26 May 2012

The Choir's visit to Rotenburg generated media coverage especially in Germany. Two articles appeared in the newspaper "Hessische Allgemeine". The first entitled "Sie singen für die Queen" prior to the Choir's visit and "Das Singen verbindet sie" repoting on the visit.

Click on the following links to view the articles in a computer translated version of English.
"Sie singen für die Queen"
"Das Singen verbindet sie"

25 May 2012

Our friends at the Auferstehungskirche in Bebra have posted up some photographs of the concert held in their church.

Many thanks to their web master Jutta Busch for providing the link and especially the photos. 

22 May 2012

Bestwood Male Voice Choir has just returned from a superbly successful 6 day cultural exchange visit to Rotenburg, in Germany.  42 members of the choir, plus wives and partners, enjoyed a rich mixture of food, fun, fellowship and much singing, in both English and German!  The visit was organised and supported under the auspices of the Gedling/Rotenburg twinning arrangement.

Thursday, our first full day in Rotenburg, began with an invitation to an Ascension Day service in Stiftskirche, a beautiful red sandstone church in Rotenburg.  The service formed part of the church festival, which included a barbecue and a variety of musical entertainment.  Originally, Bestwood MVC was invited to sing inside the church after the service, but the sun shone so brightly and the large audience were so settled outside the church, that the choir quickly re-arranged plans and sang outside. The short 30 minute performance was greeted with enthusiastic response from the audience.

Friday morning saw the choir in the town hall for a civic reception hosted by a young and newly elected mayor, Christian Grunwald, who gave a very warm and moving welcome to the choir and partners.  Following an extremely informative presentation, covering the long history of Rotenburg by town guide, Mrs Fleisschhut and an exchange of gifts, the choir assembled for an official press photograph in front of the Town Hall steps before presenting a short “Hello Rotenburg” concert.

Saturday evening was, for the majority of choir members, the highlight of our visit, with the choir performing an early evening concert in Auferstehungskirche, another beautiful, ‘picture post card’ church in the neighbouring town of Bebra.  The concert, originally programmed to last one hour, extended to just over an hour and a half, finally ending with an encore which brought almost the entire audience to its feet.  One choir member said it was the most memorable and appreciative audience he had experienced in over 30 years with the choir! It is true to say, that there were more than a few tears of emotion shed that evening, by both choir members and audience alike.

Sunday - Jakobi Church, in Rotenburg market square, was the venue for the choir’s last official performance.  The choir opened the morning service by singing the Sanctus, from Schubert’s ‘German Mass’, in both English and German, much to the delight of the locals and singing The Lord’s Prayer towards the close of the service.

The climax to the visit was the Sunday evening Farewell Party, held in the newly built ‘Burgerzentrum’ in Rotenburg. Over 150 English visitors and German friends enjoyed an extremely emotional time of more food, drink, fellowship and singing, interspersed with goodwill speeches and votes of thanks.  New friendships were made, old friendships strengthened and a true sense of a warm, sincere bond was experienced by all.  Included in the visiting group were four widows of former choir members, who had previously visited Rotenburg in 2007.   

Add to this, optional excursions to the GDR-Border Museum, Merkers Salt Mine, a Mediaeval Banquet, a relaxed evening in Hollerbach’s Beergarden (complete with large screen to view the Chelsea victory!), Rotenburg Town Festival and it all added up to a truly magnificent and memorable visit.
 “Wunderbar!”

14 May 2012

An article about the Choir's forthcoming brush with royalty has appeared in this week's Hucknall Dispatch newspaper. Read the full article here.

13 May 2012

As part of their Diamond Jubilee celebrations the Bestwood Male Voice Choir produced a very popular and well received programme of music at their concert at the Ravenshead Village Hall on Saturday 12th May 2012. Singing to an almost capacity audience the choir performed a varied programme of both traditional and popular songs.

Moving and well appreciated solos were performed by Chairman Colin Pursglove, Adrian Griffiths and David Riley with Adrian and David singing the well known and famous duet from Bizet's opera The Pearl Fishers.

The choir was conducted by their long standing and well respected Musical Director, Mirek Rus, with piano accompaniment provided by the choir’s accompanist, Glenys Skidmore and assistant Musical Director and accompanist Hilary Griffiths.

During the interval members of the audience were treated to tea and homemade cakes provided by the lady supporters of the choir.

24 April 2012

A capacity audience filled the entertainment hall in Larkhill Retirement Village, in Clifton, on Sunday afternoon, 22 April.

Bestwood Male Voice Choir was invited back by popular demand following last year’s successful concert and an even larger and extremely appreciative audience greeted the Choir.

