Basingstoke Hospital MaleVoice Choir
Sing for Health
News
30/9/2023
BHMVC are delighted to announce that we will be providing a concert for St. Andrew's Church Sherborne St. John to help them raise funds for repair of Stained Glass Windows - see the Events page for details
16/7/2023
BHMVC are extremely pleased to announce that we are returning to the Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital site for rehearsal after our summer recess. Since Covid, it has not been possible to rehearse in the Restaurant, but from September 6th 2023 at 7.30pm we will be rehearsing once more in our original "home". We are most grateful to St. Gabriel's church for accommodating us while the Hospital site has been inaccessible to us for rehearsal. We would love to see you join our rehearsals in the Hospital Restaurant.
12/7/2023
Our Summer concert was attended by about 100 people in the audience who were "serenaded" by the Choir and also three solo items: Two by choir members and the third by an operatic soloist. Musical Director, Assistant MD, Accompanist and Chairman each received well earned gifts. Choristers and audience members enjoyed a post concert reception with wine, soft drinks and canapes. We are delighted to announce that donations to The Ark Cancer Charity amounted to an excellent £334.53.
1/5/2023
Our joint concert with Mansfield and District Male Voice Choir was a tremendous success. Both choirs enjoyed the experience of singing together in a space with a wonderful acoustic. The event raised over £1,000 for the Ark Cancer Charity. There was a satisfying "Afterglow" in Sherborne St. John Village Hall before the Mansfield group departed for home. We would like to thank all those involved in the organising of the concert.
Both Choirs in full song
Musical Directors Dai Ogborn and Ian Grice discuss the programme
The Accompanists Paul and Margaret discuss which pieces require organ accompaniment
The "Afterglow" in Sherborne St. John Village Hall was enthusiastic and enjoyable
Basingstoke Hospital MaleVoice Choir is now an official partner of The Ark Cancer Charity and we look forward to continuing to fundraise for this amazing charity that benefits so many people.
BHMVC is very proud to support the Ark Cancer Charity and rehearses at St Gabriel's Church Tewkesbury Close, Popley Basingstoke RG24 9DU.
Rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm. The choir love the acoustics, the space and are delighted that their sound quality is as good as it ever was. If you would like to sing with a MaleVoice Choir why not come along on a Wednesday night and join in. You do not need any previous experience, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn is all that is required. Perhaps you discovered, during lockdown, that you loved to sing - now is the chance to put that love into practice. The choir would welcome you with open arms.
All safeguarding and health guidance is adhered to during rehearsals.
In December 2020 the choir was delighted to be told that our president Mr Myrddin Rees DL MS FRCS FRCS(Ed) has been awarded an OBE. He has worked tirelessly for the Hepatobiliary Dept. where his work on Liver cancers is known all over the world. We are so lucky and proud that he is our president.
We are also proud to be able to announce that one of the original members of the Choir - Nick Ward has been appointed Deputy Divisional Medical Director for Family & Clinical Support Services. Nick replaced Nicki Hutchinson who retired at the end of March this year.
Remember:
Keep safe; keep well: and keep Singing.
Meet the Team
Denis Smith
Chairman
Dai Ogborn B.E.M.
Musical Director
David qualified as a teacher from the University of Wales & worked at Hampshire Education Authority; later he was music administrator at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Since 1981 David has conducted choirs in some of the world’s most beautiful concert halls, and raised thousands of pounds for charity. He said: “One of many highlights was performing at the Royal Albert Hall. It was a wonderful feeling walking out to the applause of a sold out audience” In 2011, he became MD for BHMVC and received the Mayor's award. In 2016 he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Community Music.
Steve Busby
Deputy Musical Director
Paul Wright
Accompanist
Paul was born in Nottingham and developed a keen interest in the organ at school and later studied under Alwyn Surplice, Hugh Benham and James Lancelot. In 1975 he was appointed organist and choir master at St. Mary’s Church, Old Basing. He and Dai Ogborn have worked closely together since 1981 and Paul became accompanist for BHMVC at its inception in 2011. In 2001, both he and his wife, Marilyn were presented with the Mayor’s award for Community Music
Choir History
The Choir has sung at many events and venues where local charities have been holding a fundraising event and we are very proud of our achievement in helping to raise a considerable amount of money for good causes. In particular we support
The Ark Cancer Charity to raise funds at every opportunity.
We are honoured to be a member of Basingstoke Festival of Choirs and have sung at the Anvil Theatre for all the events the festival has staged. We are also members of the National Association of Choirs.
The choir is very grateful to musical director Dai Ogborn BEM and his Deputy, Steve Busby, and accompanist, Paul Wright, who are the backbone of the choir without whose support we could not have achieved the standard that enables us to perform at these events.
BHMVC is very appreciative of the support of the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and as a “thank you” to the hospital the bow tie that forms part of their uniform is custom made in the hospital colours.
When Mr Myrddin Rees DL MS FRCS FRCS(Ed) OBE - Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgeon agreed to be Honorary President of the choir it further cemented the relationship between us and the hospital.
If you have any queries or would like to know more about the choir please do not hesitate to contact The Chairman on the contacts page.
During the pandemic, like all choirs, we were forced to close, and when we were able to recommence rehearsals, the Hospital was not able to allow us back. Happily, St. Gabriel's Church, Popley provided us with rehearsal space in the church, for which we are most grateful.
We have now retiurned to our former rehearsal venue - The Rendezvous Restaurant at Basingstoke Hospital, where we rehearse every Wednesday evening from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Events
A Concert for St. Andrew's Church, Sherborne St. John RG24 9HT
Male Voice Choir Concert fundraising for repair of Stained Glass windows at the church. Entrance FREE (Donations requested). Includes refreshments after the concert
- Date: 08/10/2023 03:00 PM
- Location: St. Andrew's Church, Church Street, Sherborne St. John RG24 9HT (Map)
Past Events
| Title | Date | Day | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Celebration of Summer in aid of The Ark Cancer Charity | 12 Jul 2023 | Wednesday | St. Gabriel's Popley |
| MaleVoice Choir Concert - a reprise of the joint concert held a few years ago in aid of The Ark Cancer Charity. | 30 Apr 2023 | Sunday | St. Andrew's Church, Sherborne St. John, Nr. Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 9HX |
| The Mayor's Charity Concert "Thank You for The Music" | 04 Mar 2023 | Saturday | The Anvil, Basingstoke |
New Members
The Choir would love to welcome NEW members!
If so you will already know how relaxing and stress relieving singing can be so why don’t you come and join us at Basingstoke Hospital MaleVoice Choir?
You don’t need to have any previous experience or be able to read music.
Provided you can hold a note, have a voice in the range tenor – baritone – bass and are prepared to learn you have what it takes to join us and make new friends.
We sing a wide range of music from well-loved choral items to music from the latest musical theatre scene – yes even from Monty Python’s Spamalot.
Choir membership is free for the first 3 months, whilst you decide if it’s for you or not, and the music and uniform is provided free of charge.
Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings in the Rendezvous Restaurant at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital starting at 7.30pm and finishing about 9.30pm.
If you need to know a bit more why not visit the choir’s facebook page (facebook.com/BHMVC)
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain so why not come along and see for yourself? You’ll receive a very warm welcome.