Island Life Magazine Ltd January/February 2006 | Page 47

FEATURE
Picture: Arthur Mew

return visit to their mainland home in May this year, for two joint
concerts.
“It’s quite incredible that our choir has never left the Island, but we
are going to put that right in 2006 and hopefully this will be the
start of us doing more performances on the mainland” says Barry.
Other exciting highlights of this year for the choir will include
hosting a visit from “down under” - the Melbourne MVC of
Australia, who are in the UK to take part in the 1000 Welsh Voices at
London’s Royal Albert Hall – as well as the Palynt MVC from
Cornwall.
On average, the choir performs at least once a month, although
bookings for funerals and weddings – particularly over the summer
– can make for a much busier calendar.
They rehearse every Friday in Newchurch Village Hall, and despite
their healthier numbers, there’s still plenty of room for new singers,
especially in the younger age bracket.
“It is a wonderful pastime,” says Barry, “and very enjoyable to sing

for an audience. The choir works so well because we have such a
broad cross-section of men from all backgrounds”.
The singing is done very much for the love of it – although the choir
has an annual fund-raiser just to keep itself ticking over financially.
This is the September Serenade, a one and a half hour programme
staged every year in Ne ݍ