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Sean Ruane

The latest in our Maestro series. Internationally renowned singer Sean Ruane talks about his journey from his early life in a small town in the north of England, onto the world stage as leading operatic tenor.

Salade de Fruits

Inspired by our recent Michael McGlynn ‘Master Series’ talk, a small group of choir members got together to do something a little different: a barbershop rendition of Salade de Fruits.

Hope you like it!

Michael McGlynn

The first interview in our ‘Maestro Series’

Our MD Matthew Thomas interviews the Irish producer & composer Michael McGlynn.

Hosted on Zoom, we enjoyed an hour of insightful conversation and choral craic, followed by Q&A.

Baba Yetu

A brave selection of 24 choir members took
on the challenge of producing this Virtual Choir
video as a Coronavirus lockdown project.

We chose Baba Yetu – the Lords Prayer,
in Swahili – from Christopher Tin’s classic
Civilisation IV soundtrack as our first virtual piece.

Stay safe, keep singing!

Homeward Bound

Our second Virtual Choir piece, this time with 40 of our members taking part!

This Jay Althouse arrangement of Marta Keens’ soulful composition is elegant in its simplicity and has become an anthem for many soldiers returning home.

Stay safe, keep singing!

About Us

Find out more about the Rossendale Male Voice Choir

Hire Us

Whatever the event, we’ll entertain and add an engaging and joyous atmosphere.

Join Us

Enjoy the great social and health benefits of choral singing.

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you, whether it’s personal, performance or press related.

“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.

Jack Stansfield

“A Life Well Lived”

It’s with great sadness that we have to report the passing of one of our former members, Jack Stansfield, who would have been 94 years old in October. Jack joined the choir in 1953 and was a loyal and much valued member of the Top Tenor section for 57 years, until his retirement in 2010. He remained dedicated to the choir, always attending concerts whenever he could.

One of his earliest memories with the choir must have been singing at the Llangollen International Festival when the choir won 1^st prize for the 3^rd successive time in 1954 and again in 1958. Many choir trips were to follow, and Jack, who loved the social side of the choir, was always the life and soul of any gathering. His opening line before many rehearsals was often, “Sorry lads, but I’ve had a curry”….

Jack joined the 2^nd Parachute Regiment in 1943 serving in Palestine, Egypt and Jerusalem, and so perhaps his most proud but poignant moment with the choir was in 2007, when we went on tour to Belgium and Germany. The first part of the trip included a visit to the Menin Gate in Ypres, where we had the privilege of taking part in the daily Last Post Ceremony. After the wreath-laying, and with absolute silence around him, Jack proudly stood to attention in the centre of the road, under the arch of the Hall of Memory, and recited the Exhortation. We all knew how much it must have meant to him.

Jack was one of many members who joined as young men, and who went on to help create one of the finest male voice choirs in the North of England.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

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