Double firsts for conductors Fionnuala and Sam

8 June: Croydon Male Voice Choir made history on Saturday when, for the first time in its 51 years existence, it was conducted by a woman.

The watershed moment came during the final set at its concert at St Mary’s Caterham.  That was when Fionnuala Ward stepped on to the podium to lead the choir through two hymns, Morte Criste and Gwahoddiad – sung partly in Welsh.      

Fionnuala makes history with CMVC

Until then Fionnuala had been accompanying the choir on the piano to the side of the stage.  She replaced the evening’s conductor, Sam Prouse, so that he could play the organ for the two hymns.

“It was wonderful, very enjoyable,” Fionnuala said afterwards.  “Having all those eyes fixed on me was great. We really gunned it.” 

Gunning it with Gwahoddiad (photo Julie Cook)

The choir responded enthusiastically too, applauding Fionnuala when she took her bow at the end of the concert, as did the packed audience.

The concert was notable for another first.   This was also the first concert conducted by Sam Prouse, who has been the choir’s regular accompanist since 2022.  The choir’s official conductor, Andrew Moore, was away, so Sam stepped in.  QUOTE   

The record-makers during the interval

The choir sang four sets in all, standouts including Fix You, Steal Away, and the Hallelujah Chorus.  Two choir groups sang between the sets: Octet(ish) in the first half, the Sandilands Shanty Crew in the second, to great applause.

There was yet another first to record. Quite remarkably, the concert was the first time Fionnula had ever performed as a conductor.  A professional musician, she plays the violin as well as the piano, and performs with leading orchestras such as the London Philharmonic. 

Like music director Andrew Moore and his predecessor Matthew Quinn,  she grew up in Northern Ireland. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she now is a local resident, having moved to East Croydon last year.  She previously accompanied CMVC at its concert with the Swift Singers at South Woodham Ferrers in April. 

She especially enjoyed playing with and conducting the CMVC on Saturday, she said, because (unlike some professional musicians) they so clearly enjoyed what they were doing.  “That gave me a great boost too.”

Banners' funky-chicken conductor

Yet another conductor, the third of the evening, took the podium at the concert’s end.  When the audience called for an encore, the choir sang the frenetic number Rhythm of Life, conducted by choir member Dave “Banners” Bannister, whose energetic conducting, including funky chicken movements, inspired the choir to new heights. Meanwhile Sam and Fionnuala teamed up to duet on the piano keyboard.

Fiannuala and Sam team up at keyboard for encore

After the concert the choir had intended to stage an après.  But the first pub it tried had run out of beer, the second was occupied by a very noisy band.  The third had dismal beer but the choir settled for that and sang a few numbers before taking a well-earned rest.