The varied programme included 13 pieces by the Choir, as well as solo numbers by Choir chairman and first tenor Colin Pursglove and from the bass section, David Riley and Adrian Griffiths. Colin and David also performed a beautiful and very moving rendition of "Panis Angelicus".

In the absence of the usual MC, John Pritchard, musical director Mirek Rus multi-tasked as conductor and MC and introduced the Choir's newly adopted motto for its Diamond Anniversary year, “We are Sixty!!”

21 April 2012

The Central Methodist Church in Hucknall echoed with the sound of the National Anthem being sung, ‘hummed to’ and ‘ooed to’ by over sixty members of Bestwood Male Voice Choir on Friday evening, 20 April 2012.

As the choir has the honour of sharing its Diamond Anniversary with Her Majesty the Queen this year, it was invited to record the National Anthem for a special BBC Radio 2 programme entitled ‘We are sixty’. The programme’s producer, Andy West and a sound engineer, travelled up from London especially to record the choir singing the National Anthem, in a variety of arrangements for use in the programme. The recordings will be used as incidental music in the programme and as a finale.

The programme "We are sixty" will be broadcast on Sunday, 3 June 2012, at 7.00pm.

This is an exciting addition to the choir’s 60th anniversary celebrations, as it builds up to the Gala Diamond Anniversary Concert at the Albert Hall, Nottingham on Sunday, 23 September 2012, at 6.30pm.

3 April 2012

On Tuesday 27th March the Choir, along with family and friends gathered at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hucknall to say goodbye to Frank Wright who passed away on the 13th March.

Frank was the last of our founder members, and to lose him in the Choir's 60th year is particularly sad.

The service began and ended with the soaring sound of Frank singing a solo piece of the song "Whirlwind" in German, recorded in 1966 during the choir's visit to Herne in Germany. During the service the Choir sang one of Frank's favourite songs, "Take Me Home" which was requested by Frank's wife Doreen. The service was taken by the Reverend Eric Ashby, a long-time friend of Frank and a top tenor in the Choir.

Frank was the final link in the chain to the Choir's beginning, and now it is broken, Rest in peace Frank. You may be gone, but you will always be remembered and stay in our hearts with love and affection.

_17 March 2012

A very healthy £540 was raised for the Treetops Hospice on Saturday 10 March in a ‘Double Diamond’ Concert held at the Ockbrook Moravian Church.

This year we not only celebrate HM The Queen’s Diamond Anniversary but also the Diamond Anniversary of the Bestwood Male Voice Choir, hence the title of the concert.

The joint event with the Bestwood Male Voice Choir and the Settlement Singers contained a wide and varied programme of music including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘All I Ask of You’, Swann and Flanders ‘A Transport of Delight’, Paul Simon’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and Lionel Bart’s ‘Kings of Swing’.

Newly introduced to the Bestwood Male Voice Choir’s repertoire for the evening was Edgar Bateman’s ‘It’s a Great Big Shame’, with enthusiastic audience participation and a very entertaining and well received solo by John Woodhouse.

John Griffiths, Trustee and Patron of the Treetops Hospice gave the welcome address and Vote of Thanks on behalf of the concert sponsors, the Ockbrook and Borrowash Treetops Hospice Support Group.

Tickets are available only on the door.

Moravian Church
10 The Settlement
Ockbrook
Derby
DE72 3RJ
MAP

-- DETAILS --
Start time 7.30pm
£6.00 pay on the door
In aid of The Treetops Hospice Trust.

VENUE WEBSITE

5 February 2012

An enthusiastic audience enjoyed the annual Len Hogg Memorial Concert on 28 January 2012 at Watnall Road Baptist Church, Hucknall. Among the audience were Len’s daughter, son in law and other family members.

Proceeds from the concert went towards ‘Under One Roof’, the centre for voluntary work in Hucknall.

The full and varied programme included individual solos and duets from Colin Pursglove, David Riley and Adrian Griffiths.

The book ‘More Quips, Quotes and Jokes by the Famous and the Unknown’, compiled by the choir’s talented compere, John Pritchard, was also on sale. This second volume, part of the Choir’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year, contains entries by many celebrities and every choir member. The proceeds will help the choir to continue performing and raising money for many local and national charities.

Special mention was made of Bill Pilkington (Bass), still singing on the front row at the age of 95; Frank Wright (in the audience), the only remaining founder member of the Choir; and Glenys Skidmore, Choir accompanist and birthday girl.

