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Choir News – August 2024

Very Sad News

We were so sorry to hear from our Chairman Phil Dyke that he’d had news that Howard Topper, our Musical Director of the past few years, has tragically died while on holiday with his wife and son in the Philippines.

Howard, who was formerly MD of the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir for many years, took over Chippenham MVC on the retirement of Bob Jones in 2017. He was a proud Yorkshireman who had sung with a male voice choir in Nelson, Lancashire for many years before his move to Hong Kong as a headteacher.

Howard was determined to have the Chippenham choir sing “off-copy” and encouraged the singers to learn by heart all the songs that we perform. He showed a great deal of patience – but was pleased with our improved performance.

In his annual report Howard recently wrote: “Our audiences provide us with very positive feedback and I feel proud each time we sing.”

Howard has left the choir with a strong musical legacy.

He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his wife Diana and young son Harry as well as his older children and their families.

Concert Cancellation

Due to poor ticket sales the joint Concert with The Mendip MVC on Saturday 29th June at St Stephen’s Church, Lansdown, Bath was cancelled.

Other News

Johnny Johnson
  • The choir were saddened to hear that former member, Johnny Johnson, had recently passed away.  JJ was a popular and genial chorister who also sang for many years with the End of The Track group, which is associated with Chippenham Choir.
  • A celebration of JJ’s life was held in St Aldhelm’s Church, Corsham at 2pm on Friday 14th June and many of his former choir-mates were in attendance.
New Rehearsal Venue
  • After several years based at St Peter’s Church, Frogwell, the choir have now found a new home in Pewsham Community Centre, where we will be based for the foreseeable future.
  • Same time – Mondays at 7:30 – different place at SN15 3SY!
  • See Rehearsal Details

Completed Concerts in 2024

* Friday 2nd February, Fairways Retirement Home.

  • Yet another very successful concert, and very well done to our four soloists who gave very enjoyable performances

* Saturday 27th April – The Calne Spring Sing

* Monday 29th April – Langley Burrell Village Hall

* Saturday 11th May – St Mary The Virgin Church, Steeple Ashton

* Saturday 18th May – Joint Concert with Builth Wells Male Voice Choir

  • “An Anglo-Welsh Night of song.” The choir welcomed Builth Male Voice Choir from Powys, Mid-Wales to a joint concert. A packed audience enjoyed an evening of song from both choirs who combined for a rousing finale of “Morte Christe” and “American Trilogy”.
  • After the concert, both choirs and their supporters retired to King Alfred’s Hall for an “afterglow” and refreshments.
  • The event came about through a Chippenham member who had moved to Wiltshire from Builth and it is hoped the link between the two choirs will be maintained in future years.

* Wednesday 24th July – Flowers Manor Care Home, Chippenham

* Wednesday 31st July – Fairways Retirement Home, Chippenham

Further Confirmed Concerts

(see the Concert Diary for full details).

* Saturday 21st September – Yatton Keynell Fete

* Saturday 5th October – Neeld Hall, Chippenham

* Saturday 19th October – Christian Malford Church

* Saturday 14th December, St. Andrew’s Church, Chippenham

* Saturday 25th January, 2025, The Cause, Chippenham

* Saturday 12th April, 2025, Joint Concert with Budleigh Salterton MVC

* Friday 27th September, 2025, Joint Concert with Bath Silver Ring Choir

Future Concerts

If you are considering arranging a future Concert, and would like to involve us, information, advice and contact details are available on the “Booking The Choir” page.

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Next, as always we’re looking to boost our numbers (the more of us the better!).

  • Are you one of the many chaps who sing in the shower or at work, or perhaps are an inveterate whistler or hummer?
  • Do you like most forms of good music whether it be Bach, Beatles or Queen?
  • Would you enjoy mixing with as friendly a group of men as you could wish to meet?
  • You would? Then Chippenham Male Voice Choir is for you.
  • Under the watchful eye of musical director Howard Topper, there is some hard work, but lots of fun. It helps if you can read music but it’s not an essential requirement.
  • The choir has established a reputation in the locality for giving concerts for charity and other occasions to many appreciative audiences.
Interested – then why not give it a try? Either ‘phone or email one of the people on the Contacts Page, or any other member you might know, or just turn up at a rehearsal at 7:30pm (see the Rehearsals Page). – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  Finally, There’s also always more info on our FACEBOOK page – click the link at the top RH corner above.