SOLENT MALE VOICE CHOIR RETURN TO PRACTICES
9 January 2024
If you are a man who is fed up with the dark winter nights, looking for something to give you a lift, to bring an interest in to your life after Christmas, why not escape with a bunch of likeminded men to an evening of fun, laughter and friendship?
We meet once a week, share news and views, chat about this and that, all based around learning new songs to sing for our next event.
In these times when everyone is concerned for their mental health joining a group brings stability, and peace-of-mind. Singing is also great exercise, helping with breathing difficulties and giving both your vocal chords and your brain a good workout.
The Solent Male Voice Choir is returning to regular Tuesday evening practices as from Tuesday 9th January at The Pallant Centre in Havant and any male, over the age of eighteen, is very welcome to come along and see (and hear) what we are all about.
You will find it amazing how singing a few songs raises your spirits, bring joy in to your life and sends you home feeling happy and exercised.
SOLENT MVC prepares for another year.
29 November, 2023
Even as our three Christmas events were happening, the Solent Male Voice Choir were already thinking about what we will be singing in 2024.
There is already one firm booking to sing at a St David’s Day Dinner in March, so we will, no doubt, be revising and adding to our Welsh repertoire. Singing in Welsh, whilst difficult for Englishmen, adds a certain something to the music. It makes the hairs on your neck stand up.
We will, no doubt, keep one or two items from last years repertoire but our Musical Director, Huw Thomas, tells us he is planning to add some classical music, such as the Liberame Domini from Faure’s Requiem. In complete contrast we may also be trying Jeff Lynne’s Mr Blue Sky.
One thing is certain, the arrangements Huw creates for the Solent Male Voice Choir will be challenging but great fun.
The Solent Male Voice Choir meet to practice every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm, in The Pallant Centre in Havant. Visitors and potential new members are always welcome to come along on a Tuesday. More information can be found on their website www.solentmalevoicechoirs.org
CHOIR MEMBERSHIP GROWS
11 February, 2024
After a few weeks off from practices the Solent Male Voice Choir started the New Year by welcoming four new members to the Choir. This brings the Choir up to a core of thirty members.
Maybe it is the new repertoire that their musical director Huw Thomas is introducing that has attracted the new members. Who could imagine that David Bowie’s “Life On Mars” or the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” would be so popular with the members of a Male Voice Choir? It must be Huw’s crafted arrangements.
Of course the traditional male voice choir repertoire is not being forgotten and, as the first event for SMVC is singing at a St David’s Day Dinner in March, some Welsh standards are being dusted off. Most, like “Cwm Rhonda” and “Sunset Poem” are sung in English to their Welsh tunes but the Choir do manage to sing “Gwahhodiad” and “Myfanwy” in Welsh. And the Tom Jones hit “Delilah” will, no doubt, be a crowd pleaser at the St David’s Day Dinner.
Plans are being made for future concerts as well as a weekend tour of Wales later in the year.
SMVC are now a charity
14 November, 2023
We have decided to become a charity as it will help us access funding from various groups as well saving money when booking certain venues.
The SMVC has always undertaken charitable work, supporting both local and national charities with performances and we thought, as a struggling choir, by becoming a charity ourselves we can encourage others to support us.
Our charity status will not alter the way we function, the music we sing or who we support on a regular basis. In fact, outwardly, nothing will change.
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS!
31st August, 2023
Two local choirs, Village Voices from Emsworth and the Solent Male Voice Choir who are based in Havant, are joining together for a concert in St Faiths Church, Havant on Saturday 14 th October.
The concert, which starts at 7.30pm, will feature the two choirs’ songs from their own inimitable and contrasting repertoires.
Village Voices is a mixed voice SATB choir and has 53 members. In contrast the Solent Male Voice Choir is, as their name suggests, an
all male choir singing in four-part harmony. The two choirs will combine for some songs culminating in a grand finale of George Frederick Handel’s Zadok the Priest.
Tickets, at £10, can be obtained online at
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/solent-male-voice-choir or through choir members, or even on the door on the day.
We are still searching for a new accompanist
26 June 2023
But in the short-term we are very lucky to have, in our President, an excellent pianist. Cannon Tom Kennar, he of the Parish of St Faith's in Havant, has ben our President for many years and has often apologised for not doing more for the Choir, for not taking a more active part. Well he is certainly more active now.
