We’re Hiring!

Our amazing accompanist of 53 years has recently retired, creating a wonderful opportunity for someone to play a leading role in the future of our choir!

If you think that someone might be you, or you know someone who might be that someone, please get in touch with our Secretary Peter Beetham (contact details at the bottom of the page).

We’ll send you all the application info along with details of the role, remuneration, the process, the dates and so on. The closing date for applications is Jan 31st 2022, so get your skates on!

In the meantime, have a browse around our website to get a sense of the choirs history, our character and our repertoire.

This year we’ve got our big Bridgewater Hall concert coming up again and the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival. Plus of course, we’re busy preparing for our Centenary in 2024, which will be an incredible year for the choir and it’s new accompanist!

Michael Farnworth – Legend!

After an amazing 53 years Michael is retiring from the RMVC. He and his wife Anne are moving up to Scotland to be close to their two daughters and grandchildren.

Michael joined the choir in 1968 at the tender age of 16 initially singing with the second Tenors. He very quickly became accompanist having played the piano from 6 years old. He made his debut at the Massed Bands Concert at Belle Vue in 1969. Since then to the present day he has been the choirs full time accompanist giving his services without remuneration.

In addition he has filled many other roles – making sound recordings, stepping in as MD on occasions, archive work and running the choir web site for many years.

He is a perfectionist in all he does and that has benefitted the choir immeasurably over 52 years of exceptional dedication as accompanist. Something that most likely will never be repeated.

He has been accompanist under every MD that has held the role and they will all have paid tribute to his wonderful touch and sensitivity on the piano.

His last performance at rehearsal on Monday 20^th December 2021 was a very special occasion and was marked by a presentation to Michael in recognition of his tremendous achievement.

On behalf of all present members of the choir, we will miss him both as accompanist and as a friend.

We wish both Michael and Anne well for their new life in Scotland and of course we will hope to see them whenever they visit the Valley. They will always be most welcome.

Chris Calvert

Chairman RMVC

Joint Concert with Haydock Male Voice Choir

On Saturday March 26th 2022 we’ll be in concert once again with our friends The Haydock Male Voice Choir, at St Helens Town Hall.

Originally planned for 2020, this concert was the first of our ‘covid casualties’, so it’s entirely appropriate that it should be our first big performance as things begin to return to some kind of normality.

It’ll be great to get back on stage and sharing our love of choral music with our wonderfully supportive audiences.

Tickets are available directly from Haydock Male Voice Choir (see left), or you can contact our secretary Peter Beetham via peter.beetham@hotmail.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bridgewater Hall Charity Concert

On Saturday May 21st 2022 we’ll be in concert once again with the world famous Black Dyke Band, on stage at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

The concert is a charity fund raiser for East Lancs Hospice, so you can have a great night out whilst supporting this vitally important regional charity.

Once again we’ll be joined by the 2nd Rossendale Scout Band. Formed in 1963, they’re one of the leading scout bands in the country, with performances at Windsor Castle, Cologne Cathedral and the O2 Arena to name but a few.

Tickets are now on sale, you can book them here.

“The Valley of Song”

…is how the Rossendale Valley in south east Lancashire is often described and it’s the home of The Rossendale Male Voice Choir.

Founded in 1924, by the late Fred Tomlinson MBE, who took a group of local singers and moulded them into one of the country’s finest male voice choirs. Winning many competitions and festivals, including the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen. Sharing a love of singing and music-making not only drives us to do our very best in the concert hall or in competition, but also generates strong personal friendships between members.

As you’ll have gathered, we’re nearly 100 years old!

If you want to be part of that very exciting milestone, please get in touch. Whether it’s for a concert which will have an extra special atmosphere, sponsorship, media interest (including radio & TV), or to be a member of the choir through that important anniversary, drop us a line.

Our Musical Team

Matthew Thomas

Musical Director

Joining the Rossendale Male Voice Choir as Musical Director in 2015, Matthew has injected a new impetus into the choir and won the award for top conductor at the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival in 2017

Michael J Farnworth

Accompanist

Steeped in the 90 year history of the choir, he is the great nephew of the founder conductor, Fred Tomlinson. Michael made his debut as the Choir’s accompanist in 1969 at the Massed Bands Concert at Belle Vue in Manchester.

Charles Crowley

Assistant Conductor

Charles joined the choir in 1987, singing with the First Tenors ever since. He is also the lead conductor of the Rossendale Festival Choir which is a mixed choir formed from members of the RMVC and the Rossendale Ladies Choir.

CONTACTS

Secretary: Peter Beetham, 07808 733892, peterbeetham@hotmail.com

Treasurer: Paul Heaton, 07952 615608, davidpaulheaton@gmail.com

REHEARSALS

Every Monday at 7.30pm

St Peters Church, St. Peters Avenue, Haslingden, Rossendale BB4 6NZ