The Members of the Choir
The current members of the choir are:
| Tenor 1 | Tenor 2 | Bass 1 | Bass 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Barker Giles Chapman Trevor Davies David Evans Roy Heritage Glyn Jones Stan Jones George Lewis Mike Lightfoot Mervyn Lovatt Tim Neale Eric Newton John Nixon Paul Trahearn Tony Williams |
Eric Appleyard John Burgess John Gracie Malcolm Hooper Eric Lightbody Bill McWalter Tom Mitchell Michael Quinn Joe Ravenscroft John Simpson Eric Waller Elwyn Williams Keith Wykes |
David Allen John Berry Harry Carlisle Barry Green Glyn Hughes Gordon John Mike Ketteridge Derek McBryde Chris Potter Nick Skelton Ken Sparkes John Topham John Tute George von Arx David Young |
John Antrobus Ken Bundell Bob Davies Ron Gould Paul Heritage George Hill Helmut Kruse Derek Lewis Peter Mathews Geoff Molyneux John Robinson Martin Tute Levi Woolhouse |
Musical Director
David Court
David began his musical career at the age of 4, studying the violin and viola in Norwich where he grew up. The son of a concert pianist, he became the leader of the British School’s Orchestra for three years. As a boy he loved singing and took the lead role in many operas and sang in choirs in and around Norwich.
As a career however he chose the teaching profession and moved to Nottingham where he became a head teacher for 29 years. Despite this, he continued to play the violin and led over forty orchestras as well as developing his conducting skills with many operatic societies in the Midlands. He has been the Musical Director of over thirty operas and musicals including the world premier of The Quaker Girl.
David moved to Macclesfield with his wife Shirley, herself a conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Choirs and Cheshire Youth Choir. During his time in Macclesfield, David has become Musical Director of Mid-Cheshire Operatic Society and has worked with Bollington Light Operatic Society. David was appointed as the Conductor of the Male Voice Choir in January 2005.
Past President
Lily Davenport, J.P. O.B.E.
The President of MMVC for over 20 years, Lily Davenport, sadly passed away on 23rd January 2008 aged 97. She will be greatly missed by all "her boys" and everyone who knew her. Lily was the only person ever to have been elected Mayor of Macclesfield on three occassions. She never refused to let an annual concert go by without attending to see "MY BOYS". She was loved by all who knew her.
Chairman
George Lewis
The present chairman of the choir is George Lewis. Each Monday evening for the last 16 years he has enjoyed the company of friends at choir practice. He has learned much, including music old and new. Having been born in the finest county in the whole world (Pembrokeshire, naturally), and having lived in Cheshire for 48 years, he has had a good life. He enjoys the fun of choir practice and the excitement of public performances. He fails to understand why the number of choristers remains at 53. He does not know why the men of the Borough of Macclesfield do not flock to join the choir and so enjoy the pleasure of music.
He is a first tenor who can make a tenor sound which satisfies conductors, but only when surrounded by tenors who can sing. He is no traveller, but revelled in Choir excursions to Canada, Ireland, the Isle of Man; and to the Albert Hall in London. There he was one of 1300 voices singing to enjoy themselves, and to raise £92,000 in aid of Cancer Research. His greatest joy is the sense of being part of a group of men whose purpose is to make the fullest possible contribution to the life of Macclesfield Borough.
Associate Conductor
Pauline Davies
Pauline has been supporting the Macclesfield Male Voice Choir for the past 4 years as Associate Conductor.
She has been involved with choirs from an early age either as a singer or a conductor. When she moved to Macclesfield with her family over 20 years ago she joined the Bollington Festival Choir.
Pauline retired 3 years ago and now has an even busier life with interest in 3 choirs, the Alderley Edge Festival, 2 bridge clubs, a lovely Labrador called Fabian and of course her beloved football team, Stoke City!
Accompanist
Geoff Hodges
Geoff has been playing the piano for many years and has always taken a general interest in music.
When working some time ago as a school Maths teacher he gained some experience accompanying the school choir; so when he was asked by a friend to help the Macclesfield Male Voice Choir, he took up the invitation.
This experience has shown him a style of musical performance that has added to his enjoyment of music and Geoff was appointed Deputy Accompanist to the Choir in September 2004.