5 January 2012

At the commencement of their 60th anniversary year, the Choir are beginning celebrations with their annual tribute to Len Hogg, the Choir's much loved and respected Founder, with a concert at the Watnall Road Baptist Church, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire on Saturday 28th January commencing at 7.00pm.
 
Supporting the Choir's traditional and popular songs will be both solo and duet items by choir members as part of the exciting programme being prepared by Musical Director Mirek Rus.
 
Proceeds from the event will go to the local charity 'Under One Roof' the centre for voluntary work in Hucknall.

Tickets at £6 are available from
- church members,
- box office on (0115) 928 5055,
- e-mail tickets@bestwoodmvc.org.uk
or on the door.

1 January 2012

To welcome in the new year the Bestwood Male Voice Choir are pleased to announce that they can now be enjoyed through their very own Youtube channel.

On the channel there are videos and recordings of the choir performing some of their favourite songs. Each audio track is accompanied by a montage of photos taken during the performance. Keep a look out for many more songs to come.

Click on the YouTube logo above or go to the channel here. 

29 December 2011

Well over 400 people packed into St Mary’s Church, Hucknall for Newstead Brass Band’s ‘Sounds Like Christmas’ concert on Monday 19 December 2011, with the Bestwood Male Voice Choir as special guests.

So many people attended that extra chairs had to be borrowed from two other venues to allow the audience to be seated!

Bestwood Male Voice Choir, conducted by Musical Director Mirek Rus and Newstead Brass Band, under the baton of Duncan Beckley, provided a varied and high class programme including popular and less well known seasonal favourites.

The evening also included audience participation with three traditional carols accompanied by the band and choir: ‘Deck the Halls’, ‘Ding dong merrily on high’ and ‘O come all ye faithful’.

An excellent concert enjoyed by all.

_ 17 December 2011

Saturday 10 December 2011 saw the Bestwood Male Voice Choir performing in St Paul’s Church, Daybrook at the Gedling District Council’s Annual Carol Concert.

The Mayor of Gedling, Councillor Sandra Barnes, was in attendance, together with a number of other dignitaries. Proceeds from the concert were donated to the Mayor’s chosen charity, Prostate Cancer Research.

Bestwood MVC shared the programme with the extremely entertaining and versatile 30-piece Newstead Brass Band, under the baton of their Musical Director, Duncan Beckley.

The first half of the programme included 5 items from Bestwood MVC, "Sing We Now Of Christmas", a seasonal fanfare arranged with new words by Jay Althouse. This was followed by "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head", a Southern Appalachian carol, "Coventry Carol", arranged by Norman Gilbert, "Rise up Shepherd And Foller", a traditional spiritual arranged by Alwyn Humphreys and "Do You Hear What I Hear?", words and music by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne.

In the second half, Bestwood Male Voice Choir performed five more carols, "Little Drummer Boy", arranged by Alwyn Humphreys, "The Very Best Time Of Year" and "Candlelight Carol", both with words by John Rutter. The last two items by the choir were the ever popular "When a Child is Born" and "Mary’s Boy Child".

Newstead Brass Band performed a number of familiar carols, some with modern arrangements and ended with their now traditional finale of "The Snow Waltz", with the audience swaying side to side, back to front and rising enthusiastically up and down from their seats!

11 December 2011

An article appeared in the Hucknall Dispatch giving an update on the Choir's anniversary, John's new book and the concerts running up to Christmas. The article can be found here.

10 December 2011

The Choir were invited to attend the switching on of the Bestwood Village Christmas tree lights event. To record the event the Hucknall Dispatch sent a reporter. Read the article here.

_ 9 December 2011

On Wednesday 7 December 2011 well over 500 people packed into Southwell Minster for this wonderful, joy filled seasonal event, which raised over £3,000 for Age Concern and Age UK.

Following the welcome by Dean John Guille, Colin Slater introduced Mich Stevenson OBE Dl, President of Age Concern and Age UK Support Group.

The concert got off to a very moving start with the popular congregational hymn, ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, with the opening verse sung beautifully by two Minster Choristers, Joseph Knight and Toby Hyde-Barker.

A full and varied programme followed, including four pieces by the Bestwood Male Voice Choir, directed by Mirek Rus and accompanied by Hilary Griffiths. In the first half Bestwood MVC sang two new pieces, ‘Sing We now of Christmas’, a seasonal fanfare arranged by Jay Althouse and ‘Jesus, Jesus rest your head’, a Southern Appalachian carol arranged by K J Dinham. In the second half, Bestwood MVC performed two old favourites, ‘Do you hear what I hear’ by Regney and Shayne arranged by Harry Simeone and ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ by Jester Harrison arranged by Alwyn Humphreys.

