A message from Judith Land,
Founder-Director of Music

Hello from Alcester, Warwickshire and welcome back to our updated website.

38th Annual Concert. Thank you very much for all the kind accolades that have been received since the concert. It was good to see the Town Hall, Birmingham so well attended and hear how much everyone enjoyed the concert. Judging by looking at people in the audience and listening to the rapturous applause at the end, it was clear that they were sitting comfortably in their seats and wanting more……. which we obliged with toe-tapper / clapping African Trilogy. The choir had certainly worked very hard to achieve a high standard of performance and I felt very proud of them. Well done ‘The Boys’ and our excellent accompanists Elliott (piano) and Andrew (organ)

The independent review from Sandy Holt below, sums up the concert beautifully.

“Choir does Birmingham Town Hall proud”
by Sandy Holt Arts Entertainer Editor Stratford Herald 5th April 2012
www.stratford-herald.com

ALCESTER Male Voice Choir is renowned for its diversity when it comes to its performances, and this year’s 38th annual concert was no exception.

Not only did the singers up their anti by performing in Town Hall, they shared the platform with special guests Orchestra of the Swan, local pianist Elliott Rooney, Rutleigh Norris Ballet School and other solo musicians and singers.

Performing away from home didn’t deter the choir’s loyal followers from attending – in fact 11 coaches brought audiences from all over the region to see what turned out to be a spectacular evening of virtuoso performances.

In the presence of the Marquess of Hertford, the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Tim Cox; the Chairman of Stratford District Council, Cllr Eric Payne, and many other distinguished guests, Alcester town crier David Parkes opened and presented the proceedings.

The 72 –strong choir began with elegance as they performed Vivaldi’s Gloria and Ennio Morricone’s Nella Fantasia, promptly followed by Elgar’s Serenade for Strings performed by the orchestra under the baton of its artistic Director, David Curtis.

Next to the platform was pianist Mr Rooney whose faultless performances of Gershwin’s Preludes 2 and 3 showed just how accomplished this young musician is.
Mr Rooney along side distinquished organist Andrew Fletcher also provided accompaniment to the choir throughout.

The popular male voice choir then changed tempo with lively performances of Swanee, I Got Plenty of Nuttin’,Annie’s Song and All Through the Night (featuring a very competent Owen Vickery on guitar) bringing the first half to a close with Let All Men Sing.

In the second half the choir’s excellent harmoniesreally came into their own as they energetically continued with extra vocal finesse. For this section the audience was offered variety with Rutleigh Dancers performing to the choir’s Cabaret and Lord of the Dance and soloist CeCelia Wickham Anderson and conga drummer Sarah Westwood gave that extra dimension during African Trilogy.

Special mention should be made of the orchestra’s lead violinist, Nicole Wilson, whose sophisticated performances, especially in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Karl Jenkins’ Palladio emitted nothing less than perfectionism both in her passion and technique. Christus Redemptor provided the perfect finale for the prestigious choir and an encore of Lord of the Dance brought the proceedings to a close.

A great success not only for the choir who pushed the boundaries but for its founder Judith Land who led the singers through what was an interesting and well chosen programme.

Once again there is so much to share with you in this message- concerts at home, charity work, membership, working with young people and other male voice choirs and a ‘special sale’ for a set of 5 CDs that can be found in the Music Samples. Since the last update of the website we have as usual, been grateful to our Presidents and Vice Presidents, Sponsors and Friends of the Choir for their continued support.

For anyone visiting our website for the first time, Alcester Male Voice Choir is a well established male voice choir in the south of Warwickshire just 7 miles north of Stratford upon Avon and 7 miles south of Redditch, Worcestershire. If you are looking for a choir to join then look no further as we will give you a warm welcome and promise you an exciting musical experience with us. Our current busy charity concert calendar can be found in the  forthcoming concerts section. Some of the highlights this year include local and other venues in the midlands and a mass choir concert in Ely Cathedral. A Booking Form can be used for our 39th Annual Concert at the Greig, Alcester in April 2013.

Why not visit us in Alcester Baptist Church where we rehearse and gain some insight into ‘what makes us tick?’ Our current choir membership number is 80+. Just come along or give me a ring on 07886139781 for more details and to check that we are rehearsing that particular evening. There are no auditions as I am a firm believer that everyone has a voice, and this has worked well throughout the life of the choir. The only requirement is a desire to sing and the time to attend rehearsals regularly on a Wednesday between 7.30pm – 9.50pm and of course enjoy and support concerts once a month. Singing is our passion but so is raising money in aid of a variety of charities. Charities benefitting from our concerts over the next 12 months include local churches, Alcester Branch of the British Legion, the High Bailiff fund, The Cardiology Department, Warwick and the Leprosy Mission. Some expenses, for example transporting equipment need to be taken into consideration, but there is no fee for engaging the choir.

Over the last few months we have welcomed 6 new members and below are a few comments and two from well established members.

To those who may be considering joining AMVC…

“For years, a world famous, brand leading company has used a slogan which is familiar to many people, “Just Do It!” What are some of the benefits of joining AMVC? There’s the satisfaction of working hard, through practice with fellow choristers to produce the best sound possible and there’s the huge pleasure to be gained from performing to large & appreciative audiences, whether they be in local village churches or major, nationally known venues.

If you are new to choral singing, then yes, there may some initial nervousness, but this will soon disappear as you quickly become part of the team, supported by the friendly assistance of fellow choir members. After all, they were themselves, ‘New Boys’ once and are therefore most keen to help you along. So why not give it a go with one of the region’s finest choirs. As that slogan urges you “Just Do It!” John O’Dell (bass 1)

“I had been keen on the idea of joining a choir for a while and then heard that Alcester Male Voice Choir was looking for new recruits. Straightaway I found everyone to be welcoming, friendly and full of encouragement and nothing had prepared me for the thrill of making such a glorious sound together”. Jonathan Lucas (tenor 1)

“Having previously sung with mixed choirs performing traditional choral pieces, the rather wider musical repertoire & the high standards attained by the choir, together with opportunities to sing with them elsewhere in the UK & abroad, continue to impress me” Antony Bond (bass 1)

“I have been in the choir for 10 years. The variation of music, the good friends, the humour and the respect it gains from people I meet who say “Oh I wish I had the talent”. I always tell them they do ….and that they should join”. Tim Abott (bass2)

“I saw the advert in the local newspaper and decided to give it a go. Everyone was very supportive and although it is serious singing it is also a lot of fun and everyone seems to sing with a smile on their face. It’s great having concerts like the Annual Concert to work towards”. Alan Conway.(bass 1)

On behalf of AMVC members, the Music Team and committee members, I would like to thank you once again for your continued support and we hope to see you and new faces at our future concerts or indeed, do feel welcome to come along to our rehearsals if you are in the area – we are well used to individuals and groups of people dropping in.

With All Good Wishes
Judith Land

PS If you have enjoyed our recent concerts at Symphony Hall and Town Hall, Birmingham then why not put Saturday 5th April 2014 in your diary as a firm date to join us once again at Symphony Hall for a very special 40th Anniversary Gala Concert! Coach transport will be arranged once again but more information to follow in May 2013.