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Welcome to the website of Croydon Male Voice Choir
Southern England's most exciting male voice choir!
Registered charity number: 1112732
Della Jones becomes new choir president
The acclaimed Welsh mezzo soprano Della Jones is the new president of Croydon Male Voice Choir. Della, who was born in south Wales and now lives in south Croydon, said she was "thrilled and honoured" to accept the choir's invitation to become its president. She added: "Coming from South Wales, I have a natural affinity for male voice choirs."
Croydon mayor thrills to concert
Mayor Avril Slipper and husband Harry at Sanderstead concert
Croydon's mayor, Councillor Avril Slipper, praised the Croydon choir when she attended its concert at the United Reformed Church, Sanderstead, on Saturday March 26.
Cllr Slipper said during the interval that the choir was "marvellous" and "wonderful". She was particularly impressed by the choir's ability to learn and remember so many songs.
2009 Patrons' Concert
Croydon Male Voice Choir staged its annual Patrons' Concert at Whitgift School on Saturday, June 13. A 400-strong audience, including patrons, friends and some special guests, packed the school's magnificent concert hall to hear songs from the choir's latest repertoire.
Several of the pieces, selected by musical director Richard Hoyle, were heard by the patrons for the first time. The audience was treated to fine singing by the soloist, tenor James Kinsella, who performed six songs. He ended with an encore of Nessum Dorma in which, to his surprise, he was joined by the choir, bringing a smile to his lips.
The guests included local resident Roy Thackray, who had previously contacted Richard Hoyle to offer the choir his own arrangement of More I Cannot Wish You from the musical Guys and Dolls. The choir performed the piece for the first time at the concert and Roy received a standing ovation when he was introduced to the audience. Roy said that he was "more than happy" with the choir's performance of his arrangement, whch he had undertaken specially for the choir. "It sounded perfect - it sounded better than when it was in my head."
Another special guest was the choir’s new president, the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Della Jones. This was Della’s first opportunity to hear the choir perform and Richard and the choir were keen to hear her opinion. During the interval she addressed “her boys”, as she refers to the choir members, telling them how much she was enjoying the concert. She was especially impressed by the choir's amazing sound, its discipline on stage, how closely it followed Richard's directions, and the fact that it sang without looking at music. She ended by saying that she planned to attend a rehearsal and to join the choir afterwards for a beer. Who knows, she may even be persuaded to sing a song or two.
Left: Della Jones talks to "her boys" at Whitgift School
A walk in the mist
DECEMBER 8: A small but perfectly formed group of seven walkers assembled at Bletchingley Golf Club on Tuesday 6 December. As it was a morning start, the customary pre-amble beer was replaced by tea and bacon butties before the group ventured into the swirling mist.
The magnificent seven navigate through the mist
Navigator Dave found the route sagely but faced challenges in pointing out the historical landmarks, as in: "Over there in the mist you would have seen the Old Rectory House and the late mediaeval tudor beamed Brewer Street Farmhouse...".
Signpost helps direct the walkers
The group struck north past the Sibelco sand quarries and tested the acoustics of a motorway tunnel with a rendition of the customary "My Lord, what a morning", particularly appropriate in the winter gloom.
The group disappears into the gloom
The poor visibility fortunately concealed the looming face of Quarry Hangers on the North Downs until the walkers were ready to ascend. Dave offered three routes up the face, and was not surprised when the group rejected the Very Steep and Impossibly Steep options, opting for the basic Steep path instead. All reached the crest without a cardiac arrest.
The seven plus Suki
Beer at The Harrow fortified the walkers for the return downhill leg and another song under the motorway. They particularly enjoyed the open vistas across the sand quarries as they approached the golf course. The final stretch past tees, greens and bunkers led the group back to the clubhouse for a late lunch.