About

Rossendale Male Voice Choir

Founded in 1924 from the ashes of the Goodshaw Glee Union, the Founder-Conductor, the late Fred Tomlinson, M.B.E., took a group of men and made them into one of the most respected male voice choirs in the country. After giving more than fifty years service to the choir he retired in 1976 and he was succeeded by his son, Ernest Tomlinson, the well known composer. He arranged many concert pieces exclusively for the choir which are invariably included in its repertoire. In 1981 Ernest Tomlinson was succeeded by Beatrice M. Wade, a well known Soprano and teacher of singing and voice production who was also the Founder-Conductor of the Rossendale Ladies Choir. In June 2005 Beatrice retired as conductor of the Male Voice Choir and the Festival Choir due to ill health and in September of that year they appointed Dorothy Stoddard as their new Conductor.

During its long history the choir has gained extensive achievements in leading Festivals both at home and abroad, including four times Premier Award Winners at Llangollen International Eisteddfod. It has featured in Concerts at most of the major halls in the North-West and at the Royal Festival Hall in London. They have appeared with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, the Liverpool Philharmonic and various other orchestras and several leading Brass Bands including Black Dyke Brass Band and CWS Brass Band. In the late 1970s they won the BBC T.V. North-West "Good Sing" competition for three consecutive years.

The Choir has made several radio broadcasts and in 1987 participated in a live performance of the Annual Carol Concert from Manchester Free Trade Hall.

The choir has enjoyed a number of Festival successes at Southport, Biddulph, Blackpool, Morecambe, Minsterly Eisteddfod and the Isle-of-Man. Under Beatrice's guidance they won over thirty trophies together with an equally impressive number of first places singing with the Rossendale Ladies Choir as the "Rossendale Festival Choir" which was founded by Ernest Tomlinson and Beatrice Wade.

The choir gives concerts throughout the North-West and they also contribute to charitable causes. For example, they sang in Blackburn Cathedral in 1994 for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and raised almost one thousand pounds.

They have been involved in an exchange scheme with Frauenchor Grenzland 87, a Ladies choir from Mönchengladbach since September 1994. The choir has travelled to Germany on three occasions and given concerts with their friends and the Ladies have made two return visits to Rossendale to sing in concert with the choir and to further strengthen their friendship.

In September 1996 the choir spent the weekend as guests of Newquay Male Voice Choir. They gave two concerts and also a recital in Truro Cathedral. 2003 saw the choir at the Albert Hall in a joint massed choir concert for Cancer Research.

Since the six Celebrity concerts held throughout Rossendale in1999 and the publishing of the "History of the RMVC" the Choir has been busy with engagements throughout the North West as well as winning further trophies at Morecambe and Biddulph.

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Rossendale Rossendale is sometimes called the "Valley of Song", which is also the title of one of our records. Singing and music-making go back over many years. Baptist choirs were singing over two hundred years ago and the "Deyn Layrocks" (the Larks of Dean), were performing at the time of the American Civil War. The valley is set in South East Lancashire, tucked away in the Pennine Hills. It is well served by the M66 which reaches into the heart of the valley. The old Bury-Rawtenstall railway line built between 1846 and 1852 has been revived and, if you have time to spare, this is a good way to begin your journey into Rossendale. It is a delightful place to visit, as an increasing number of people have found as they walk around the many trails which have been opened up. For the adventurous there is even a Ski-slope to help you prepare for your holidays. It is an even better place to live as many commuters have found since the M66 was completed. It is only 30 minutes from the centre of Manchester. The people of Rossendale are warm and friendly and these two attributes are well-represented in the way in which the choir sings. There is only one way to find out. Come and see and hear for yourself, rehearsals are open to all those interested in singing. It's FREE and if you like what you hear and want to join you'll be made doubly welcome.		Rossendale Male Voice Choir Founded in 1924 from the ashes of the Goodshaw Glee Union, the Founder-Conductor, the late Fred Tomlinson, M.B.E., took a group of men and made them into one of the most respected male voice choirs in the country. After giving more than fifty years service to the choir he retired in 1976 and he was succeeded by his son, Ernest Tomlinson, the well known composer. He arranged many concert pieces exclusively for the choir which are invariably included in its repertoire. In 1981 Ernest Tomlinson was succeeded by Beatrice M. Wade, a well known Soprano and teacher of singing and voice production who was also the Founder-Conductor of the Rossendale Ladies Choir. In June 2005 Beatrice retired as conductor of the Male Voice Choir and the Festival Choir due to ill health and in September of that year they appointed Dorothy Stoddard as their new Conductor. During its long history the choir has gained extensive achievements in leading Festivals both at home and abroad, including four times Premier Award Winners at Llangollen International Eisteddfod. It has featured in Concerts at most of the major halls in the North-West and at the Royal Festival Hall in London. They have appeared with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, the Liverpool Philharmonic and various other orchestras and several leading Brass Bands including Black Dyke Brass Band and CWS Brass Band. In the late 1970s they won the BBC T.V. North-West "Good Sing" competition for three consecutive years. The Choir has made several radio broadcasts and in 1987 participated in a live performance of the Annual Carol Concert from Manchester Free Trade Hall. The choir has enjoyed a number of Festival successes at Southport, Biddulph, Blackpool, Morecambe, Minsterly Eisteddfod and the Isle-of-Man. Under Beatrice's guidance they won over thirty trophies together with an equally impressive number of first places singing with the Rossendale Ladies Choir as the "Rossendale Festival Choir" which was founded by Ernest Tomlinson and Beatrice Wade. The choir gives concerts throughout the North-West and they also contribute to charitable causes. For example, they sang in Blackburn Cathedral in 1994 for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and raised almost one thousand pounds. They have been involved in an exchange scheme with Frauenchor Grenzland 87, a Ladies choir from Mönchengladbach since September 1994. The choir has travelled to Germany on three occasions and given concerts with their friends and the Ladies have made two return visits to Rossendale to sing in concert with the choir and to further strengthen their friendship. In September 1996 the choir spent the weekend as guests of Newquay Male Voice Choir. They gave two concerts and also a recital in Truro Cathedral. 2003 saw the choir at the Albert Hall in a joint massed choir concert for Cancer Research. Since the six Celebrity concerts held throughout Rossendale in1999 and the publishing of the "History of the RMVC" the Choir has been busy with engagements throughout the North West as well as winning further trophies at Morecambe and Biddulph.

ABOUT US