March 2008

The Choir has three engagements in March:

Tuesday 4^th –   Concert at Shanklin Methodist Church at 7.30pm in support of the Motorneurone Disease Association. Tickets at £5 (Tel: 564637 or  616442)

Friday 7^th -       IW Musical Competition Festival at All Saints, Ryde

Monday 17^th-   Concert at Bonchurch (Social Club)

The diary remains busy until a lull in August!

January 2008

Members have had a break from performances since the Choir’s last engagement just before Christmas, the carol service at StMary’s Hospital, and this has provided the opportunity for them to start learning some new songs.

The Choir’s first engagement in 2008 is to provide entertainment on Monday 25^th February for a Townswomen’s Guild convention being held at the Channel View hotel in Sandown. The Choir’s diary is already quite full for the rest of the year and includes entry in the IW Musical Competition Festival, hosting a visit by the Much Wenlock MVC and participation in the Fairford (Gloucestershire) Festival in October.

October 2007

From 5^th to 8^th October thirty-three Choir members (including the accompanist and conductor) together with their wives, partners and friends enjoyed a ‘long weekend’ visiting south-east Cornwall. Many of the members of Pelynt Male Voice Choir, which hosted the visit, are farmers and provided accommodation for the visitors.

  A concert at Looe School attracted a full audience and money raised by the event was donated to the local Children’s Hospice charity. On the Sunday the Choir had the pleasure and privilege of singing in the temperate ‘biome’ of the Eden Project. Newchurch MVC is the first non-Cornish choir to perform there.

September 2007

Over 140 members of the audience were packed into Newchurch Community Hall for the Choir’s “September Serenade” on Saturday 22^nd September. The programme featured musical performances by Teresa Wilkie (soprano) accompanied by Howard Wilkie (piano), Becky Nye (a Grade 8 trumpeter from Sandown High School who received the annual Bassett Stevens Memorial award) and Bill Yaranton (vocals and guitar), and two very amusing monologues by Cyril Amey.

From 5^th to 8^th October the Choir will be visiting Cornwall, singing in a concert with the Pelynt Male Voice Choir at Looe School on the evening of Saturday 6^th and at the Eden Project during the afternoon of Sunday 7^th.  The next concert on the Island will be at St.Mark’s Church, Wootton on Friday 19^th October.

August 2007

At the Choir’s 40^th Anniversary Concert only one seat was left unsold in the Medina theatre, and the capacity audience really seemed to enjoy the variety of performances that made up the programme. Over 120 of the Choir’s CD “Stout-hearted men” were sold during the evening.

  The annual “September Serenade” will be held in the Community Hall at Newchurch School on Saturday 22^nd September starting at 7.30pm. Special guests will include Teresa and Howard Wilkie and Cyril Amey; the Sandown High School pupil receiving the Bassett Stevens Memorial Trust Fund award will also be taking part. Admission is £4 including a complimentary drink.

  Members of the Choir will also be supporting the Wesleyian Tercentenary Celebration at Medina theatre on Sunday 2nd September.

June 2007

The Choir had the privilege of singing with the visiting 50-strong  Mousehole Male Voice Choir at the beginning of June at St.John’s church in Ryde and joined with the Newchurch Ladies Choir to give a concert in support of Sandown Methodist Church Anniversary celebrations the following evening.

Just over a week later 31 members spent around 6 hours over two evenings at Quay Street Methodist church recording songs for the Choir’s first CD, which it is hoped will be available in time for its 40^th Anniversary Concert. Before then the Choir will be singing at St.Michael’s church in Ryde (27^th June) and at All Saints church, Gurnard on Friday 13^th July.

On Tuesday 24^th July at 7.30pm in the Medina Theatre, Newport there is a variety concert celebrating 40 years of Newchurch Male Voice Choir. The Choir will be joined by Wight Satin, Teresa Wilkie, The Shamrock and Thistle Dancers, La Dolce Vita Jazz Sextet, Gino Di Felice and other guests. Please join us if you possibly can: tickets are available from the Medina box office at £5 each (£3 for children).

New members are always welcome: for further information please contact Mrs Sheelah Stephens (Secretary) (tel. 402327) or Roy Bevan (tel. 865249), or e-mail: newchurchmvc@yahoo.co.uk

May 2007

The Choir enjoyed success in the IW Musical Competition Festival at St.John’s Church, Newport on Friday 9^th March, singing “Rhythm of life” and “Calm is the sea”. The performance attracted many favourable comments from the adjudicator and was awarded sufficient marks for the Choir to once again take the “Association Cup”. 

The Choir gave a concert at Sandown Baptist church on Saturday 17^th March that raised £272 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

In April the Choir has three engagements:

Sat. 14^th – a private function to celebrate the 55^th wedding anniversary of  Rev. & Mrs J.Shove

Wed. 18^th – a concert at Quay Street Methodist Church, Newport

Sat. 21^st – participating in a concert at St.Thomas Church, Newport.

