We are a friendly group of men who sing on Tuesday evenings at the Lindley Methodist Church Centre in Huddersfield from 7:30pm - 9:30pm.
Our ever-evolving repertoire aims to be fun and engaging both for our singers and the audience. We sing favourites from musical theatre and light opera, and an ever increasing number of arrangements of popular music specially commissioned to suit our voices and style. Mingled with some of the more traditional choral and even devotional pieces our concerts are varied and appeal to an ever-widening audience.
The choir aims to encourage music in the community and to develop and enhance the musical talents of its members. We regularly invite young musicians to perform with the Choir with the aim of giving opportunities to them to perform in public and give them confidence and support. We collaborate with other music makers to promote our mutual presence in the Huddersfield Music Scene.
We also perform regularly at nursing homes, to bring music to people who are unable to get about or get to our concerts.
We are always looking for new members to enjoy the wonderful benefits of singing. Come and join us on Tuesday evenings.
Our Musical Director and Accompanist
Musical Director - James W Morgan
Born in Willenhall in 1952, James W. Morgan, studied at the Huddersfield School of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and Indiana State University, the first of many educational visits to the USA, which included a year’s teaching on a Fulbright Scholarship. He became Head of Music at King James’ School, Almondbury in 1982, the same year that he took over the Holme Valley Singers (Choir – as it then was) from Alan Simmons. Helping the choir to achieve its many successes were three fantastic accompanists – Simon Murray, Sue Ogden and Jane Robertson, to whom he owes undying thanks.
Read more about James
In 1988 he went to Holmfirth High School as Director of Music and spent the rest of his teaching career there. His performing experience include the Hallé Orchestra, the Black Dyke Mills Band and the Mastersingers, for whom he still drums, sings, writes and co-directs. He also sings bass in the Choir of Christ Church, New Mill, has recorded at Abbey Rd, conducted at the Royal Albert Hall and Directed the Daily Service for BBC Radio 4, with Mastersingers and HVS.
In 1990, he founded the Holme Valley Orchestra.
He has done vocal workshops for both Sing for Pleasure and the National Association of Choirs and has also conducted Colne Valley MVC and both Brighouse and Rastrick Band and the Black Dyke Band.
James has collaborated with local composer Barry Russell on many occasions, resulting in successful performances at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the National Festival of Music for Youth and the Schools Prom.
He continues to compose and arrange and tries to eke out a few sheckles from Morgan Music. Although he retired from the Holme Valley Orchestra in 2021 he took over the Directorship of Gledholt Male Voice Choir, joining up back up with Jane Robertson for another wonderful collaboration.
Jim is also Assistant Musical Director of The Mastersingers where he also sings bass and plays percussion.
Exciting times ahead.
Accompanist - Jane Robertson
Jane Robertson, a graduate of the Royal College of Music, is a well-established accompanist and teacher of the pianoforte.
Well known on the concert platform Jane is an official accompanist for The Mrs Sunderland Music Festival and she regularly accompanies singers and instrumentalists for exams, diplomas, recitals and international competitions including the BBC Young Musician.
In 2023 she was invited as Guest Accompanist for the International Women’s Choral Festival in Peterborough.
Read more about Jane
As a freelance accompanist she has worked with soloists and ensembles at the Royal Northern College of Music, Leeds College of Music and Huddersfield University as well as making recordings and broadcasting live for regional television.
Jane also performs as a soloist and has undertaken several solo concerto engagements, Mendelssohn’s 2nd Piano Concerto being a particular favourite.
An accompanist with The Mastersingers, Jane currently also works with three choirs in West Yorkshire, those being Huddersfield Choral Youth Choirs, Gledholt Male Voice Choir and Honley Ladies Choir.
The Choir
President
Raymond Butterworth
Committee
Roger Ellis (Chairman)
Gordon Wilson (Secretary)
John Webster (Treasurer)
Dave Barnett
Peter Cartwright
Sam McNeil
Richard Griffiths
Geoff Haigh
Chris Harden
David Heyhoe
Ralph Leach
Librarian
Dave Haigh
Concerts Committee
David Blakeborough (Chair)
Bryn Moore
Trevor Briggs
John Topham
Clive Martin
Nigel McLoughlin
Ken Barton
Jenny Haigh
Peter Cartwright
Raymond Butterworth
Book us for your next event
We love singing and bringing the joy of music to as many people as we can. As a choir we are available for professional engagements such as weddings, functions or celebrations. We can provide comprehensive entertainment for your event at a reasonable cost.