Then and Now

The County town of Somerset is as different as it gets from the traditional mining or industrial base from which many of our male voice choirs hail, but there has been a flourishing male voice choir in Taunton for 65 years.

Formed in 1946, the Choir started life as the Wessex Male Singers and was the result of a merger of two previously unsuccessful attempts at forming a male voice choir in Taunton by the Avimo Company and the Taunton Trades Council. The Choir became the Taunton Male Voice Choir in 1962 in order to strengthen its links with the town and Deane was added in 1974 when the Coat of Arms was also displayed on its uniform.

The Choir further strengthened its links with its home town in 2009 when the Mayor of Taunton Deane Borough Council became the Patron of the Choir. Two of the principle aims of this association is to act as an ambassador for Taunton and to sing in support Mayor’s annual charity’s appeal.

What we like to do

Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir has three main objectives - to preserve the traditions and standards of male voice singing, to maintain public interest in male voice choirs and to assist organisations in raising money for charitable causes. Over the years the choir has performed at countless charity concerts locally and nationally promoting both Taunton and Male Voice Choral Singing.

The Choir is affiliated to the National Association of Choirs and has sung with massed choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, The Evening Standard Arena in Manchester, in the World Choir in Cardiff and at V.E. Day celebrations at Hyde Park and at Wells Cathedral. The choir has sung at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2003, 2006 & 2009 in The Festival of Brass &Voices Concert in aid of CANCER RESEARCH UK. In May 2007 & 2009 we performed at several venues in the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.

Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir's repertoire is extensive and varied, offering something to suit every kind of musical taste, from opera choruses, spirituals, popular ballads and selections from musical shows to classical and romantic music, folk songs and popular ballads, Welsh hymns, and sacred music. The Choir’s repertoire now contains two pieces of music especially commissioned for its Diamond Jubilee Year in 2006.One titled ‘Irving’ written and arranged by Alan Simmons, and the other ‘The Perfect Male Voice Choir’, written and arranged by Denys Hood.

Each year we perform at least fourteen charity concerts. The Choir's aim is to sing the best examples of the male voice choir genre available. As a registered charity the Choir raises thousands of pounds annually for good causes and we are always pleased to hear from potential concert organisers who can offer a theatre, church or hall with reasonable acoustics and an audience of 100 or more, if possible.

Feel like singing?

Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir members have in common a love of singing and a willingness to embrace the highest standards achievable by a male voice choir. The men of the Choir demonstrate this by committing many hours to rehearsals and engagements. New members are always welcome. No audition is necessary but alongside the tuition of our Musical Director, David Yates, new members receive plenty of help and encouragement from choir colleagues. The choir therefore is able to maintain a respected reputation in the region. The ability to read music, although an advantage, is not essential. The most important attribute for a member of the choir is commitment and enthusiasm.

We also have the Afternoon Entertainers; a group that performs up to 20 concerts a year for many people in the community who are not able to attend larger concert venues. These concerts are held in village halls, church schoolrooms, residential and nursing homes and for stroke clubs, blind associations, etc. The list is endless and we must be doing something right as the invitations keep flooding in.

We believe we’re sociable too.

Off stage the members of the choir have an active social life and a strong spirit of camaraderie exists between them. Social activities are organised by our Social Secretary assisted by Choir members’ wives. A warm welcome is always extended to all our supporters and Friends of the Choir. We are supported by a group of ‘Friends of the Choir’ who help to ensure the success of our annual concert by their regular attendance. Our trips to various venues and to the major events referred too above are always well supported by choristers, wives, partners and supporters.

Everyone is kept up to date and in the picture by means of our regular newsletter 'Voice-Male', of which we are very proud, that is published in April, August and December.