Musical Team
Matthew Thomas
Musical Director
After gaining a degree in Computer Science from the University of York and immersing himself in the musical life of the city, Matthew chose to pursue a career in music and became a freelance musician in his home town of Blackburn. He joined the Blackburn Cathedral Choir in 2013 and took up a conducting scholarship at Blackburn Music Society. He has taught piano and keyboard in schools all over Lancashire, received an ABRSM Diploma in Musical Performance on the piano and became the chorus pianist for Victoria Wood’s musical ‘That Day we Sang’ at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.
Joining the Rossendale Male Voice Choir as Musical Director in 2015, Matthew has injected a new impetus into the choir and proved his worth by winning the award for top conductor at the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival in 2017. Recent successes include a top 6 finish at the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition out of an 18-strong field in 2018 and a 4th place at the 2019 Cornwall Festival, receiving the prize for the best piece in the choir’s category.
As well as conducting Rossendale Male Voice Choir, he leads Rossendale Ladies Choir, Darwen Ladies Choir, Vocalise Youth Choir, is the Organist and Choirmaster at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Darwen and works as an Animateur on Blackburn Cathedral’s Sing Together Music Outreach Project, visiting 120 schools in Lancashire every year.
Michael J Farnworth
Accompanist
Michael joined the Rossendale Male Voice Choir in 1968 at the youthful age of sixteen, singing second tenor.
Steeped in the 90 year history of the choir, he is the great nephew of the founder conductor, Fred Tomlinson. His grand-father, Frank, was a founder member and his father, also Frank, was a member for over 60 years and the Choir’s President for many years. Michael made his debut as the Choir’s accompanist in 1969 at the Massed Bands Concert at Belle Vue in Manchester.
For more than 50 years, choir members have benefitted from Michael’s skill and dedication, and he has had the pleasure of accompanying the choir on everything from a Steinway in the Bridgewater Hall, to rather less grandiose pianos in venues from Germany to Killarney. Rarely, if ever, phased by a complex new piece, an accompanist of this standard is of great, if “unsung”, value.
Michael provides the RMVC with a stable core, and his work, alongside our musical director, has over the years, helped to shape the choir.
Charles Crowley
Assistant Conductor
Charles Crowley currently acts as the deputy conductor for the choir, helping with rehearsals or performances, when Matthew is unavailable. He also conducts the Festival Choir, a mixed group of singers, drawn from the Rossendale Male Voice, and Ladies choirs, primarily for their Christmas concerts. Charles joined the men in 1987, and has sung with the top tenors since then, enjoying being part of their regular performances, both at home and abroad. He is also the current chairman of the choir, a role he has enjoyed for several years, working with a dedicated team of trustees to keep everything running smoothly.
CONTACTS
Secretary: Paul Lomax, secretary@rossendalemalevoicechoir.co.uk
REHEARSALS
Every Monday at 7.30pm
St Peters Church, St. Peters Avenue, Haslingden, Rossendale BB4 6NZ