Concerts 2010
January 14th, 2010 by 
Richard Dunn
Forthcoming Engagements
Dates for 2010
Sunday 11th July
Singing at the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club, Summer Hog Roast. Wooley Golf Club. Time to be advised.
Saturday 11th September
Charity Concert in aid of The Prince of Wales Hospice. Ar Featherstone Methodist Church. 7.15 pm
Friday 24th September
Charity Concert in aid of Muscular Dystrophy. Featherstone Method Church. 7.15 pm
Saturday October 2nd
Master Class during the day then Joint concert with Driffield and other Male Voice Choirs at Driffield Methodist Church
Saturday October 9th
Concert at Dunnington Parish Church, York 7.15 pm
Sunday October 24th
Leeds Town Hall, joint concert with Castleford, Micklesfield, Sharlston and Houghton Main and the Gurkhars Regimental Band.
Friday December 3rd and Saturday December 4th
Christmas Concerts Featherstone Methodist Church 7.15 pm both nights.
Friday December 17th
Merchant Aventurers’ Hall, York. Pre-meal entertainment for Barristers’ Christmas Event.
Concert Reports 2010
Friday June 4th & Saturday June 5th
The 29th Patrons’ Concerts were held at Wilson Street on the 4th and 5th June 2010. As seems to be the tradition on these nights, the Chapel was extremely warm and the choir had the opportunity to implement its new policy of wearing choir shirts rather than blazers.
The concerts began with the choir and audience singing Cwm Rhondda in memory of our President Mr Stanley Jones. Stanley came from the Rhondda valley and was responsible for establishing the patrons’ scheme in 1981.
The choir sang a mixture of familiar and new songs and was praised for its quiet singing and quality of diction. There seems a general view that the choir is now singing better than it has for some time.
The programme included a second Welsh song, ‘Calan Lan’ as a tribute to Stanley Jones. David Owen, a bass singer who had known Stanley for many years, movingly introduced this particular song.
David Owen introduces Calan Lan
Another success was the unscheduled performance of ‘Alexandra’s Rag Time Band, since the audience were encouraged to clap in time with the singing and everyone seemed to really enjoy the experience.
This year’s guest artist was Dr. Roger Webster the renowned brass soloist. Reviewers and audiences worldwide have acclaimed Roger as one of the world’s greatest exponents of both trumpet and cornet playing. It was no surprise then that he provided us with a virtuoso performance, which prompted a standing ovation from both audience and choir. Roger was ably supported by John Bailey on the piano.
Roger Webster
The interval provided the opportunity for friends and acquaintances to meet and as usual in the audience there were a number of retired choir members who we were all pleased to see.
At the end of the concerts David Shaw our Chairman offered an appreciation to all who had attended, to those who had performed and to everyone who contributed to the organisation and success of the choir over the year.
Patrons’ secretary, Jean Thompson, receives a bouquet of flowers
Saturday 1st May
The Galtres Centre Easingwold. 7.15pm
Saturday 24th April
Wakefield Cathedral 7pm
A concert was held at the Wakefield Cathedral to raise money for and celebrate the 20thanniversary of the Wakefield Hospice. WA Shearings Featherstone MVC acted as hosts to two other male voice choirs, Honley and The Greater Manchester Police. The celebration began for all three choirs at The Methodist’s Church Featherstone, where wives and supporters of our choir provided a lavish tea. We would like to thank all those who provided food and helped with the catering.
After tea and a chance to talk to friends from the other choirs, we climbed onto the coach at 5 pm and headed for the Cathedral. Rehearsals began at 5.30. Lots of confusing logistics were discussed and amended before those in charge were happy that we knew where to sit and how to get on and off the stage without trampling anyone else to death. The key thing was to rehearse all three choirs singing in unison so that we could accustom ourselves to conductors we had not worked with before. Each Musical Director had a very different style and it was interesting to compare their techniques. Keith Roberts the Honley MD had a flamboyant almost ethereal style with arms held high and body swaying. John Carr the Greater Manchester MD was punchy and dynamic as he conducted each song whilst Paul Rhodes our own MD was his usual precise self, emphasising the small changes he wanted, as he interpreted the nuances of the music. The piano accompanists, Jakki Perkins (Greater Manchester), Sue Ogden (Honley) and Colin Malpass (Featherstone) also took the opportunity to work with the combined choirs before the official concert began.
Featherstone began the concert with some old favourites, ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’, ‘I am a Small Part of the World’ and ‘Comrades in Arms’. It was a wonderful feeling looking down the length of the nave and hearing the sound of our singing bouncing off the walls and stained glass windows and back across the Cathedral. I’m sure the other choirs felt the same, particularly when we sang in unison.
Over a hundred voices singing as one is an awe-inspiring experience and the audience were treated to a thrilling exhibition of choir singing. As we sang it was impossible to ignore the majesty and history of the building, or the sense of occasion.
The programme was varied and was, no doubt, designed to show each choir at its best. Songs from musicals, spiritual and traditional songs, new and old arrangements of favourites, slow and lively songs provided an eclectic range for all ages and taste. The concert concluded with the joint choirs singing the Welsh hymn ‘Gwahoddiad’ to rapturous applause and I’m sure the roof lifted slightly from the walls of that Great Cathedral!
Evenings like this, when choirs are changing places and sharing songs, can feel a bit disjointed but Jeff Goldthorpe, acting as compere, ensured that all went smoothly. His relaxed style and clear delivery, (I won’t mention his jokes!) both informed and entertained and gave a sense of continuity to the whole evening. Our thanks to Jeff and all those that supported the concert.
Friday March 26th
Central Methodist Church, Pontefract at 7.30 pm
Another successful concert, well recieved by the audience. The Central Methodist Church was an excellent venue and made singing easy. Solos from Jack Noble, Dave Brierley, Len Barraclough and Robert Woodhead and a monologue from Gary Davies went down well . For the first time a young lady, Alice Jackson, also sung two solos much to the delight of both audience and choir. It is hoped that Alice will become our reserve accompanist. A number of new songs have been added to the choirs repertoire this year including, ‘Go Down Moses’ and ‘Seventy-six trompbones’.
