Category: News

At the request of Adele Stenton, a member of the Choir Supporters’ Group, we were honoured to be invited to participate in a Remembrance Service at Trinity Methodist Church in Mansfield Woodhouse. Adele and a team of ladies from the church have painstakingly worked since February 2023 to knit and crochet 2,500 poppies as a mark of community remembrance – and they looked stunning.
The Reverend Debbie Keegan guided us through a lovely service and the choir’s performances, even in an atmosphere of humility and prayer, were enthusiastically applauded.
The event was followed by tea and cakes and many were touched as they recalled family members and loved ones who have died as a result of war. Particularly poignant is that the service is conducted when the world is wracked by turmoil and brutal wars in Yemen, Ukraine and in Gaza and Isarel. Our prayers were said and hopefully heard. The photograph of the poppy cascade is graced by a shining cross as it was taken just at the right time by chorister Mario Curtis (2nd Tenor).

Comments
We were proud to sing at this remembrance service, the reflections were poignant and meaningful, I asked permission to show this by Andy Fyall. Almost a full choir and Margaret gave our best. The church was a picture inside and out. Well done Adele.
Mario Curtis (2nd Tenor)

It really was a lovely act of Remembrance, the hymns and all the music was perfect with Debbie leading the whole service. The church looked amazing it must have taken many hours to achieve that display. Thanks to all involved .
Lynden Lowe (Bass and Concert Manager)

Absolutely fantastic! Wonderful displays, amazing choir! Thank you so much for joining us this morning! What a blessing
Reverend Debbie Keegan 

I can’t recall a concert when our chaps have felt so honoured to share a stage with another choir. The Royal Albert Hall is of course a fantastic event, but I must say that the concert with The Mastersingers was unprecedented. The advertising for the event claimed much hyperbole and it was fully and excitingly justified. We entitled the concert Masters in Harmony in anticipation of a memorable evening, and we and the audience were, as the saying goes truly “blown away”.

Their relaxed professionalism and friendliness settled the audience and our choir down for their concert repertoire which was intricate, well balanced and delivered beautifully, and I mean beautifully, particularly with the skilled accompaniment of piano, drums and double bass.
The quality of the singing from the group of professional music teachers, composers, arrangers and performers was something to behold and it is difficult to convey how well balanced, harmonious and accurately presented was their performance.

As the visiting choir most of the evening was given over to the Master singers but, hey, we didn’t do badly either. Our singing was performed well and enthusiastically with Ian guiding and directing us in his usual friendly and engaging manner.

We thoroughly enjoyed the joint songs which were “What Would I Do Without My Music” and “We Rise Again” which the Mastersingers MD James Morgan had specifically arranged for their choir from our TTBB male voice script. It was delightful evening and St. John’s church resonated with the sound.

It was super to see friends from Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir and Derbyshire Community Male Voice choir in the audience., Thanks are due to Ian Grice (MD), Margaret Ball (Accompanist), Lynden Lowe (Concert Manager) and Julie Bexon and the ladies of our choir Supporters’ Group.
A member of the Mastersingers wanted to know who had baked the divine carrot cake saying that it was the best he had ever tasted; thank you Kate Curtis.

A masterclass from the Mastersingers and a masterful performance by male voice choir. It was great to be involved.

Two members of our choir were invited to join in a celebration event on 5th August hosted by the Nottinghamshire Blood Bikes Charity. This took place in the Spotlight Bar on the 4th floor of the at the Nottingham Motorpoint Arena and was held to celebrate a saving to the National Health Service of a million pounds by the Nottinghamshire Blood Bike Charity; a fantastic achievement. Our contribution was a concert with the Joseph Whitaker and Redhill Academy Jazz band held on 23rd July 2022 at St. John’s Church Mansfield where we raised £1,050. Ian Grice (Musical Director) and John Wakeland (Chairman at the time of our concert) attended as our representatives.

At the event, also attended by the Nottingham Lord Mayor Cllr. Carole McCulloch, all guests were provided with a drink, a buffet and a free prize draw ticket. For a gentle start to proceedings, background music accompanied a selection of images and videos showing the history of Blood Bikes since they were formed around 10 years ago. A showcase of their latest motorbikes and cars were parked on Bolero Square and a photographer was on hand to capture individual images of folks sitting on the bikes. A group photograph was taken to celebrate the event. Further entertainment was provided by a magician and as the night moved on a DJ provided music for dancing and celebration.

Ian and John enjoyed the event and proudly represented our choir as successful fund raisers; since January 2022 we have been involved in concerts which have raised approximately £12,000 for charities.