Caldicot Male Voice Choir

16/03/2025

Homeward bound after a great weekend filled with laughter, music and comradeship.

14/03/2025

Every choir needs to raise funds to allow members to pursue their wonderful hobby of singing together and Caldicot Male Voice Choir is no exception. The funds raised help the choirs support through concerts and other events, local and national charities.

One of the major fund raising events over many years has been the choir's Annual Race Night originated by President Richard Evans and continued on 10 years ago by bass chorister Ron Powell.

To organise this event, which raises several thousands of pounds annually requires a huge amount of work, effort, endurance and patience to make it a huge success each year.

In recognition of the effort put in by Ron and his wife Linda over the years, on the latest Race Night held on February 27th, Ron was surprised and delighted (his words 'chuffed to bits) to receive a hand made slate plaque by chairman Graham Hughes.

The citation reads 'This plaque is presented to Ron Powell in Appreciation of Organising Race Nights to Raise Funds for Caldicot Male Voice Choir'

Well deserved Ron and thank you once again.

13/03/2025

We just thought you might like to see a clip of the choir singing at the St David's day concert at Hereford's St Francis Xavier's Church.

Enjoy our rendering of Bring Him Home from the musical Les Miserables. Conducted by Musical Director Sian Hatton and accompanied by Olivia Dance.

The choir is holding its Annual Concerts at the Choir Hall on April 11th and 12th. Details to follow.

12/03/2025

Here is a recording of Anfonaf Angel performed by the choir at Armagh Cathedral in March 2020. The choir will be returning to Northern Ireland this coming Friday (early 4 am start) to sing at St Nicholas Church, Carrickfergus the next day. Have a great trip, lads.

01/02/2025

Lovely write up in the Jackson Telegram News in the USA by Wilbur McCormick .

The Davis-McCormick Choirs of Jackson report the recent death of their oldest and certainly one of their most distinguished members — Bill Nash. The Director Emeritus of the Davis-McCormick Choirs, Wilbur McCormick, submitted the following report on Mr. Nash’s death and his notable connection to...

22/01/2025

To operate a male voice choir effectively is very expensive so Caldicot Male Voice Choir is extremely grateful to Enterprise MobilityTM for its incredible donation of £3000 following a similar donation earlier in 2024. This valuable contribution will help support the choir in presenting concerts and other events to help local and national charities and also further its aims of promoting the traditional culture of Welsh male choral music, enjoyed by so many throughout the world.

Since its formation in 1963 the choir has helped to raise several hundreds of thousands of pounds for local and national charities.

The choir chairman Graham Hughes was pleased, on behalf of the choir to receive a presentation cheque for the amount from Enterprise MobilityTM team member Shaun Clarke at choir practice in the choir hall on Monday January 9th.

Privately owned by the Taylor family of St Louis USA, Enterprise MobilityTM is a leading International provider of mobility solutions including car rentals, fleet management, flexible vehicle hire, car sharing as well as managing a diverse fleet of 2.3 million vehicles through an integrated network of 9500 fully staffed neighbourhood and airport rental locations in more than 90 countries.

To learn more about the choir, please visit the web site www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk

14/01/2025

What a great start to the year, sharing a concert with the fabulous Caldicot Male Voice Choir! Thanks to SARA for inviting us. Thanks to Lyn Gauntlett for a great review and Colleen Gauntlett for the photos

13/01/2025

The New Year started with a bang for Caldicot Male Voice Choir’s concert on Saturday January 11th at the Drill Hall, Chepstow to raise funds for SARA, The Severn Area Rescue Association, a charity which carries out sea and land rescues and searches throughout the Severn Estuary. Entirely made up of over 200 volunteers the Association receives about 100 callouts every year, saving many lives.

The concert, organised by Nadine Ikin opened with Caldicot Male Voice Choir, conducted by Musical Director Sian Hatton and accompanied by Olivia Dance and John Nicholson presented to an audience of almost 200, a wide range of 16 songs in its programme, opening with ‘African Prayer’ sung partly in Welsh and including favourites ‘Bring Him Home’, ’76 Trombones’, ‘The Prayer’, Welsh hymns ‘Cwm Rhondda’, ‘Rachie’ and ‘Gwahoddiad’. The choir’s programme finished with ‘World in Union’ receiving enthusiastic and long lasting applause.

The concert also included the wonderful ‘Singing Club of Chepstow’ conducted and accompanied by Jayne Thomas. The club, consisting of mixed voices presented a delightful range of songs opening with ‘Sinner Man’ and included ‘A Million Dreams’, ‘One Day Like This’. The highlight of a delightful entertaining programme was ‘An incredible medley of 16 Elvis songs’ starting and ending with American Trilogy and finalising with ‘Lean on Me’.

The concert was thoroughly enjoyed by all and everyone left knowing that they had experienced a unique event to raise over £1400 for SARA.

Please visit the web sites https://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/
www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk and https://singingclubber.co.uk/ for more information.