Last Friday yet another potential new recruit turned up for the weekly practice: it is just possible that the Choir will have 40 members for its 40^th Anniversary Concert in July!

New members are always welcome:for further information please contact Mrs Sheelah Stephens (Secretary) (tel. 402327) or Roy Bevan (tel. 865249), or e-mail: newchurchmvc@yahoo.co.uk

February 2007

Members enjoyed their Annual Dinner on Saturday 10^th February at Shanklin Conservative Club and are now busy preparing not only for forthcoming concerts but also especially for the IW Musical Competition Festival. The competition for the Choir’s class will take place at St.John’s Church, Newport on Friday 9^th March. The Choir is privileged to have been invited by the organisers of the Competition to take part in a concert in St.Thomas’ Church, Newport on Saturday 21^st April.

This year is the 40^th anniversary of the founding of Newchurch Male Voice Choir and preparations are well in hand for a celebratory concert that will be held in the Medina Theatre on Tuesday 24^th July. A variety of guest artists will be taking part and admission is only £5: if you enjoy music and song reserve this date in your diary now!

January 2007

The Choir currently has no fewer than 13 concerts on its calendar for 2007, the first of which is at Bonchurch on Monday 26^th February. It is also entered for the IW Musical Competition Festival which will take place at St.John’s Church, Newport on Friday 9^th March.

A New Year Social with the Ladies Choir was enjoyed on Saturday 13^th January and the Choir’s Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday 10^th February at the restaurant facility of the Shanklin Conservative Club.

The Choir continues to grow in number but, as ever, there is still room for more. For further information please contact Mrs Sheelah Stephens (Secretary) (tel. 402327) or Roy Bevan (tel. 865249), or e-mail: newchurchmvc@yahoo.co.uk

November 2006

We were saddened to learn of the death of former member Bill Boalch towards the end of October; the men were pleased to be able to assist with the singing at Bill’s funeral service held in  St.George’s church, Arreton.

In December the Choir will be taking part in three concerts in a period of ten days:  Mon 4^th at Medina (WI Christmas Concert); Fri 8^th at Shanklin Methodist Church; and Wed 13^th at Carisbrooke Primary School. The last of these is in a venue where the Choir has not sung before!

For 2007, in addition to numerous concerts, the Choir can look forward to enjoying its Annual Dinner in February, entering the IW Musical Competition Festival in early March, possibly hosting a visit by a mainland Male Voice Choir in late spring and probably going “on tour” to Cornwall in October.

September 2006

The Choir says a big ‘thank you’ to all who supported its “September Serenade” concert: takings on the evening amounted to just under £580 which, after necessary payments, will leave around £500 to be split between the chosen charity of  Myasthenia Gravis Association and Choir funds.

On October 17^th The Choir will be giving a concert at St.Saviour’s, Shanklin with the visiting “Metropolitan Male Voice Choir of South Australia”, starting at 7.30pm.  The Australian Choir is undertaking a ‘world tour’ lasting around four weeks and, the day after the concert at Shanklin, will be performing in the Royal Albert Hall. Admission to the concert is free but a retiring offering will be taken.

Next year will be the Choir’s 40^th anniversary. There are currently 34 members: if you would care to help increase the number to 40 (or more!!) we would be very pleased to welcome you to our practices that are held on Friday evenings at 7.30pm in Newchurch Parish Hall.

For more information please contact Mrs Sheelah Stephens (Secretary) (tel. 402327) or Roy Bevan (tel. 865249), or e-mail: newchurchmvc@yahoo.co.uk

August 2006

The Parish Plan Steering Group has now been formed, and over the coming months it will be endeavouring to seek the views of parishioners of all ages on the good (and bad!) aspects of living within the Parish and how they would like the Parish to develop in the coming years.

At the September meeting of the Parish Council it was agreed that the reinstatement of the Sandown Airport Consultative Committee was a matter with which the Isle of Wight Association of Parish and Town Councils (IWAP&TC) may be able to help and it was therefore resolved to ask for it to be an Agenda item at a future IWAP&TC meeting.

The Council considered five Planning Applications. It made no objection to four of the Applications but did decide to oppose the proposal for a new dwelling adjacent to “Panorama”, Alverstone Road, Apse Heath.

Readers are reminded that at monthly meetings there is now a time set aside at the start of the meeting for members of the public to ask questions or make comments about Parish matters. It may not be possible to answer questions at the meeting: any that require an urgent response should be notified to the Clerk in advance (tel: 865249 or e-mail: newchurchpc@yahoo.co.uk ).

