The Saddleworth
Male Voice Choir numbers about 60 voices. It's members are drawn
mainly from around the Greater Manchester area, in particular,
Oldham, Rochdale and Saddleworth. The present choir was founded
in 1955 and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005 during
which a number of concerts and special events were staged.
Saddleworth is the collective name for several picturesque villages in
the Pennine Hills on the Yorkshire / Lancashire border. Always part of
the West Riding of Yorkshire, it became administered by
Oldham in Greater Manchester in the 1974 local government
reorganisation. Being very proud of its distinct separate identity
Saddleworth Parish Council
was formed in the same year with the logo including the inscription 'In
the County of York'. The historical rivalry
between Lancashire and Yorkshire whilst sometimes humorously
acknowledged by choir members who come from both sides of the border is
laid to rest in the choir's badge which incorporates both White and Red
roses.
The local population supports a great wealth of amateur musical
activity, including operatic societies, choral groups and brass bands
as well as the male voice choir.
The choir has made two T.V. appearances including a recent appearance
on BBC "Songs of Praise" recorded around Saddleworth and shown in June
2000. In addition the choir has made several recordings and also has
radio broadcasts to its credit, the most recent in February 2003 when
the choir recorded 8 sacred items for the BBC which were broadcast over
a two weeks period on the popular Radio 2 programme, Sunday Half Hour.
As part of the choir's desire
to continually test ourselves and improve our performance standards
there are regular entries into choral competitions. Over the years the
choir's musical festival trophies include Hazel Grove, Huddersfield,
Macclesfield, Blackpool, Blackburn, Biddulph, Penistone and Southport.
The present Musical Director is Damian Cunningham who took over the
choir in April 1997. Damian's enthusiasm and commitment to the choir
are evident and have contributed greatly to the choir's recent
achievements. We are also fortunate to be accompanied by a very
talented lady, Sylvia Hoare.
Concerts are performed locally and further afield and the
choir presents its own concerts twice yearly at Saddleworth Civic
Hall in Uppermill with a variety of guests including leading soloists,
folk groups and brass bands, the latter having included several
household
names over the years. Each December the choir is augmented by about 45
ladies to form a large mixed chorus for an annual performance of
Handel's
Messiah, with professional soloists and orchestra, at Saddleworth Civic
Hall.
Exchange visits with other choirs have taken SMVC to Scotland,
Wales, Cornwall, Germany, North and East Yorkshire, Holland, Slovenia
and most recently Spain and Gibralter and Italy.
ARCHIVE
COMPETITIONS & FESTIVALS
1958 Hazel Grove
1958 Eccles 3rd May
1961 Southport
1961 Blackpool
1962 Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland. Certificate of Merit.
1962 Holmfirth 20th October
M V C Class
Test Piece Hymn before action.
1962 Turton
1964 Blackpool 24th October.
1966 Fleetwood 17th September
M V C Class
Test Piece Soldiers Chorus
Own Choice My luve is like a red red rose.
1967 Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland 18th February
M V C Class B 2nd Prize.
Test Piece She is my slender small love.
Own Choice Polly Perkins.
1967 Morecambe
M V C Class (open) 3rd Prize.
1967 Macclesfield 21st October
1967 Eccles 28th October
1968 Nelson 6th April 1968 5 Competitions
1968 Lytham 27th April One 1st Prize
1968 Chester 18th May Two 2nd Prizes
1968 Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland. One 3rd Prize
M V C Class B 1st Prize
1968 Southport 5th October
M V C Class
Test Piece
Own Choice. Polly Perkins.
Rose Bowl 3rd Prize
1969 Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland
1972 Morecambe
M V C Class (under 40 voices)
Test piece. Ruddier than the cherry.
Own Choice
Only 2 Choirs Barrow W.M.C & S.M.V.C.
Winners. Barrow.
1973 Southport
M V C Class
Test Piece. A Smugglers Song.
Own Choice. By the sea.
Placing- 1. Nelson Arian. 2. S M V C 3. Nelson Excelsior.
