Category: News

A Spire – a tall structure that tapers upwards to a point esp. one on a tower or roof

Aspire – desire or hope to do or be something

The Spire forming an integral part of the building of St John’s Church, Mansfield is in critical need of urgent restoration and the costs involved in carrying out the work is approximately £300,000. If the works is not done, the Spire will eventually topple and a famous and cherished part of the local townscape will be lost forever.

From sponsored runs to craft fairs and a whole variety of events which communities organise when they come together with a common cause, fund raising has been carried out by church members in efforts to raise this huge total.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The sobering fact is that it will cost the same money to demolish the Spire as it will to restore it[/perfectpullquote]

St John’s Church has recently suffered a setback towards the goal in achieving its target after the disappointing news that an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund has not been successful. Though the project was considered worthy of support, it was rejected due to insufficient funds in the HLF in a highly competitive round.

The sobering fact is that it will cost the same amount of money to demolish the Spire as it will to restore it. Doing nothing is not an option given the perilous state of the structure.

We ( and that means all of us who care) will do what we can.  The Concert which we have called “Aspire” on the 10th of November is an opportunity for everyone to make a contribution by buying a ticket and being part of it. All proceeds from the concert will go into the Spire Appeal fund.

Mansfield & District Mae Voice Choir, The Singers and the Boots Orchestra will join forces to create a rich and varied programme with something for everyone.

Full details of what will be a wonderful evening can be found here

Autumnal Air – QEA, Mansfield – 22 September 2018

Musical Director, Ian Grice writes

I was so proud to be part of such an outstanding concert.

Thank you to Beverley Male Voice Choir and our special guest flautist Christopher Hill for joining us. It was truly a feast of musical pleasure.

Everybody has worked so hard to prepare for this event, which I’m sure everyone will agree, had  such a varied programme with something to suit every taste.

I personally want to thank the Mansfield guys for your commitment and hard work in learning and improving the new songs.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] It was truly a feast of musical pleasure [/perfectpullquote]

And to Margaret Ball, I cannot thank you enough; you were simply amazing on the piano both for us the choir and to accompany Christopher too.

It was a wonderful and very memorable evening.

 

 

 

“Autumnal Air”– Saturday 22 September 2018 – Queen Elizabeth’s Academy, Mansfield.

There is a harmony in autumn, and a lustre in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been! – Percy Bysshe Shelley

Bringing musical harmony to Mansfield this autumn will be the Mansfield & District Male Voice Choir, Beverley Male Voice Choir and guest flautist, Christopher Hill in a programme which promises a rich variety of music for our audience.

The hall at QEA has some interesting features which we have highlighted previously. It has superb acoustics and a favourite venue of our MD, Ian Grice for that reason.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We’re really looking forward to this concert. It should be fun!” – Liz Wilson[/perfectpullquote]

The Concert will be hosted and sponsored by the Sister Cities Association of Mansfield.

Mansfield MVC and Beverley MVC will be joining forces once again following the joint concert involving the two choirs in East Yorkshire last year. One of the great things about being in a choir is that you get to meet some really nice people and go to some lovely places. We had the pleasure of visiting Beverley last year and making music with our Yorkshire neighbours.

 

Beverley Male Voice Choir have represented the town at some of the country’s most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, London, Bridgewater Hall and the MEN Arena ( Manchester) and the Royal Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Musical Director of the Choir is Liz Wilson: “We have been adding some new pieces to our repertoire and are really looking forward to this – should be fun!”

Christopher Hill is a super talented young musician from East Leake just down the road. Chris came to one of our rehearsals recently to meet us so we had the opportunity to enjoy his talents first hand. We are very much looking forward to seeing him again.

His credentials speak for themselves; Chris has played principal/first flute in many orchestras including the National Youth Wind Orchestra, National Schools Symphony Orchestra, the Royal College of Music Junior Division Symphony Orchestra and the Halle Youth Orchestra. Chris has performed in London’s West End and has also played solo in recitals and concerts at numerous well-known venues including the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham; the Royal Albert Hall; Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Cadogan Hall, one of London’s leading concert venues.

 

This will be the first public performance by Mansfield & District MVC since the successful event at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year. Beverley is not the only choir to add new items to the repertoire. Mansfield music team of Ian Grice and Margaret Ball have been working hard with the guys in adding several new items to the programme for this concert including Fantasia on Famous Welsh Airs, We Rise Again and Guardian Angel.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Autumnal Air” will be cracking entertainment for our audience[/perfectpullquote]

There will be some joint items with Beverley on the programme including Sailing. This piece  has an interesting arrangement for male voice choir and will, again, be new to some. Many of a certain vintage will, of course, be familiar with the song itself from Rod Stewart’s version back in the 1970s.

We share the poet’s vision and look forward with eager anticipation to some harmony in the autumn air and some lustre in the sky over Mansfield at this concert.

Not to mention some cracking entertainment into the bargain for our audience!

Tickets for this Event can be purchased by telephone or online