking donations for the local Charity ShareShop.

On 30 Sepember it is our Autumn Festival Concert as detailed earlier. 

On 20 October we're guests of Sale Brass Band at a venue in Sale yet to be confirmed. 

On 1 December we're taking part in the Tree of Lights Service at the Countess of Chester Hospital

On 15 December It's our Christmas Concert at St Columba's with very special guest, the massively talented and entertaining harpist Dylan Cernyw

See our website for futher details on all these events; click the button:

GENTLEMEN, COME AND JOIN US!

You won't find a friendlier group of men anywhere and as you can see, we work hard at singing and equally hard at playing!

See our website for how you can join the choir, Send a mesage through the Contact Us page or call Richard on 07531 629300