Friendly choir seeks members

Feb 1 2008 by Val Javin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IF YOU like the idea of singing in a choir that promotes music and friendship then head for Honley later this month.

Honley Male Voice Choir is holding an open evening in the hope of attracting new members.

The membership stands at 65, with several new members having recently joined the ranks.

But the aim is to boost the number to around 80.

It couldn’t be a better time to join the choir, which is conducted by its musical director Alan Jenkins. It has several exciting projects, including a trip to Bruges, and a busy concert programme.

Those concerts begin in April with a charity event in Blackburn, followed by another a few days later at Huddersfield Town Hall.

There are two further concerts in May and in June the choir is staging a charity concert of songs from the shows in Lytham, where choir members and their wives, partners and friends will be spending the weekend.

In September the choir will be going for a singing and social weekend in Bruges.

In October the singers will be staging a major theme concert with guest artists at the Town Hall before rehearsing for their Christmas concert when they will be again joined by the Cory Band, the world’s No 1 brass band.

“We will give you a warm, Yorkshire welcome,” says chairman Norman Mellor.

“You don’t have to read music or have any previous experience. All we ask is that you enjoy singing.”

When the choir was formed in 1936 the founders said the twin aims were “excellence in male voice choir singing and good fellowship”.

Norman says: “Those aims have been maintained. The choir regards itself as a family and has a great social life, as well as providing first-class entertainment.

“So come to the open evening and either sit in with the choir or just listen and then join us for a drink at the club across the road.”

The choir rehearses on Tuesday nights at Honley Infants and Nursery School. The open evening is there at 7.30pm on February 12.

You will receive a warm welcome.