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett

12/01/2025

It is with great sadness that we have to tell you that Bill Nash passed away peacefully last night only a few days after his 102nd birthday.

The choir will sing 'Gwahoddiad' at practice tomorrow evening and a tribute describing Bill's history and achievements as a chorister will be written later when appropriate. Rest in peace dear friend. You will be long remembered as a great chorister.

The photo shows Bill enjoying an 'Afterglow' song at the Choir Hall following a concert alongside fellow bass Karl Gregory.

11/01/2025

Long serving Caldicot MVC chorister Bill Nash retired from the choir at the age of 98 making him at the time it is believed the oldest active member of a Male Voice Choir in the country. During his long service he was awarded a Lifetime achievement Award and an Honorary Vice Presidency. He was also made an Honorary member of the D.M. Davis Male Voice Choir from Ohio U.S.A.

He was also presented to HM Prince Charles at a concert at Buckingham Palace April 2018

On January 9th this year Bill achieved his 102nd birthday and as a tribute, the choir sang 'Penblwydd Hapus, Happy Birthday' for Bill at practice on January 9th. A recording was played to Bill the day after his birthday.

Conducted by Sian Hatton and accompanied by Olivia Dance.

06/01/2025

At the Choir's Christmas party last December 6th a few choristers sang a few songs from South Pacific and Oklahoma. Here's one of them singing 'There is Nothin' Like a Dame' accompanied by Shirley Anne James and filmed by Colleen Gauntlett.

Also performing at the party were The U3A Ukulele Band and The Serenata Ladies Choir

There may be more to come.

Caldicot Male Voice Choir has a lot of social and fun activities as well as singing. Come along to the Choir Hall on any Monday or Thursday evening from 7pm or visit the web site www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk

22/12/2024

Mentioned in the poem ‘Usk’ by T.S. Eliot, the 15th century, family run White Hart Village Inn, Llangybi once owned by Henry VIII and part of his dowry to Jane Seymour, has in its long history echoed to the sound of the chants of Cistercian Monks and to the tramp of Cromwellian army boots. Nothing however could compare to the sounds of Caldicot Male Voice Choir when it turned up to entertain the patrons and diners with its Christmas songs and carols on Friday December 19th.

Standing with their backs to an ancient 15th century fireplace, complete with a Priest hole, the choristers, conducted by Sian Hatton and accompanied by Olivia Dance entertained with a collection of songs and Carols from its Christmas repertoire.

The programme included ’Joy to the World’; ‘When a Child is Born’; the Christmas hit ‘Silver Bells’ sung by so many including Bing Crosby, Matt Monroe and Perry Como; the ancient carol, ‘God Rest You Merry Gentlemen’, the Russian drinking and dance song ‘Casatchok’, the 'Little Drummer Boy; the humorous ‘The Twelve Days After Christmas’, the iconic hit of Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’; a Christmas medley which included ‘Have yourself a Merry little Christmas, ‘A Child is a King’ which finalized with ‘Jingle Bells’ with the patrons enthusiastically joining in.

Following the performances the choir was treated to a fabulous feast of festive refreshments provided by the proprietor, Khaled Shalaby. Many thanks for inviting us and looking after us so well.

(I think when T.S. Eliot refers to a white hart he’s talking about a deer behind St Cybi’s Well, not the pub).

Many thanks to Zak Shalaby for taking the photos.

If you would like to learn more about the choir please visit the web site www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk

19/12/2024

On January 11th the choir will be performing at the Drill Hall in Chepstow in aid of the charity SARA which provides rescue services on land and sea around the Severn estuary. Also singing will be The Singing Club of Chepstow.

It promises to be a great concert.

For tickets click on the link https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/CMVCandChepstowSingingClubConcertinaidofSARA

17/12/2024

Following its visit to the Cherry Tree Care Home the choir was pleased to return to the Haywain pub in Caldicot on 16th December to present the patrons with a range of its popular Christmas songs and carols.

Conducted by Musical Director Sian Hatton and accompanied by Olivia Dance the choir presented a delightful range of favourite Christmas songs and carols for the residents and staff of the home.
The repertoire included ‘Joy to the World, ‘Silver Bells’, the Johnny Mathis hit ‘When a Child is Born’, ’Casatchok’ with its noisy ending, ‘Shepherds watch and Wise Men Wonder’, the humorous ‘The Twelve Days After Christmas’, a new presentation this year by the choir and finalising with ‘A Christmas Medley’ in which the audience joined in enthusiastically.

Following refreshments provided by the publican and a raffle in which chorister David Price won ‘The Rat’ the choristers continued with a range of Christmas carols conducted by Alyn Dawe and accompanied by John Nicholson.

It is always a pleasure to support the local community, especially at Christmas and together with its joint concert at the Choir Hall in Mill Lane with a local school the choir performs at several locations in Caldicot throughout this period.

The choir’s final performance will be at the White Hart Inn, Llangibi on Friday 20th December.

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett.

Check out the web site www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk for more information about the choir.