Leeds Male Voice Choir

Leeds Male Voice Choir
Leeds Male Voice Choir in 2015
Background information
Also known as Broom Excelsior Vocal Union, Broom Excelsior Male Voice Choir, Broom Male Voice Choir
Origin Leeds, United Kingdom
Genres Classical, Pop, Folk, Musicals, Rock, Sacred
Years active 1916 (1916) – present
Website http://www.leedsmalevoicechoir.co.uk

Leeds Male Voice Choir is a choir of men founded in 1916 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. Originally formed from mining workers in Middleton, Leeds, the choir is now recognised as a leading men's choir in the United Kingdom and noted for its diversity of membership and varied and divergent repertoire.[1]

The choir currently consists of around sixty active members and performs regularly throughout Leeds and Yorkshire. The choir is also noted for its efforts to Get Men Singing and offers annual singing workshops as part of the choir's charitable aims.[2]

Early years: 1916–1953

Formed by Thomas Crossland, the organist and choirmaster at Stourton Wesleyan Chapel the choir took its name from Broom Pit in Middleton, Leeds and was known for a time as the Broom Excelsior Male Voice performing for the first time in Stourton in September 1916.[3] John Hickes was the conductor until 1953, overseeing the name change to Leeds Male Voice Choir in the late 1940s.[4]

Leeds Male Voice Choir in 1970

Later years: 1953–2013

John Wheeler took the Director's baton in 1962 with his wife Ursula as the accompanist. He was a principal singer at Leeds Parish Church and was also conductor of Batley Male Voice Choir and Phoenix Park Male Choir in Bradford. Wheeler led the choir and began a series of exchange visits in 1969 with Dortsfeld Male Voice Choir in Dortmund, Leeds’ twin city in Germany. The choir developed a concert schedule across Yorkshire and took part in various music festivals across Northern England also performing at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

In 1970, Leeds Male Voice Choir featured as part of the '1000 Voice Choir', accompanied by the Black Dyke Band which was recorded for Stars on Sunday on ITV, the choir also featured on the accompanying album issued in the same year. In 1971 the choir took first place at the Robertshaw Music Festival in Bingley. In 1974 the choir made a TV appearance on Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks.[5] In 1978 the choirs first album was released featuring some of the traditional male voice repertoire.

Under the direction of Nigel Wears the choir performed in 1988 and 1991 in the ‘Thousand Yorkshire Voices’ concerts in The Royal Albert Hall in London. Brass band accompaniment came from both Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band and Sellers International Band. The choir again returned to the Royal Albert Hall in 1994 whilst directed by David Burnett.[6]

In 2013 led by conductor Will Prideaux the choir hosted the Sing For Heroes concert, gathering men from throughout the city to perform in Leeds Town Hall in aid of the charity Help For Heroes. The concert attracted a variety of new members and helped expand the size and quality of sound of the choir.[7]

Recent years: 2014–present

Following the appointment of Tim Knight,[7] Principal of the Yorkshire College Of Music and Drama the choir launched a series of themed concerts, performing The Best Of British at Leeds Minster in June 2014.[8] The annual festive celebration The Spirit of Christmas launched in December 2014 at Leeds Minster and the Hollywood Heroes concert followed in 2015 to a sell out audience at Morley Town Hall.[9] In December 2015 The Spirit of Christmas transferred to Leeds Cathedral where it has continued to be performed annually.

The choir's divergence from the traditional male voice repertoire resulted in a more internationally themed musical programme,[10] further highlighted in a new recordings in 2015 and 2018. [11]

Leeds Male Voice Choir celebrated one hundred years of singing in Leeds in Leeds Town Hall with Rothwell Temperance Band and The White Rosettes in September 2016, compered by Simon Lindley.[12] Leeds City Museum presented an exhibition of the choirs history between November 2016 and March 2017.

In May 2017 the choir undertook their first international tour in more than 30 years performing across Belgium. Venues included St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and the Menin Gate in Ypres.[13]

Musical Directors

The following have been Musical Directors:

  • 1916–1928, Thomas Crossland
  • 1929–1953, John Hickes
  • 1953–1962, Unknown
  • 1962–1986, John Wheeler
  • 1987–1994, Nigel Wears
  • 1994–2004, David Burnett
  • 2004–2013, Michael Grant
  • 2013–2013, Will Prideaux
  • 2014–present, Tim Knight

References

  1. ↑ "Can the male voice choir survive in the modern world?". Daily Telegraph. 15 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Leeds Male Voice Choir Celebrates 100 Years with Search for New Members". Yorkshire Post. 16 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Leeds Male Voice Choir on Song for Centenary". Yorkshire Evening Post. 13 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Battle to save Leeds Male Voice Choir". Yorkshire Evening Post. 11 April 2011.
  5. ↑ "Opportunity Knocks". IMDb.com. 31 December 1974.
  6. ↑ "History of Leeds Male Voice Choir". leedsmalevoicechoir.co.uk. 29 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sing for Heroes with Leeds Male Voice Choir". Leeds City Council. August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Flying the Flag in Leeds". East Leeds Magazine. 29 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Hollywood Comes to Morley". The Yorkshire Reporter. 5 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Classical Male Voice Spectacular in Roundhay". [The Yorkshire Reporter]. 31 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "Leeds Male Voice Choir – Spaséñiye Sodélal". YouTube. 15 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Leeds Choir to toast 100 years with special concert". Yorkshire Evening Post. 20 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Summer extravaganza will raise money for hospice". Ilkley Gazette. 8 June 2017.
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