Since his illness, and falling off his motorbike, he is taking life a little gentler and is, very kindly, finding time to accompany the Choir for practices on a Tuesday evening. He claims he is not as accomplished as our previous accompanists but, as far as we the choir, are concerned he is excellent and our real manna from heaven.
And now we move on to the Summer...
29 May, 2023
Since singing with the Welsh National Opera in May the Solent Male Voice Choir have been preparing for their upcoming concert at St George’s Church, Portsea on 14th July. They will be joined by a ladies choir, the Kidderminster Valentines, who are “on tour”. Profits from this concert will go to the RNLI.
In August SMVC will be again singing at the Emsworth Show. Our two sessions at the Show were well received last year and we are aiming to impress again this year.
On October 15th we will be joining forces with Village Voices in a joint concert at St Faith’s Church in Havant.
More information about these concerts, as well as tickets, are available through on this website.
A MALE VOICE CHOIR, BUT NOT AS YOU MAY THINK
21st March, 2023
For many people a Male Voice Choir conjures up the sounds of Welsh miners singing hymns in English or Welsh.
Whilst the Solent Male Voice Choir has a Musical Director who is Welsh their repertoire has, in recent years, expanded to include a wider range of music, some of it very modern, especially arranged for the SMVC.
A popular piece for many male voice choirs is “An American Trilogy” made famous by Elvis Presley. SMVC now have their own Celtic Trilogy: All Through the Night, Danny Boy and The Skye Boat Song. More innovative are the arrangements of the Flying Pickets hit “Only You”, and Paul MaCartney’s “Blackbird”. Soon SMVC will be adding Jeff Lynne’s “Mr. Blue Sky” to the list.
Songs from the shows are always popular with audiences. So new arrangements of “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” from South Pacific and a medley from The Sound of Music are there to lighten any concert programme.
Dave McVittie, Chairman of the Solent Male Voice Choir says “We haven’t forgotten our roots. We do still sing many of the old MVC standards. We have several long term members and they would soon complain if we turned away from our old repertoire. However, these new songs, arranged specifically for us, are great fun. We are all enjoying the change, the variety and the challenge.”
The SMVC will be singing in many concerts this year: in St Faith’s, Havant; in St George’s, Portsea; at the Emsworth Show; in St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent; in Portchester and back in St Faith’s, Havant at Christmas. Many opportunities to hear an excellent male voice choir singing something different.
Welsh National Opera ask SMVC to sing in a new opera
10th March, 2023
Yes, we have have been asked by the WNO to join them in a new opera Blaze Of Glory! when the touring opera comes to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
The opera is about Welsh miners who want to restart their choir after a mining disaster some years earlier. It charts their success through an Eisteddfod and a link with Paul Robson.
Our part in this opera is to join in singing three Welsh songs: Llef, Yn Y Man and the big finale with Gwahoddiad.
We think that we were chosen becuase we do already sing some songs in Welsh and someone from WNO must have heard Huw's recent broadcast on BBC Radio Solent when he talked about singing the Welsh National Anthem at the World Cup and managed to mention Solent Male Voice Choir once or twice during the interview!
The opera is on Saturday 20th May, 2023 at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. Tickets are available through the WNO or the Mayflower websites.
A busy run up to Christmas with four concerts in two weeks for the Solent Male Voice Choir
AN ACCLAIMED choir is readying itself for a busy festive sprint through four concerts in two weeks.
By Chris Broom THE NEWS, December 2022
For the concerts Solent Male Voice Choir will be unwrapping three rarely sung carols to join a sparkling sackful of favourites, all arranged by musical director Hugh Thomas. The newcomers are Stable Carol by Vaughan Meakins, Tomorrow Is My Dancing Day by John Gardner and I Wish You Christmas by John Rutter.
The dash gets under way with the choir at Portchester Methodist Church on Sunday, December 3 at 7.30pm for Rowans Hospice, tickets £7. Then on December 10, they will entertain shoppers at the Meridian Centre, Havant from about 10.30am. At lunchtime that day the choristers will call at the Robin Hood pub, Havant to sing for an hour. Both concerts are free
The finale for the 20-strong choir will be a performance at its home base, St Faith's Church, Havant on Thursday, December 15 at 7.30pm, tickets £10.
