Events Summary

Warrington Male Voice Choir -Concerts And Events During 2006

Halliwell Jones Stadium 25th February 2006.
On a bitterly cold night, the choir performed two pieces just before kick-off at the match between Warrington Wolves and Hull FC. Choir members agreed that it was an interesting experience, singing before an extremely voluble, and (mainly) supportive crowd. Choristers were then able to take their seats to enjoy watching Warrington, after a shaky start, run out 46-24 points winners over Hull. That more than compensated for the cold!

Christ Church, Croft, 18th March 2006.
Another cold winter's night saw the choir assemble for a charity concert at Christ Church. Despite the chill, the choir's performance managed to warm those present with some fine singing, and a demonstration of the choir's commitment to raising funds for charity.

St John's Church, Walton, 25th March 2006.
The choir again presented a good turnout, this time on a damp, but milder, evening than the previous week, to perform to a packed church at St John's. The audience applauded the performances generously, and the choir's efforts resulted in a substantial sum being raised for charity.

Recording at the Parr Hall, Warrington, 9th and 10th March 2006, with Wingates Band.

Choristers passed the Sunday afternoon and Monday evening recording a number of pieces for release on CD to be entitled "Sounding Voices, Sounding Brass". The CD will be on sale later this year. Wingates Band and Warrington Male Voice Choir have collaborated on several pieces for the CD. The release will be advertised on this website when it is available.

Russell Paterson conducts band and choir, while Andrew Berryman (nearest the camera), musical director of Wingates, listens to the performance.

Wingates' website is www.wingatesband.co.uk

Steve Grant, WMVC press officer, writes:-

"Choir’s On Cue ......."

Last weekend saw the transformation of the Parr Hall into a recording studio as two of the region’s principal musical icons joined forces to produce their latest CD. By popular demand, WMVC was joined by Wingates Band to produce a long awaited combined album. Wingates, considered one of the aristocrats of British banding, is celebrating its centenary during 2006.

The album, “Sounding Voices – Sounding Brass” will be available in September and will be launched at two special concerts…… WMVC’s “Last Night at the Proms” (23^rd September) will, this year, be joined by a “Brass Night at the Proms” on the preceding night, and discounts will be available for those who book for both concerts. The show will then transfer to Victoria Hall, Bolton on Saturday 21^st October.

“We are confident that this CD will outstrip all previous sales records….the magic ingredient…..”Schneewalzer”, now regarded as the traditional end to the Choir’s Christmas concerts, and is probably our most frequent CD enquiry” said Chairman: Barrie Johnson. He went on “This recording represents perhaps our largest output, with immediate double potential, as both the Band and ourselves capitalise on our loyal fan bases”.

The CD will also feature an exciting arrangement of “Be Still, My Soul” (Sibelius’s “Finlandia”) , and “The Soldiers Chorus” from “Faust" by Gounod.

St Thomas's Church, Stockton Heath, Friday 16th June 2006.

Steve Grant, WMVC press officer, writes:-

"Alive and Kicking"
“Absolutely fantastic, phenomenal” were the comments from organiser, Maud Ellis, of Stockton Heath Lions Club, after the concert at St. Thomas’s Church, Stockton Heath over the weekend.

The concert, in aid of the Church Hall Fund raised almost £700, despite competing with the St. Rocco’s Walk and World Cup Mania, and featured the Concert Ensemble of award winning Warrington Male Voice Choir, and local teenage quartet, Dolce, featuring Ben on piano, who, despite their youth, held the audience captivated.

“This is a group who are on the threshold of a great future, with a response that supersedes mere local support and enthusiasm” said Chorister, John Davies. “Watch this space”!

The audience were treated to solo presentations by Choir veteran, Reg Clarke, with his rendition of Welsh favourite “Myfanwy”, and a virtuoso performance by organist, Tony Whitaker, of Louis Vierne’s “Westminster Chimes”.

The evening was rounded off by a rip roaring rendition of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”.

Maud Ellis continued, “My dream now, is to bring together, two of the town’s greatest musical icons, the Choir and “Wire Brass”. We need to show the wider public that the town has the edge in the field of traditional musical entertainment, and that it is truly alive and kicking in Warrington”.

Fri 22nd Sep, Parr Hall, Warrington -'Brass Night Of The Proms' (With Wingates Band), and
Sat 23rd Sep, Parr Hall, Warrington -'Last Night Of The Proms' (With the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra).

See September Concert at the top left of this page.

Saturday 30th September 2006. See Concert For The Royal National Lifeboat Institution At The Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle Of Man, 30th September, 2006.

Comberbach Methodist Church, Friday 13th October 2006. Despite an inauspicious date, the choir presented an enjoyable, laughter filled concert, with numerous pieces from its current repertoire. In the absence of Ian Vessey, tenor soloist, Russell Paterson, the choir’s MD, tackled the solo part in ‘Italian Salad’. His efforts were much appreciated by both choir and audience, especially when John Knowles, bass, bowled over by the performance he had just witnessed, stepped forward from the ranks and presented him with a vase of flowers, specially purloined for the occasion from who knows where. Russell, however, was modest enough to decline the proffered kiss on the cheek. John, himself, performed a creditable Johnny Cash impersonation, well received by audience and choir alike, the latter being surprised and delighted to discover their new found solo talent.

Brass Night Of The Proms, Victoria Hall, Bolton - Saturday 21st October, 2006. Warrington Male Voice Choir were once again delighted to be able to join forces with Wingates Band as the band’s guests at the Victoria Hall, Bolton, to perform an Autumn Proms concert. The band was under the baton of an eminent figure in the world of brass band music, Dr Roy Newsome. Dr Newsome got the proceedings off to a resounding start by conducting choir and band jointly in the opening number ‘The Soldiers’ Chorus’. During the course of the evening’s performance, choir and audience, were, once again, able to marvel at the special talents of Wingates’ youngest bandsman, Peter Moore, when he performed ‘Autumn Leaves’.

Friday 17th November 2006, Christ Church, Heald Green. The choir sang to a capacity audience, performing pieces from standard repertoire, but with the addition of a first performance (for the choir) of a Randall Thompson setting of the Robert Frost poem 'The Pasture', immediately followed by another favourite 'Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening' . Choir and audience alike enjoyed the superb acoustic of Christ Church, and welcomed the contribution of Emanuel Gospel Choir from Didsbury, Manchester, and their entertaining brand of vibrant gospel singing to the evening's proceedings.

The concert also featured the rather special 'Quintessential'. This group comprised no less personages than Warrington Male Voice Choir's own MD, Russell Paterson, and accompanist, Anthony Whittaker. Both men were joined by Russell's wife, Beth Paterson, and Claire Ronan, to sing popular pieces in different styles. Claire later sang the Holy City with choir accompaniment.

You can read more about Quintessential at http://quintessential.kk5.org

Quintessential
Left to Right: Claire Ronan, Anthony Whittaker, Beth Paterson, Russell Paterson, Stephen Delves (accompanist).

The Christmas concert at the Parr Hall photos may be seen at Christmas Concert.