Bestwood MVC shared centre stage with the superb, young mixed singers of the Nottingham Trent University Chamber Choir, who also performed four carols. Their first half contribution comprised of a rather modern arrangement of ‘Away in a Manger’ and the well-known ‘Coventry Carol’. These were followed in the second half by ‘Time of Snow’ and ‘Christmas Lullaby’.

Solo performances by Marlya Mondszein, included stunning renditions of ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Ave Maria’, both pieces accompanied by Hilary Punnett, Organ Scholar at the Minster.

The audience were also enchanted by the return of Joseph Knight and Toby Hyde-Barker who gave a spine tingling duet performance of ‘Walking in the Air’.

Interspersed with Bible readings, poems and opening and closing organ fanfares by Hilary Punnett, this was a truly uplifting event, with something for everyone.

_30 November 2011

Bestwood Male Voice Choir helped to raise over £300 for the local Friends of Chernobyl charity at their concert at Seymour Road Baptist Church, Hucknall on Saturday 26th November 2011.

Each year the charity raises funds to be able to host and entertain a group of children from families affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

The choir sang a varied selection of songs both old and new, supported by soloists Colin Pursglove (First Tenor) and Adrian Griffiths (Bass), both of whom received rousing applause from the capacity audience.

John Pritchard, the choir’s popular compere, once again entertained the audience with his choral knowledge and sharp wit.

Glenys Skidmore and Hilary Griffiths accompanied the choir on the piano with Mirek Rus, the choir’s long standing Musical Director, providing and conducting a programme which was enthusiastically received by the audience.

26 November 2011
Next year sees the choir entering its 60th year and planning is taking place for the celebration of its Diamond Jubilee with a concert at the Albert Hall, Nottingham on Sunday 23rd September 2012.
 
As a preliminary start to these celebrations John Pritchard, the choir’s prestigious and much-loved compere, is publishing a book entitled "More Quips, Quotes and Jokes by the Famous and the Unknown", with contributions from famous personalities, choir members and friends. Well-known celebrities with contributions include: Kenneth Clarke, Lord Chancellor and MP for Rushcliffe; Martin Allen, Manager of Notts County Football Club; Dickie Bird, retired cricket umpire; Sherrie Hewson, actress and panellist in "Loose Women"; and Amir Khan, WBC Super and IBF Light Welterweight World Boxing Champion.
 
This is John's second book, the first one having sold out within a very short space of time. In the foreword to his new book he explains he is aware how, over the years, the Choir has raised many thousands of pounds for charity. Therefore it seemed fitting to donate the proceeds of his new work to the Choir, which will assist them to continue with their performance and charity work.
 
The book is moderately priced at £4 per copy and is a great idea for a stocking filler at Christmas.  Copies can be obtained by telephoning John directly on 01623 612872
or via e-mail johnbpritchard@googlemail.com.

25 November 2011
A selection of photos from the Bestwood Male Voice Choir Gala Concert are available in the Photos 2011 section.

The concert was held in the Nottingham Albert Hall on 9 October 2011 and along with the Choir the programme also included the musical talents of Sarah Simmonds (singer) and  Martin Jacoby (pianist). 

7 November 2011

A vote of thanks from the concert organisers:

'Grangewood Church had the pleasure of having the Bestwood Male Voice Choir perform for us recently.

They sang to a packed church and gave us a wonderful evening of music and laughter. The singing was of a very high standard giving us music of many different styles;songs from musicals and opera, religious, folk songs, songs from Africa, America and popular favourites from all times.

It was a great success financially and raised £650 for the 'Sapphire Community Project'. This project is to improve the facilities in the church to enable the building to be used to its full capacity to benefit the members of the church and the wider community of Wollaton and Bramcote.'

20 October 2011

New photo in the Photo - 2011 section showing Colin receiving the Miners Lamp at the Blidworth Methodist Church in September.

16 October 2011

The next appearance of the Choir is at the Grangewood Methodist Church. Click here to see the poster

Grangewood Road
Wollaton
Nottingham
NG8 2SJ

On Saturday, 29th October at 7.30 p.m Ticket incl. refreshments - £6.00
from:
tickets@grangewoodmethodist.org.uk
Pat Clarke - Tel. 0115 9251562 or
Rosemary Harrison Tel. 0115 8772238
or at the door on the night

Proceeds for the Grangewood Sapphire Community Project

www.grangewoodmethodist.org.uk

15 October 2011

Here's an article about Bill, but as Bill stated last week he was never a miner.