Membership on the up
1st February 2023
Since our concert last October we gained three new members, two baritones and a bass, which gave us a great boost to our Choir for our Christmas concerts.
Now we are back practicing for the 2023 season we have gained two more new members, a baritone and a first tenor, with another prospective member who has just joined us.
As well as introducing some new material, Huw is revising some of our old repertoire. Of course for anyone who has joined since October this is not so much a revision but learning from scratch. It is a bit tough on the newer members and so we are starting an addition practice night on Thursdays, run by Chairman Dave McVittie, singing to backing tracks played from a computer, especially for the older repertoire. Any choir members are welcome at these additional sessions, and there is no expectance for regular attendance. It is just an evening of fun singing, learning our parts, without any pressure. We have been fortunate enough to obtain the use of the Community Space in Tesco Extra at Havant free of charge. Thank you Tesco
Abertillery are coming to Chichester
26th August 2022
The Solent Male Voice Choir are hosting a joint concert with the Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir on Saturday 15th October in St Paul’s Church, Chichester.
The Abertillery OMC are old hands at touring having toured Italy, Canada, the USA and most of Europe. As well as singing with the Solent Male Voice Choir this year they have sung in Torbay, at the Usk Choral Festival and they have been invited to sing as part of the on-field choir for the Wales V. New Zealand Rugby match on 22nd November.
Whilst the Solent Male Voice Choir have not been touring they have sung in Peterfield and Havant already this year, they will be singing in Basingstoke later in October and Portchester and Havant at Christmas.
SMVC have been brushing up their Welsh so that as well as individual items from each choir at the concert in Chichester, the two choirs can combine for a grand finale.
Tickets for the concert, at £12, are available online through the SMVC web site www.solentmalevoicechoir.org
As St Paul’s is large venue it is expected that there will also be tickets available on the door.
May 2022 was a busy month
30th May 2022
The Solent Male Voice Choir had a busy May. It all started with a Lunchtime Concert in St Faith’s Church, Havant. The concert, on May 4th, was in aid of the St Faith’s Big Build Fund.
On 19th May, SMVC sang for the Petersfield Welsh Society. The concert was originally planned to celebrate the Society’s 50th Anniversary but had to be postponed for two years due to the pandemic. The suitably predominantly Welsh concert, with several songs actually suing in Welsh, was well received by the Society’s Members and Guests.
On 24th May, back at St Faith’s Church, the Choir joined up with the children of Bosmere Junior School Choir for a joint concert in aid of both the St Faith’s Big Build Fund and the SANDS Neonatal Bereavement Chairty.
Fifty children performed beautifully, in note-perfect harmony, some challenging pieces. SMVC premiered some new pieces for them including a medley of Perry Como songs in set entitled “Nice ‘N’ Easy” and David Fanshawes’ “The Lord’s Prayer”, taken from his African Sanctus.
A packed audience enjoyed the concert which raised over £400 from a retiring collection.
2nd November, 2021
Although the funeral of Charles “Mac” MacAndrew, last November, was a sad day for SMVC it was great to see many old SMVC members again.
Uniquely we had three SMVC Musical Directors in attendance. Howard Wilkie (left) was superceded by his Assistant MD Geoff Porter (centre) who handed over to his assistant, and the current Musical Director, Huw Thomas, right.
(Suggested collective names: a Triad; a Triplet; a Chord; a Batton)
A great joint concert with Abertillery
25th October 2022
St.Pauls Church, Chichester was the forum for an evening of friendly choral "jousting" between two proud choirs - the hosts Solent Male Voice Choir, based in Havant and wearing blue jackets and the men from Wales, the red-clad Abertillery Male Voice Choir.
With their Musical Director Huw Thomas driving them on, Solent scored early with two old favourites "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Rose" - but Aber showed their mettle with a classy "Bossa Nova" and a stunning version of "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
Going into the interval it was anyone's game,but when play resumed Abertillery, with energetic encouragement from their conductor Stephen Bard, raised the bar with their powerful twosome "African Prayer" and "Benedictus".
