The choir members are proud to wear the crest of the City of Chelmsford.
In 2015 the Choir became a registered charity, the aims of which are to promote, improve, develop, and maintain public education in the appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects. These aims are achieved primarily by performing concerts, raising worthwhile funds for good causes.
The choir’s highlight appearances have included Festivals of Male Voices at the Royal Albert Hall in 2014 and 2016, with audiences in excess of 5,000. We perform in various venues including regular performances to capacity audiences at lunchtime concerts in Chelmsford Cathedral.
Variety is the hallmark of our concert performances and our repertoire ranges widely, from choral works to arrangements of ‘pop’ classics and songs from the shows.
We have been fortunate of late to have had some excellent Musical Directors. In 2020, Joanne Schultz BA Music (Hon), took over from our late Musical Director, Eddie Carden, and successfully kept the Choir going all through Covid, until retiring from the position in December 2022. Joanne is well known and respected for her work with the Chelmsford Salvation ArmySongsters.
Paul Smith BMus (Hons) took over as our Musical Director in January 2023 and further progressed the Choir’s abilities, resulting in successful concert performances during his tenure. We were sad that Paul had to retire from the position in December 2024, due to his increased responsibilities as Head of Music at South Essex College where he teaches on the Music Diploma and Degree programmes.
We are delighted that our long-standing accompanist and Deputy Musical Director, Sue Edwards, has agreed to take up the role as our new Musical Director for 2025. Sue has extensive music abilities and experience and began accompanying music societies in 1990. Sue is currently also the Musical Director for Braintree Male Voice Choir, the Braintree Voices ladies choir and the Players Theatre Company in Southend. Sue has provided a pivotal role in the successful functioning of our Choir over the last 10 years and we are all looking forward to the continued advancement of the Choir’s abilities and range under Sue’s direction.
More information about the choir can be found on our Facebook page here.
If you would like to book the choir to perform, please email the Concert Manager Alan Cowell: concertmanager@cmvchoir.co.uk
DONATIONS
We have recently received, with grateful thanks, donations from:
- The Bartleet Family Fund, through Essex Community Foundation
- The Fowler, Smith and Jones Trust