The Choir has no concerts during August, allowing a chance to learn new items and to “brush up” on some existing ones, although there will be no practices on Fridays 4^th  and 25^th August. The next concert is the Choir’s annual “September Serenade” which is to be held in the Newchurch Community Hall (Newchurch School) on Saturday 23^rd September.

June 2006

 At the concert with Shrewbury Police Male Voice Choir held in the United Reformed Church a retiring collection of £634 was taken to assist local charities.  On the way back from Shrewsbury the party took a break in Oxford.

The concerts at Shrewsbury, the Church of the Good Shepherd (Lake) and All Saints (Gurnard) were all very well attended. The Choir’s next concert is at StJohn’s church, Wroxall on Monday 10^th July at 7.30pm.

May 2006

The Choir is most grateful to all who supported the  “Jack Lavers Memorial Concert”. The retiring collection raised £350 to be split between the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and choir funds. The audiences were similarly generous at the two concerts given jointly with the visiting Pelynt Male Choir from Cornwall over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (29^th April – 1^st May). The collections at these concerts amounted to £850 for local charitable purposes (Motor Neurone Disease and Wessex Cancer – the IW sections of both). At the second of those concerts in St.Saviour’s church, Shanklin the Choir said “farewell” to its assistant Musical Director, Mrs Pauline Stephens.

Over the weekend of 27-28^th May the Choir is paying a “return visit” to Shrewsbury to give a concert with the Shrewsbury Police Choir and in June it has two concerts: Saturday 10^th at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake and Friday 16^th at All Saints Church, Gurnard.

March 2006

The Choir gave its first concert of 2006 to a capacity audience at Bonchurch Social Club on Monday 27^th February. The organisers kindly donated the £55 proceeds from the raffle to the Bassett Stevens Memorial Trust Fund.

At the IW Musical Competition Festival on Friday 10^th March the Choir not only gained sufficient marks to be awarded the cup for its class but also exceeded all previous ratings to gain 90 marks to put it in the ‘outstanding’ category, much to members delight. It then became apparent that the Choir had won two special awards: a cup for gaining the highest mark in all classes of choirs and a rose bowl for gaining the highest mark in all senior vocal classes!!

A special “Jack Lavers Memorial Concert” will be held in Newchurch Community Centre (Newchurch School) on Saturday 1^st April 2006 starting at 7.30pm. Guest artists will include the Newchurch Ladies Choir. Admission is free but a retiring offering will be taken which, at the request of Jack’s family, will be split between the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and choir funds.

At the end of April the choir will be hosting a visit by the Cornish Pelynt Male Voice Choir with evening (7.30pm) concerts at Totland Methodist church on Saturday 29^th and at St. Saviour’s, Shanklin on Sunday 30^th.

As ever, new members are always welcome: practices are held in Newchurch Parish Hall on Friday evenings at 7.30pm.

October 2005

September 2005

The Choir had the privilege and pleasure of singing at two weddings in All Saints church on consecutive Saturdays at the end of July and the beginning of August.

Practices have continued throughout August on all but two Fridays as the Choir is keenly preparing for its forthcoming “September Serenade” which will be held on Saturday 17^th September in the Community Hall, Newchurch School at 7.30pm. The Choir has no other engagements in Sept

The Choir had the privilege and pleasure of singing at two weddings in All Saints church on consecutive Saturdays at the end of July and the beginning of August.

Practices have continued throughout August on all but two Fridays as the Choir is keenly preparing for its forthcoming “September Serenade” was held on Saturday 17^th September in the Community Hall, Newchurch School at 7.30pm. The Choir’s “September Serenade”, at which an award from the Bassett Stevens Memorial Trust was presented to music student Sebastien Crossley, was well attended.

The Choir had no other engagements in September but is then fully booked through to the end of the year.

May 2005

The concerts with Shrewsbury Police Choir were a great success: there was standing room only at

Totland on the Saturday evening and St.Saviour’s, Shanklin was equally well attended on the

Sunday. The performances raised a total of £1155 to be split between the Earl Mountbatten Hospice

and the Stroke Unit of St.Mary’s Hospital. The visit also proved to be a very sociable occasion for

choir members, their families and friends.

Following the Shrewsbury concerts the Choir was delighted to welcome a new recruit to the

baritone section, and is hopeful that another new member may soon join us “all the way” from

Totland.

The Choir gave another two concerts in quick succession in mid-May: at Haylands URC on Saturday 14^th and at St.Mary’s church, Brading on Tuesday 17^th. The latter was with the very talented “Mount’s Bay Singers” (a mixed group from near Penzance who produce a wonderful sound) and was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. A retiring collection raised £200 to be split between the British Heart Foundation and St.Mary’s restoration fund.

On Friday 10th June the Choir gave a concert in St.John’s church, Newport at 8.00pm with the 48 strong visiting “CôR Meibion HWLFFORDD” (Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir), again raising money for charity.