1976 Macclesfield
M V C Class 1st Prize & Rose Bowl.
Test Piece. Hearts Music. Own Choice Marching Song
1977 Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland.
M.V.C.Class Open 1st Prize
Test Piece. Bright is the ring of words
Own Choice. Two Roses.
1978 Blackburn
M.V.C.Class 1st Prize & Rose Bowl
Test Piece. She walks in beauty.
Own Choice. Marching Song
1978 Blackpool.
M.V.C. “A” Section.
Test Piece. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
Own Choice. She walks in beauty.
Placing. 1st Felling. 2nd Four Lanes. 3rd Nelson Arian. 4th
Bolsterstone
5th S.M.V.C. 6th Reading Phoenix. 7th Lyons. 8th Treverva.
9th Biddulph. 10th Shifnal.
Note. Winning Choir had 77 singers, we had 42.
1978 Biddulph.
M.V.C.Class & Rose Bowl 1st Prize
Test Piece. The Cooper O’Fife
Own Choice. She Walks in Beauty.
1978 Freckleton. 9th December.
Choral Rose Bowl.
Test (a) Marching Song. (b) Jonah. (c) Own Choice
Placing. 1st Dore. 2nd Keldwyth Singers. 3rd Newrad Singers
4th Gerald
Brown Singers. 5th S.M.V.C. 6th Holme Valley Choir. Conductor
Alan Simmons. 7th Castleford.M V C.
1979 Biddulph 29th September.
M.V.C.Class 3rd Prize
Test Piece. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
Own Choice. The jovial beggar.
1979 Blackpool
M.V.C.Class. B. 1st Prize
Test Piece. Own Choice Two contrasting pieces. Marching Song
&
Do you remember an inn Miranda.
1980 Llangollen International.- Not Accepted
1980 Cleveland Inter Tie Middlesborough.26th July.- Not Placed.
Test pieces. (a) The Soldiers Lot. (b) Hey Nonny No.
1981 Blackpool
M V C Class B 3rd Prize Equal
Test Piece. I Loved a lass.
Own choice. The Bandits Chorus.
1982 Southport
Male Voice Choirs 1st Prize
Test Piece.
Own Choice.
1982 Blackpool
M.V.C. Class. B Class 1st Prize.
Test Piece. Ludlow Fair
Own Choice Bright is the ring of words
2nd Place. Shifnal M.V.C.
1983 Southport
M.V.C.Class 1st Prize
Test piece.
Own Choice
Choral Rose Bowl. 2nd Equal with Manchester Girls.
Test Piece Pilgrims Chorus
Own Choice. Do you remember an inn?
Note 1st Place. Auburn Singers.
1983 Blackpool
M.V.C.Class A
Test Piece. King Charles.
Own Choice The Listeners.
M V C Class B 1st Prize
Test Piece. Three merry Ghosts.
Own Choice
Placing 2nd Imperial M.V. C. London
1984 Huddersfield
M.V.C. Class 2nd Prize
Test Piece.
Own Choice
1985 Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
M.V.C. Class.
Test Pieces. Confitemini Domino
The Bandits Chorus.
Own Choice These Woman All.
Placing. Equal 18th of 19
1986 Southport Music Festival
M V C Class 1st Prize
Test Piece
Own Choice
Choral Rose Bowl 2nd Prize
Test Piece
Own Choice
1986 Blackpool
M.V.C Class 1st Prize
Test Piece
Own Choice
1988 N.M.V.C.C 13th of 14
Test Piece. A Crown of Praise
What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor?
1989 N.M.V.C.C. 9th of 13
Test Piece The Fire Kindled.
King Hal
1990 Penistone.
M.V,C. Class 2nd Place
Test or Own Choice The Bandits Chorus
Pueri
Placing. 1st Worral M.V.C. 2nd S.M.V.C. 3rd Millhouse Green
M.V.C.
1991 Blackpool
M.V.C. A Class
Test Piece Miranda
Own Choice Confitemini Domino.