8 October 2011

At the Blidworth Concert the Choir was presented with a miners lamp.
Read all about it in this article from Dispatch local newspaper

17 September 2011
Tonight's concert is at St Michael and All Angels Church in Underwood.

Details are on the poster.

If you need help finding the church click here for a map.

We are proud to announce details of our Gala Concert in October.

The following poster will be displayed in prominent positions around the county. If you feel that your group or local shop is just the place to advertise our event then please feel free to download and print it off

12 August 2011

The next concert is at the
  All Saints Church,
  Tamworth Rd,
  Sawley,
  NG10 3AT.

This concert is part of the Sawley Flower Festival.

Tickets will be available on the door for £5.00

12 June 2011
Singing in the modern church hall of The Good Shepherd Church, Thackerays Lane, Woodthorpe on 11 June turned out to be a revelation. Although the choir was seated “on the flat”, so to speak, the hall’s acoustics were excellent and helped to bring out the best in the choir.

The hall was filled to capacity with an enthusiastic and very appreciative audience, the vast majority of whom we did not recognise (a refreshing change!).

The audience were entertained with fine singing by the choir and with highly enjoyable solos by Colin Pursglove and Derrick Heppenstall. A third soloist, Adrian Griffiths, making his solo debut with Bestwood Male Voice Choir, received much deserved and rapturous applause for his excellent performance of ”Ol’ man river”.

The evening’s programme was stitched together seamlessly and light-heartedly with the humorous musings and stories of popular compere, John Pritchard.

25 May 2011
The next appearance of the BMVC is

Saturday June 11th
Church of the Good Shepherd, Thackerays Lane,
Woodthorpe, Nottingham,
NG5 4HT  (in new hall adjacent)

Tickets are available on the door for £5

25 April 2011
After the death of the Choir’s founder, Len Hogg, in 2005, it became the tradition to name a regular concert after him and this takes place at the end of January each year, at Watnall Road Baptist Church, Hucknall.

This year we were delighted to share the concert with The Greasley Singers, conducted by Gloria Preece, who gave us a very enjoyable and varied programme. As well as individual performances by both choirs, there was a moving duet rendition of Panis Angelicus, sung by our Chairman, Colin Pursglove and David Riley.
The first half of the programme finished with both choirs, conducted by Gloria, singing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Some enchanted evening”.

In the absence of John Pritchard, our regular compere, Mirek directed the evening with charm and good humour, together with some amusing jokes.

The evening finished with both choirs and the audience in a rousing rendition of “Jerusalem”. By all accounts the evening was a great success: musically, with high praise from the audience; and financially, raising over £700.

13 March 2011
Some years ago, Bestwood Male Voice Choir used to rehearse in Bulwell United Reform Church, Broomhill Road. So we were delighted to be invited to share in the church’s centenary celebrations earlier this month. Our role in those celebrations was to sing to a packed house on 12 March. It was also fitting that the evening started with generous words of welcome from church member, Reg Moore, himself a former member of Bestwood MVC.

12 February 2011
2011 started with a major purchase for the choir - a new concert piano.  We were able to do this thanks to the generosity of long-serving and faithful member, Jack Wright (bass), who passed away in 2010. His very generous bequest to the choir means that he will long be remembered, not least in the form of a brass plaque attached to the piano which reads: “Jack’s Piano for the enjoyment of Bestwood Male Voice Choir”

5 January 2011
This year’s annual choir dinner lived up to expectations: a good attendance of eighty including wives and friends and good food made it a memorable evening.

After the meal there were musical offerings from the ladies, soloists and, of course, the gentlemen of the Bestwood Male Voice Choir.

We are available to perform at all kinds of events. We can provide a varied programme of songs from our 2012 repertoire to entertain at weddings, corporate events and fundraising concerts.

If you would like the choir to sing at your event, please contact our Concert Secretary, David Riley by email on bookings@bestwoodmvc.org.uk or use the Contact Us page.

If you think you may like to join the choir, come along and listen to a rehearsal on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm.

We meet at
Bestwood Village Social Club,
Park Road,
Bestwood Village
Nottinghamshire
NG6 8TQ,
0115 8408330.
Registered Charity No.
702126

Patron:
Duke of St Albans

President and Conductor Emeritus:
Howard Leese OBE

Chairman:
Colin Pursglove 
chairman@bestwoodmvc.org.uk

Musical Director:
Mirek Rus 
musical_director@bestwoodmvc.org.uk

Concert Secretary:
David Riley
bookings@bestwoodmvc.org.uk

Membership Secretary:
Barry Heath
membership@bestwoodmvc.org.uk
0115 9177083

Registered Charity No. 702126