Sat April 26th brought our 44th annual celebrity concert at the Penistone Paramount. This year we welcomed The Band of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service as our celebrities. They played a huge and varied repertoire from the upbeat and fast ‘Jitterbug’, to the most beautiful arrangement of ‘O Magnum Mysterium’.
The choir sang a varied program too, including our winning pieces from the Eskdale festival. The concert joint items were ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ (John Williams for the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’) and Nick Dolling’s arrangement of a ‘Gospel Medley’ which required audience participation too.
Our commère for the evening was Christine Goodwin. A fabulous evening was had by all, and a huge thank you to Barbara Green and her volunteers for preparing supper afterwards.
MILLHOUSE GREEN MALE VOICE CHOIR SCOOP TWO AWARDS AT PRESTIGIOUS ESKDALE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
First place awarded to Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir in the Male Voice Choir and Sea Shanty sections
Around forty members of Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir, led by Musical Director Rachel Atkinson and accompanied by Philip Sutcliffe, travelled to Whitby last weekend to take part in the National Choir Day at Eskdale Festival of the Arts. Last year they took third place but this year they came first in both sections, with over 95 marks awarded by the adjudicator.
A total of ten choirs took part in the National Choir Day, and each choir in the first session sang a set piece, given to them by the festival, as well as a piece chosen by themselves. The session two classes were own choice by category. The mark of over 95 meant that the performance was classed as “Exceptional – a superlative performance, displaying exceptional artistic individuality”
The adjudicator, Martin Wallington, said of the Millhouse performance of ‘The Impossible Dream’ and ‘The Song of The Jolly Roger’ that it was ‘Uplfiting, energetic singing, very clear diction and a sense of the fun of the text!’, whilst his appraisal of ‘The Wellerman’ in the sea shanty section was that it had ‘Good solos and I could imagine you singing while working on the rigging! – excellent performance’
The choir would like to thank all their supporters, many of whom travelled with them to Whitby. They would also like to thank Penistone Round Table for their financial support.
If you would like to hear these songs performed by the choir, you can do so on Saturday 26th April 2025 at Penistone Paramount at 7.15 p.m., when they will be performing alongside their guests The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Band, for an exceptional evening of music for all.
If you would like to join this award-winning choir, they rehearse every Monday evening at Millhouse Institute, Millhouse Green, S36 9NP at 7.30 p.m. New members are always very welcome and if you wish to speak to anyone about joining please contact choir member Paul Pearson on 07743 440208 or by e-mail on paulpearson56@hotmail.co.uk
This Sept we’re off to the magnificent North East to perform with Hartlepool and Sunderland Male Voice Choirs, as well as a lunchtime concert in Durham Cathedral. We can’t wait. The fabulous Michael (baritone) and Paul (2nd tenor) have been up there this weekend testing everything out for us… hotels, pubs, sunshine… it’s a hard life 😉
The choir were honoured today to sing for John’s family and friends. We sang ‘With a Voice of Singing’ as the service began and ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother’ as memories were shared. What a wonderful tribute for a truly exceptional gentleman.
You’ve heard of Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, how about coming to see Chris and David ‘The Melodic’ Marshes!!
Father and son members of Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir are holding a darts marathon to raise funds for their choir.
Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir are representing Penistone and surrounding area at The Eskdale Festival of the Arts in Whitby in March. Two members of the choir, father and son Chris and David Marsh are raising money to fund the trip by holding a darts marathon at Millhouse Institute on Sunday 2ndFebruary 2025 and you can help them by coming along on the day to cheer them on, join in on the main board, or take part in a nine dart challenge on a second board. The challenge will cost you £2.00 and the aim is to score as many points as you can with nine darts – half of the money raised will go to the winner with the other half going to the choir.
As well as being members of the choir, Chris and David have been avid darts fans and players for many years. Chris has played darts for five different teams over the past twenty years in the Denby Dale and Penistone leagues, receiving the Highest Checkout Award with the 170 checkout. David followed in his fathers’ footsteps at the age of 15, playing for The Spread Eagle team in Penistone and is now the Vice Captain in his local pub league. He also plays on-line for In The Mud Sports.
The marathon will be streamed on-line worldwide and you can donate either in person on the day or via Just Giving using the following link: –
You never know, some choir members might be around to help the day along with a song or two!