Placing. 1st Rossendale 2nd S.M.V.C. 3rd K Shoes.
M.V.C. B Class
Test Piece I got plenty o nutton
Own Choice O’ Maiden Fair
Placing.
Choral Class. Unplaced.
Placing. 1st Rossendale M V C 2nd Rossendale Festival Choir
3rd Oldham
Girls.
1992 Hazel Grove Festival 1st Prize
Test Pieces
1993 Hazel Grove Festival 1st prize
Test Pieces
1994 Worcester
M.V,C. Class Not Placed.
Test Piece Zut, Zut, Zut.
Own Choice. King Hal
Do You Remember an Inn Miranda?
Other Choirs. Felling M.V.C. Four Lanes M.V.C. Nelson Arian.
Reading
Pheonix.
Hazel Grove Festival 1st Prize
Test pieces-
1996 Huddersfield.
M.V.C. Class 3rd of 3
Test Piece. Ching a ring Chaw.
Own Choice King Hal.
Placing. 1st C.V.M.V.C 2nd Nelson Arion
Choir Programme Not Placed.
Own Choice. What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
My Sweet lady
Saints
Placing. 1st Abbeydale Singers (Sheffield)
2nd ?
3rd equal C.V.M.V.C./ Cantores Novae
1997 Biddulph
M.V.C.Class.1st Prize
Test Piece My Luve is like a red, red, rose
Own Choice. Psalm 126
Placing. 2nd York Phil. 3rd Equal Wigston/ Newport.
Choral Class. 2nd Prize
Own Choice. Jolly Roger. Eriskay. Softly as I leave you. Lost
Chord
Placings 1st York Phil. 2nd S.M.V.C. 3rd Chester Ladies.
1998 Huddersfield
M.V.C. Class 4th of 4
Test Piece. Psalm 126
Own Choice. The Gospel train.
Placing. 1st C.V.M.V.C. 2nd Sheffield Chorale M.V.C. 3rd Gledholt
M.V.C.
Choir Programme Not Placed.
Own Choice. The Lost Chord. The Lord is my Shepherd. Alexanders.
Placing. 1st C.V.M.V.C. 2nd Sheffield Chorale Mixed 3rd Sheffield
Choral
Ladies.
1999 Biddulph
M.V.C. Class 1st prize
Test Piece. Three Hungarian Folk Songs.
Own Choice. The Last Words of David
Others. Audley M.V.C & Hazel Grove
Choral Recital Class 1st Prize
Own Choice Lords Prayer, Confitemini Domino, My Luve is like
a red,red
Rose, Alexander’s Rag Time Band,
Placing 1st
Others Chester Ladies, St. Peter’s Church Choir, Hazel
Grove M.V.C.
Dalvait Singers (Loch Lomond)
2000 Huddersfield
M.V.C.Class 2nd Prize
Test Piece. Tom the Pipers Son
Own Choice. The Last Words Of David.
Placing 1st Colne Valley 2nd Saddleworth 3rd Skelmanthorp 4th
Accrington
Choir Programme. Not Placed
Own Choice. The Lord’s Prayer. Confitemi Domine, Saint’s
Placing Nelson Civic Ladies, C.V.M.V.C. Noteable Company.
Choir Prize Winners Challenge. Not Placed.
Placing 1st C.V.M.V.C. 2nd Marsh Ladies. 3rd Noteable Company
2001 Biddulph Music Festival
M.V.C. Class 1st prize
Test Piece .Three Hungarian Folk Songs
Own Choice The Soldier’s Chorus
Choral Recital Class 1st prize
Own Choice psalm 126, Tom the Pipers son, An Eriskay Love Lilt,
The
Lords Prayer.
Mark, 94 (the highest in the festivals history)
2002 Hazel Grove
No M V C Class
Choral Recital Class 1st Prize
The Lord is my shepherd
Down by the riverside
Three Hungarian folk songs
, Placing
1st S. M. V. C. 270 pts 2nd Tideswell M V C 267 pts 3rd Chester
Ladies
Choir, 255 pts 4th St Peter’s Church Choir 252 pts 5th
Poynton M V C
248 pts 6th Hazel Grove M V C 247 pts.
2002 Whitby Music festival
Sacred Music Class Equal 3rd
Own Choice. The Lord is My Shepherd, When the Saint’s
go marching in
Placing. 1st York Phil M.V.C. 2nd Castleford M.V.C. 3rd Horbury
Ladies/
S.M.V.C.
Others. Middles borough Choral, The low Fell Singers, Louth
M.V.C.
Rodillian Singers, Newcastle Male Chorus.
Sea Shanty Class 1st Prize
Own Choice. Jolly Roger.
Placing 1st S.M.V.C. 2nd Castleford M.V.C. 3rd Louth M.V.C.
Rodillian Singers, Over time limit.
Choir Recital 1st Prize
Own Choice. The Soldiers Chorus, Three Hungarian Folk Songs.
Down by the Riverside.
Placing. 1st S.M.V.C, 2nd York Phil M.V.C. 3rd Equal Newcastle
Male
Chorus/ Rodillian Singers. Others. Horbury Ladies.
The Driffield Miscellany
2002 Biddulph
M.V.C. Class 3rd of 3
Test Piece The Pilgrim’s Chorus.
Own Choice. Comrades in Arms.
Placing 1st Rossendale M.V.C. 2nd Four Lanes 3rd S.M.V.C.
Choral Recital Class Not Placed.
Own Choice Jolly Roger, The lord is my shepherd, Bring him home,
Saints
Placing. 1st Four Lanes M.V.C. 2nd Rossendale M.V.C. 3rd Marsh
Ladies.
2003 Biddulph
M.V.C. Class. 1st of 6
Test Piece Song of the Jolly Roger
Own Choice, Psalm 126
Placing 1st S.M.V.C. 2nd Flint M.V.C. 3rd Rossendale M V C 4th
Aughton
5th Hazel Grove & Praze M V C’s
Choral Recital Class. 3rd of 7
Own Choice The Lords Prayer. Drunken Sailor, My Lord what a
Morning,
What would I do without my Music
Placing. 1st Rossendale, 2nd Rossendale Ladies, 3rd S M V C
4th Aughton
5th Chester Ladies, Flint M V C & Praze M V C =.
2003 North Wales Festival
M.V.C. Class 2nd of 7
Own Choice, Drunken Sailor, Psalm 126
Placings 1st Hogia’r Ddwylan. 2nd S.M.V.C. 3rd Aughton
Evening Concert for Winners only none competitive.
2004 Mexborough Festival
M V C Class 1st of 5
Own Choice, Drunken Sailor, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
Placings 1st S M V C 2nd Dore M V C, 3rd Castleford M V C Equal
4th
Scunthorp and Tickhill & District
2005 Mexborough Festival
M V C Class 1st of 3
Own choice, I am a Roamer, Ride the Chariot.
Placings 1st S M V C. 2nd Thunscoe Harmonic M V C 3rd Houghton
Main
2006 Don Valley Festival (formally Mexborough Festival)
M V C Class 1st of 5
Own Choice Lords Prayer, Three Hungarian Folk Songs
Placings 1st S.M.V.C. 2nd Skelmanthorp, 3rd Thurnscoe Harmonic,
4th =
Worrall M V C& Kimberworth M V C
2007 HUDDERSFIELD (MRS SUNDERLAND)
M V C Class 2nd of 3
Own Choice, Last words of David, Three Hungarian Folk Songs.
Placings 1st C V M V C, 2nd S M V C, 3rd Gledholt M V C
Evening Choir prize Winners Challenge. Not Placed
Placings 1st Cantores Novae 2nd C V M V C 3rd Friday
2007 Don Valley Festival
M V C Class 1st of 3
Own Choice What shall we do with the drunken sailor, Peacemakers
Placings 1st S.M.V.C. 2nd Bolsterstone M.V.C. 3rd Kimberworth
Park
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