Sing in the new year with Peterborough Male Voice Choir

Looking for a fresh challenge which takes you out of your comfort zone, with a great social scene to boot? Then look no further: the city’s multi-award winning Peterborough Male Voice Choir is recruiting for 2017 and they’d like YOU to join them!

Loca heroes

As local choirs go, they don’t come much better than Peterborough Male Voice Choir (PMVC), with its busy concert schedule, an impressive record of national and international competition success and a 1,200-seat auditorium with extensive rehearsal facilities at its Broadway Theatre home. In the last few years PMVC has performed with stellar musicians including the King’s Singers, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, legendary soprano Leslie Garret and folk hero Jon Boden of Bellowhead – among many others – in venues stretching from Truro Cathedral to the Sage Gateshead and all points between, regularly featuring on BBC local and national radio.

Raising awareness

The choir welcomes talented and enthusiastic men from all walks of life and of all ages, with a high proportion of younger members, many of them attracted through the high profile Sing for Heroes charity fundraising campaigns in 2011 and 2013 and – more recently – through the phenomenally successful Men United In Song project earlier this year, which raised much-needed funds for Prostate Cancer UK as well as generating an influx of new recruits to PMVC. While some of the men are experienced singers, professional training and support is provided for everyone, enabling new members to develop their skills very quickly.

‘Two children and the pressures of a reactive role at work make for little time to switch off, down tools and do something for myself’ says Matthew Johnson. ‘After weeks driving past countless banners advertising the Men United In Song project I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go! Suddenly I had a hobby, I’d met some great friends and drunk far more beers than I’d ever imagined! Not ready for it to end I auditioned for the main choir, and since then I’ve had some really memorable experiences – performing with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra certainly set the bar!’

A new lease of life

‘I never anticipated staying on and joining PVMC itself after the Men United In Song project but I’m so glad I did,’ says Jack Grover. ‘There have been Mondays where going to rehearsal is the last thing I’ve felt like doing on the walk back from work, but as soon as we start the warm-up those stresses just disappear; music is so good for the soul! PVMC is a group full of great people all with a common enthusiasm and the concerts I’ve been part of so far have been right up there as some of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.’

Adrian Woodcock agrees: ‘I joined Men United in Song full of trepidation, but by the end of the first rehearsal everything was different: the group of guys was amazing, everyone was made to feel welcome and my incredible journey began – there have been so many highs in just a few short months! There are very few years that you describe as life changing but 2016 has definitely been one of them!’

Driving force

Director Will Prideaux – the driving force behind PMVC and its associated charity Peterborough Sings! since 2010 – says: ‘It’s a real privilege to work with such a cracking bunch of blokes. They take their music making as seriously as their socialising. There’s a real camaraderie amongst them and a tight-knit aspect to the group makes them a force to be reckoned with.’

‘I wish I had started years ago,’ says Michael Oldfield. ‘PMVC has a great group of members with a very professional team behind it which produces fantastic results. If you enjoy some friendly banter and meeting new people, challenging yourself to improve week on week, then I’d definitely recommend you get involved!’

PMVC is now recruiting. For further information please contact Jo on 01733 425194, visit www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk or email ● PMVC’s next concert is Christmas Magic at Peterborough’s Broadway Theatre, 3pm and 7.30pm on Sunday 18 December. Tickets available from Peterborough Visitor Information Centre, on 0333 666 3366 or at www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk