Last Updated:18/02/2012
Webmaster: Dennis Large
Founded in 1957. The Crewe Male Voice Choir began with 18 members, many from the former Rolls Royce Merlin Singers. In the autumn of that year we saw their first concert. Now the choir regularly gives 12 or more concerts a year. Over the intervening years the choir earned a reputation for polished performances in a wide range of musical styles. The choir achieved considerable success in a number of competitions held at Blackpool, Morecombe, Llandudno, Chester the Wrekin and others. Today its main strength lies in concert performances. Highlights in the choir's history include organising the first Massed English Male Voice Choir Concert staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London, participating in the 500 Men concerts at the Free Trade Hall Manchester and with The World Choir - Ten Thousand Voices at Cardiff Arms Park in 1992 and 1993. Celebrities Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Dennis O'Neil and others sang on these occasions. The choir has also featured on BBC Radio and Television and has several recordings of items from its extensive repertoire. In 2007 the Choir released their first Cd - "Rhapsody in Crewe" see Recordings.
Crewe Hall
Nantwich.
Crewe Male Voice Choir has performed at many venues throughout Cheshire, our home county, also in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Wales and on the Isle of Wight. Further away the choir has undertaken overseas tours to France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Poland. During their tour of Germany the Choir established a firm friendship with the "Germania Chor" from Bischofsheim, one of the towns twinned with Crewe. Over a period of 13 years the choirs have taken part in exchange visits and joint concerts. 2006 was the 15th Anniversary of the signing of the Twinning agreement with Bischofsheim. In 2009 the choir travelled to Poland to visit another twinned town with Crewe. During April 2006 the choir travelled to Gibraltar as guests of the Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. Their programme included two formal concerts. One a public concert in the King's Chapel in the city and also in local schools, restaurants and in the open air in the city's main square. During this week the choir managed to find time to fit in trips to Spain and Tangiers. The week was both a great success and a provided a wonderful time for the choir and their supporters who enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Gibraltar.
In 2008 we visited Dzierzoniow situated in the Lower Silesia area of Poland. Having flown from Liverpool to Wroclaw we travelled by coach to meet our hosts at a civic reception at the Town Hall. Dzierzoniow is a delightful and picturesque little town. During our time there we visited the City of Wroclaw touring several of the many churches. Once again we were very impressed by the friendliness of everyone we met. On the Saturday we visited Swidnica to see the Wooden Church of Peace before continuing on to the Cathedral for the first of our Concerts. On the Sunday we were privileged to be invited to sing during Mass at the Church in Dzierzoniow. Following the Mass we gave our second concert to the congregation. On our last day we visited the mountainous area to tour the caves at Walim before returning to Dzierzoniow where we gave our final performance at the local Cultural Centre. Another wonderful experience for the choir members and their wives having made more friends whom we hope we shall meet again in the near future.
