Programme Notes for Concert Organisers
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COLNE VALLEY MALE VOICE CHOIR, YORKSHIRE
Established in 1922 and based in Slaithwaite, situated 5 miles from Huddersfield, the choir entered the
21st century with a record of competition successes and concert engagements
that rates among the finest eras of the whole of over 80 years of its existence.
Since the turn of the last century there have been concert appearances ranging from its home concert base,
Huddersfield Town Hall, to the prestigious venues of Fairfield Hall, Croydon
and the Preston Guildhall - all to capacity audiences. Added to these illustrious locations have been other halls,
churches, outdoor gala concerts and charity events. Some have
involved sharing the stage with top ranking soloists, brass bands, wind bands orchestras and leading
entertainment groups, while others have been undertaken entirely from within the
Choir's own resources, with extremely capable vocal soloists and organists within its own membership.
In addition, the choir is privileged and fortunate to be able to call on the solo piano services of its distinguished
accompanist, Keith Swallow - nationally known as accompanist to
leading international concert and operatic performers both on stage and in recordings.
The consistent success which the Choir has established throughout its whole history has been continued and
capped in the last decade and a half with the inspiration of Musical Director
Thom Meredith. Under his leadership Colne Valley added to its unequalled total number of championship
awards at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod by winning there again
in the successive years of 1998 and 1999 following a runners-up placing in 1997. In the same period the
choir also established a unique record by holding the International Male
Voice Choir Championship and the British National Male Voice Choir Championship at the same time.
In 2007 the Choir and its supporters spent an extremely successful four days over the May bank holiday
weekend at the 3rd biennial Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival where 60 Choirs and almost
3000 singers from 11 different countries participated. Colne Valley performed at three concerts - In the
magnificent Truro Cathedral, at Porthcurno’s unique cliffside Minack Theatre, and in St Michael’s Church in
Newquay where the Choir’s hotel was based. Saturday was reserved for competition and Colne Valley pulled
off the ‘Big One’ by gaining 90 marks for their 12 minute performance to win the large choir class,
improving on their second place gained in the 2005 competition.. Thom Meredith was presented with the
winning trophy and later, at the evening Gala Concert a second trophy was awarded to Colne Valley as the
Festival’s overall best UK choir.
Singing without the aid of copies on all concert and competition occasions, the choir draws on a library of more
than 500 pieces and annually the concert musical programmes are made
up of 55 to 60 different items.
As well as the many platform appearances the Choir was highlighted in a recent BBC Television "Songs of Praise"
programme. It has also issued a recent recording of Hymns and
Sacred music with Marsden Band as well as a CD, Christmas Festival Concert items with Grimethorpe (UK Coal) Band.
It would be very much appreciated if you would kindly include the
Choir Secretary's name and telephone number in your programme. Please feel free to edit these notes to suit you programme space.
- Thankyou.
See also biographies
of Musical Director, Thom Meredith and Accompanist, Keith Swallow