WELCOME to DORE MALE VOICE CHOIR
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DORE
Dore is a suburb of Sheffield, yet it is laid on firm Anglo-Saxon foundations and can trace its recorded history further back than the city itself.
The written history of Dore can be traced back to the year 829 and an entry (wrongly recorded as 827) in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – “And Ecgbert led an army to Dore against the Northumbrians and they offered him obedience and concord and thereupon they separated” and thus King Ecgbert became “Our Lord of the whole English speaking race, from the Channel to the Firth of Forth”.
The importance of Dore was its position on the boundary of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia, recently conquered by King Ecgbert of Wessex, and Northumbria, the second most powerful kingdom. At the time, Northumbria was under pressure from Viking raids and unable to fight on two fronts, leading to the acceptance of Ecgbert as an overlord and effectively the first king of all England.
The event is commemorated on the village green by a gritstone monolith, with a black granite plaque in the shape of a Saxon shield, appropriately emblazoned by a Wyvern, the war emblem of Wessex which is also the Choir’s emblem.
THE CHOIR
Although the Choir celebrated its 60th Anniversary this year, its origins go back a few years before 1964. In the late nineteen fifties, a small group of ex-servicemen would meet at a bar for a beer and a sing. The numbers of this glee club started to grow and occasional outings to sing for servicemen’s clubs and other fellowships followed.
By 1964 numbers had grown to between 16 and 20 singers and the meeting place was switched to The Devonshire Arms in Dore, where Dore Male Voice Choir was formed.
By the early seventies, the choir was enjoying a high reputation and entered many festivals, including the prestigious Llangollen International Eisteddfod on 6 occasions, Huddersfield, Morecambe, Blackpool, Eskdale and Worksop Music Festival.
The Choir currently has 70 members whose music repertoire covers the whole music spectrum from Opera, Musicals, Sacred, Spirituals and traditional folk songs. Their repertoire has included singing in Latin, Welsh, German, Russian, Xosa and Maori and always from memory without manuscript.
Click on Music to Listen To, where a selection of the choirs’ repertoire is available.
The Choir has also given performances in York Minster, The London Guildhall, The Royal Albert Hall on radio and BBC TV and many other venues.
Bi-annual overseas concert tours have taken place in many European countries. In 2017 they toured the Umbria region of Italy performing in the evening mass at St Peter’s in the Vatican, They have also sung at the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ypres. In September 2019 a concert tour to Sicily took place based in Taormina, the highlight of the tour was performing in The Duomo of Syracuse.
2021 overseas concert tour had to be postponed due to covid pandemic but rescheduled to 2022. The tour based in Padua an ancient university city between Verona and Venice with concerts in each of the cities was great success. The big attraction for the choir was singing in the Mass in St. Mark’s in Venice.
They are proud to have contributed thousands of pounds to charity over the years, from the money raised from concerts, donations, and CD sales. DMVC is a Registered Charity, No 514195
Why Not Join The Choir
Are you looking for a new hobby, to meet new friends, to experience the “buzz” of singing with like-minded people, to help deserving causes to perform in public and go on concert tours? If you can hold a tune why not apply for membership of the Choir.
The Choir provides 2 uniforms and all the music and currently costs a little more than £2 per week
Prospective New Members
As a prospective new member, we really do want to make you feel welcome you should be introduced to a committee member who in turn will introduce you to other members of the Choir.
You will be asked for some indication as to your singing experience and which of the four-voice section you may be in. If you are new to singing in a choir or, you have never sung before, it does not matter at all, the Music Director will schedule with you at a convenient moment to do a simple (private) “voice test” to determine your ability and agree which section you should sing in and place you in a section thought best for your voice.
We would like you to come and sing in your allotted section for a few rehearsals; it would help you decide whether you really would like to join the Choir.
The singing members next to you will help you with music and various procedures of rehearsal. We hope you enjoy your evening.
As a prospective new member, it is important that you understand the commitment expected for attending rehearsals and engagements.
Once you have decided you would like to join the Choir the Music Director will make her recommendations to the Committee, and you will be advised accordingly. You will receive a formal letter of acceptance.
Should you decide not to join the choir, any music loaned to you must be returned to the librarian
Rehearsal is held Thursdays, at 7:15 pm, at The Christ Church Dore Community Centre, Townhead Rd, Dore, Sheffield S17 3GA.
Rehearsals usually finish at 9:30. Parking is available in the centre of the village, near the Hall. There is also a regular bus service between Dore and Sheffield city centre. Please note that we do not rehearse on bank holidays, or when we are in concert or on tour.
Not sure if you can sing? This BBC site might be useful for those new to singing, give it a try Tips on singing