The darts marathon will take place between 9.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m. on SATURDAY 2nd FEBRUARY 2025 at Millhouse Green Institute, Manchester Road, Millhouse Green, Sheffield, S36 9NR
A fabulous Christmas has been had by all! We’ve sung with the amazing Thurlstone Brass band at Thurlstone Church, performed for the volunteers at Barnsley Hospice, had a Christmas dinner with a sing late into the night at the Dog and Partridge pub, and we finished the year with a fundraising concert at the Millhouse Green Institute!
We wish all our members and supporters a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful new year, see you all in 2025 ♥️🎶
Saturday 9th November, we were invited once again to sing at St. John’s in Dodworth for their annual Concert of Remembrance. We had a number of soloists from within our choir, as well as Richard who read some fitting poetry, and Imogen who (on her 16th birthday) played both a very flamboyant Bolero, and a very beautiful Schindler’s List. Our string quartet played a beautiful Flander’s Field for us, before Flynn led us into a 2 minutes silence with the Last Post. What a poignant and fitting evening of remembrance.
We’re all absolutely buzzing from a wonderful afternoon at the Paramount in Penistone where we shared the stage with local acts ‘The Cardi Boys’, including our very own top tenor Will B, and Ralph Shaw – King of the Ukelele. All 3 acts performed brilliant variety show acts, and we ended the afternoon with a fab joint singalong medley – Kings of Swing! ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ finished the afternoon with the audience on their feet for a standing ovation! Huge thanks to everyone who came, who sang, who acted or who supported! Proceeds are split between causes, the Cardi Boys have chosen BIADS as their local charity. Big thank you to the amazing James Barnett who stepped in as pianist this afternoon, and to our very own baritone / guitarist Michael Bond for joining in with the singalong! We loved Ralph’s harmonica playing, which completed the band. What a fabulous way to spend a Sunday afternoon 🎶🎶❤️🎹
MGMVC have just come back from the most amazing adventures in Coventry. Thursday 5th Sept we performed twice, once inside Coventry Cathedral and once in the ruins. Highlights included Albert Hay Malotte’s Lord’s Prayer (with soloist top tenor Chris), Grieg’s Ave Maria Stella, Bring Him Home (soloist 2nd tenor Ray) and some fabulous traditional hymns. More poignant singing by the alter of the ruins, including solos by top tenor Will B as part of our own MDs arrangement of ‘War Horse’, and Bogdan Pyasta’s last performance with us as he floated the Ukranian opening to Harbour through the space.
Thursday evening brought a choir social night and a chance to relax together in the hotel (Hilton Doubletree), some of us even managed a dip in the hotel and spa.
Friday brought about an organised trip to Warwick Castle, with the most gorgeous weather, and an evening party with guests from Rugby, Coventry and Stoneleigh Male Voice Choirs. Much talent from all the groups! Highlight of the evening – definitely the song about the oyster… from our very own Ralph Shaw, the singalong a capella numbers from Stan and the Rugby lads, and some Yorkshire dialect poetry from our resident poet laureate Christine.
Our last full day brought an early morning rehearsal. We’ve been so blessed to have the wonderful Donald Stephenson join us a guest bass, and the wonderful 2nd tenor Chris down from the Lake District. After the basses had stayed behind, for extra ‘Love Could I Only Tell Thee’ practice there was a trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon… in the rain! But what a fabulous place. Our musical team, undeterred by the rain even managed to eat outside the RSC!
After an early dinner (we’ve all eaten so so much this weekend), we went to our concert venue. A 3 way concert with Rugby and Coventry Male Voice Choirs. What a sound! 6 joint items from the 3 groups – with both music teams working together – MDs Christine and Rachel, and pianists Philip, Ian and Tim. The evening finished with a, very long and very loud, standing ovation.
On return to the hotel the singing just didn’t stop – there were solos, pieces, singalongs… you name it, it was sung! And sung late into the night… and on into the early hours.
We are so so thankful to our trip organisers Ray Hutchinson and Steve Dixon for the incredible job they did. Every weekend away with our group is always special, and this one was no exception.
Sunday morning brought thank yous to our organisers, to Kev our epic coach driver, and a birthday cake and card for 2nd tenor Melvyn. Roll on MGMVC on tour 2025. We can’t wait!
Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir at Coventry Cathedral Ruins
