For anyone told by their nearest and dearest that they can’t sing, Poynton Male Voice Choir came up with perhaps the perfect response when they sent out an open invitation to 30 men to come and have a go as part of their Sing For Life venture.
They decided to build on the success of their 90th anniversary in 2024 with their most ambitious charity project. Their Sing For Life concert in October has raised more than £25,000 plus Gift Aid for Prostate Cancer UK and the choir have been rewarded with a brilliant musical bonus.
With the help of Inside Magazine, they began by extending an open invitation: 30 men wanted to perform in a gala concert in October, partnered by Poynton Male Voice Choir, to help beat prostate cancer.
“We made it clear that we weren’t necessarily seeking experienced singers,” says choir chairman Donald Sykes, “and whatever their experience and ability they would be more than welcome to support our effort to make a significant contribution to Prostate Cancer UK.
“We were thrilled with the response. Forty were quick to sign up and as an organising committee we felt that was the limit of what we could manage over six rehearsals and the concert itself.”
Some men came with well-established music backgrounds, such as the Halle Choir, others with the less demanding experience of singing in the bath. The result was astounding. Thirty-six of the newcomers were able to perform in the concert alongside 30 members of the male voice choir. The bonus is around half of them continue to sing with the choir as they prepare for their Christmas Concert, also featuring the Over Alderley Band, at Poynton Methodist Church on Saturday, December 13.
“We’re amazed by all that’s happened. The new men have worked tremendously hard,” says Donald. “Our musical director Eileen Rigg and accompanist Kath Buckley deserve great credit for their leadership.”
The capacity of Poynton Methodist Church was extended with 100 extra seats and the audience at the sell-out concert rose as one at the end to give the singers a standing ovation.
Seren Evans, the charity’s head of community fundraising, says: “We are so grateful to the dedication of the choir, their friends and families, local businesses, and special donor Mrs Helen Watkins whose husband Ken sang with the choir until his death last year.”
Choir president Maurice Hargreaves, 52 years in Poynton’s first tenors, says: “I couldn’t have imagined the impact Sing For Life has made on all who took part. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this remarkable choir.”
