Save Our Male Voice Choirs

September 15, 2015 By Richard Thompson Leave a Comment

The decline in Male Voice Choir membership is well documented.
Where is the next generation of young choristers coming from?
Who is going to save our male voice choirs?

The plight of falling membership of male voice choirs has featured on these pages before. The blog referred to the challenge to male voice choirs to sustain membership numbers.

The Tradition of Welsh Male Voice Choirs

It was commonplace for male voice choirs to have large numbers of choristers. The so called ‘big choirs’ had more than a hundred voices.

The contrast with present day numbers is plain to see. The vast majority of choirs admit to falling numbers.

But is it a reflection on the dwindling and parlous state of our male voice choirs?

Save our Male Voice Choirs

At times of need something has to happen. Someone has a bright idea. A leader emerges.

Save Our Male Voice Choirs Film Poster

Save Our Male Voice Choirs
Film Poster

In our Save Our Male Voice Choirs case it is Blaenavon Male Voice Choir who have taken the lead role.

Blaenavon MVC in a scene from 'Save our Male Voice Choirs'

Blaenavon MVC in a scene from ‘Save our Male Voice Choirs’

They have been making a TV documentary called Save Our Male Voice Choirs. The film looks to encourage new and younger members to join them.

The film not only follows Blaenavon MVC but a host of other notable singers and choirs.

BBC Breakfast show discuss Save Our Male Voice Choirs on the famous red sofa. You can watch the footage below:

As a result, can the Blaenavon MVC inspire young people to want to learn more about Welsh culture? Can they help choirs across Wales to bring in new, younger members?

Will they secure the future of choirs? Through sharing their tradition, passion and patriotism with the next generation?

Can they save our male voice choirs? Watch this space.

About Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson, spent his entire working career in the National Health Service, mainly in a teaching capacity. He now enjoys his retirement and between his family and four grandchildren, gardening, holidays, computing, his choir,and village events his life is very full.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

A fantastic day and a huge surprise. Thanks again for the incredible renditions. The Rose has since become a new favourite. Currently reminiscing as we move from London to Bath for the next stage of our lives.

Florence and Matt

Thank you all so much for making our service SO special.You were fantastic! we have had the photos back, i thought i would forward them on as there is some great ones of the choir, that i though you might want to use. Thanks again! Lindsay & Sean xxxxWhat a wonderful wedding you sang for at All Saints Church Deganwy. I have been an Organist for 60 years now. The last 20 at All Saints. I honestly think that you singing at the wedding has been the most inspiring wedding I have ever played the organ for. Thank you so much. From Jeff Wright, Organist for the wedding of Lindsay & Sean at All Saints Church on Saturday 8th July 2023.

Lindsay & Sean

Thank you so much for being part of our special day you were all amazing and we couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Rebecca and David

AMAZING!!! Thank you for a spectacular performance. I couldn’t have wished for a better entrance from yourselves, you truly made it special.

Jess

Ourselves and our guests thought you were fantastic and reduced many to tears. The singing was so overwhelming. The feedback we received from our guests was very positive. You bring so much joy and pleasure to people's experiences.

Sara and Owain

Thank you so much for singing at our wedding, you were all amazing. Whenever anyone has spoken about our special day they mention the choir and how great you all were. Your performance really set the tone to an amazing day

Leanne

We never imagined how overwhelming we would feel hearing the choir sing at our wedding and in such a beautiful church too. It truly was a very special and very memorable day thanks to the choir!

Samantha

Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for your incredible performance at our wedding on November 5th, and we've had so many comments on how emotive and special the choir was, and I couldn't agree more. Thank you so much, Diolch yn fawr iawn. Emma Lewis-Kalubowila

Sam and Emma

Thank you to all for singing so beautifully at my Daughter Claire’s wedding to the Lovely John ! As I walked into the church I was filled with such emotion it was stunning !

Claire's Mum

We would like to thank you all for making Keeley and Huw's wedding so special, everybody commented on your outstanding performance.

Keeley

What an absolute pleasure to have you guys there. Everyone loved the songs and being able to join in. Thank you to all of the choir members who made the journey for us. Absolutely amazing, everyone was talking about the performance all day afterwards!! Thank you!!!

Matt & Carly

You were all fantastic! Goosebumps abound. We can’t describe the impact you had on our day.

Donna

Thank you very much for performing in our wedding ceremony in July. You were fantastic and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jorge and Lowri

We had the privilege of being invited to Dan and Lisa’s wedding. The presence of the choir was a pure joy to experience. Music, song and laughter .. Hiraeth ! The rendition of “Myfanwy” was very poignant to us as a family as you identified.. and was much appreciated. Diolch yn fawr iawn . ..Personally Sospan Fach was the song for me!! Ann Williams

Daniel and Lisa

Thank you so much for making our day so special. We wish we had been able to share a beer and chat with you after your performance! Sam, your support and all your efforts to bring it all together, despite the biblical weather will always be cherished by us both, All our love, Dei & Janine.

Dei & Janine

Thank you so much for performing at our wedding! It was so lovely to hear the choir, everyone really enjoyed them and we got so many lovely comments afterwards!

Laura and Jonathan

Please say a big thank you to all members of the choir for making a great day even better. Best wishes Colin and Libby Thackray

Kate and Alex

Ally and I would like to say a huge thank you to the choir for singing at our wedding on Saturday. I think almost everybody had commented on how great the choir were, even the English contingent! Ally and I were really pleased and we think you gave a great touch to what could have been a long church service!

Michael and Alyson

The singing was really beautiful and very much appreciated by all of the guests young and old. Thank you very much, you made our special day even more special.

Rhian

We really loved having you as part of the day and all our guests said how fantastic it was to hear you sing. Bethan & Joe.

Bethan and Joseph

It’s our pleasure to thank you and the choir for making our day complete. So many of our guests commented that your performance was one of the highlights of the day. Many had never heard a Welsh male voice choir and were amazed.

Sheelagh

What a lovely blog – what can I say – words cannot describe the beautiful singing and the atmosphere of a little church in the Welsh hills – it was magic.

Elizabeth