Solent's accompanist James Thomas, son of Huw, surpassed his usual,excellent playing as Solent sung "All Through The Night", "Danny Boy"and "Skye Boat Song".
Two new Life Members of SMVC
19th July 2022
At an Extraordinary General Meeting called on Tuesday 19th July Brian and Margaert Goff were both elected to Life Membership of the Solent Male Voice Choir.
In rembered history Brian has been both Chairman and Wardrobe Master. Margaret was treasurer to the now defunct "Ladies Committee". They have in all probabilty done much more than that. Despite he can no longer drive, Brian and Margaret still attend weekly practices. They come by taxi. That is real dedication.
SMVC Celebrates Sixty years
4th February 2022
A year late due to the pandemic SMVC members and friends gathered at The Brookfield Hotel, Emsworth for a celebratory Dinner.
Chairman Dave McVittie spoke of the origins of the Choir and presented previous MD Geoff Porter with a “thank-you” gift. Geoff spoke of the highlights of his tenure, such as the trips to Barnstaple and The Royal Albert Hall.
Long Service Awards were presented to John Rees, Terry Sheldrake, Brian Goff and Trevor Jenkins.
The evening was rounded off with musical entertainment by Choir President Canon Tom Kennar , Dave and James Thomas and, of course, the Choir.
What is a collective name for a group of Musical Directors?
A busy December ahead
SMVC will be bring Christmas joy to several audiences during December. Starting on Saturday December 3rd the choir will be returning to Portchester Methodist Church to sing the now annual concert in aid of Rowan’s Hospice. The choir enjoy the atmosphere in Portchester as well as the excellent post concert buffet and grand raffle, all in aid of Rowan’s Hospice. The concert will be more poignant this year as one of our choir members, Martin Ellwood, died. He was in the care of Rowan’s.
Just one week later we will be Singing In The Centre, to be precise The Meridian Shopping Centre in Havant, between 11.001m and noon. Following on immediately from the Meridian Centre we hope to be singing in The Robin Hood public house in Havant.
Our own Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday 15th December at 7.30pm in St Faith’s Church, Havant. There will be a mix of congregational carols and choir items, many of which have been especially arranged for the choir by the choir’s MD Huw Thomas. There may also be a guest soloist. Watch this space for more information!
What fun we had at Emsworth Show
30 August 2022
What fun we had at the Emsworth Show
The Solent Male Voice Choir were booked to sing two sets at the recent Emsworth Horticultural Show held on August bank Holiday Monday.
The Emsworth Show was held in the grounds of the New Life Church in Hermitage, Emsworth and, as well as a grand Horticultural Marquee, features arena entertainment, a dog show, many fairground attractions, craft stall and a “bandstand area”. This year the three musical items were supplied by Alder Valley Brass, Slowburn (a reggae band) and, in complete contrast the Solent Male Voice Choir.
Led by the Musical Director Huw Thomas the SMVC sang traditional male voice songs plus a few popular songs from the shows. A good audience enjoyed the singing and even joined in. James Thomas accompanied the choir on the keyboard.
SMVC Chairman Dave McVittie said “This was a first for SMVC, singing outdoors. The weather was great and we held a good audience in both of our sets. I noticed that many of the men in the audience were singing along with us and so I invited them to turn up to our weekly practice, which happened to be the next day. Amazingly three gentlemen did turn up on Tuesday and we are hoping they will become members.”
Singing at The Meridian
5th March, 2022
Solent Male Voice Choir sang in The Meridian Centre, Havant for an hour on Saturday 5th March, entertaining the shoppers.
By all accounts the singing was well received by the customers and shop owners alike in the Centre. The original plan had been to sing to raise awareness of SMVC’s upcoming Open Night which is to be held on Tuesday 15th March.
However, recent events in the Ukraine took over and, assisted by SMVC’s President, Cannon Tom Kennar, a collection was made for the people of the Ukraine.
The Choir’s repertoire included “Let There Be Peace On Earth” which was written by Jill and Sy Miller in 1955. SMVC’s rendition was particularly moving at this time.
Other pieces included the piratical “Song of The Jolly Roger”; “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables; a Perry Como medley which includes “Catch a Falling Star” and “And I Love Her So” and “ Magic Moments” and, of course a male voice choir favourite “Gwahoddiad”, sung in Welsh.
