Leeds Male Voice Choir have formed a new men’s community choir, Rogues Choir which meets every Tuesday evening at Yorkshire College of Music and Drama close to Leeds city centre. Following the conclusion of an eight-week singing course Find Your Voice – many of those attending were keen to keep singing regularly – and Rogues Choir was formed.

Tim Knight said “The men enjoyed Find Your Voice so much, they wanted to keep singing together as a group. Rogues Choir is taking a different direction to Leeds Male Voice Choir – performing at community events, beer festivals and joint performances with a less formal feel. We want to introduce the men of Leeds to the fun and health benefits of singing in a group.”

Rogues Choir is open to all men and no previous experience is needed. The choir is keen to hear from anyone who would like to try singing with them.

Phillip Sangwine joined the musical team at Leeds Male Voice Choir in May 2018, as the choir’s second Conducting Scholar. As a noted musician Phillip will work under the guidance of the Musical Director, to develop his conducting skills whilst undertaking sectional rehearsals within the choir.

Phillip holds a Masters Degree in Sacred Music from the University of Bangor, Grade 8 in both Organ and Music Theory, a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education from York St John University and is a Licentiate Member of the Royal School of Church Music. Phillip holds the position Organist and Director of Music of All Saints’ Church, Northallerton, having held a number of other musical posts including at St Mary’s Church, Beverley and All Saints Pavement in York.

Leeds Male Voice Choir performed to a sell out audience at St Margaret’s Church in Bramley in Leeds on Saturday 24 March 2018. Performing music from Oklahoma, State Fair,  Showboat, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, Jeykell and Hyde and Les Miserables to a capacity audience the choir were joined by the Find Your Voice Men.

The thirty seven graduates of the choir’s annual eight week singing course formed their own choir for the evening, showcasing their skills to thunderous applause.

The choir’s successful free eight week singing course Find Your Voice has now sold out. Fifty men from across Leeds, will start the programme from Tuesday 23 January, discovering key vocal techniques and learning to sing in parts.

The participants on Find Your Voice 2018 will build over a two month period, with the chance to appear alongside Leeds Male Voice Choir in their next performance on Saturday 24 March at St Margaret’s Church in Bramley, Leeds.

The choir were inspired to sing for the British Heart Foundation, following the diagnosis of Max Johnson, nine with an inherited heart condition. The condition resulted in Max going into heart failure, before finding an organ donor in the summer. Now recovering, following his successful transplant operation, Max has been able to leave hospital and return home.

Max’s Uncle Daniel Taylor, who sings with the choir  arranged the festive fundraiser in Christmas jumpers at Leeds Trinity in December. Daniel Taylor said: “When the choir learnt of Max’s situation, we wanted to do whatever we could to support the British Heart Foundations’s work. “My nephew is alive and healthy today, but we want to help raise funds to support more research and help other families who have been affected by heart disease.”

The carol singing raised £780.00 for the British Heart Foundation.

Leeds Male Voice Choir’s festive spectacular The Spirit of Christmas, now in in fourth year took place on 9 December at Leeds Cathedral to a capacity audience. For the fourth consecutive year the retiring collection was held in favour George’s Crypt raising £603.00 to support the homeless and vulnerable in Leeds. Musical Director Tim Knight said “…We’re delighted to continue to support such a worthy charity that does brilliant work throughout the city and really pleased with the money raised”.

Leeds Male Voice Choir recently performed their first entirely classical concert in decades at St Edmunds Church, Roundhay, Leeds in late September. Performing music written for male voices by Barber, Rheinberger, Mendelssohn, Knight, Casals and Vaughn Williams to a capacity audience, which included the Lord Mayor of Leeds, the concert also supported the Leeds and North West Foodbank, raising £600 to support their ongoing work.

Councillor Jane Dowson, Lord Mayor of Leeds said “The programme was packed with some absolute choral gems and lovely surprises. It was clear that the choir and audience really enjoyed the evening… and the foodbank raised some much needed funds”.

Leeds Male Voice Choir performed a special composition by Musical Director Tim Knight at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium during their recent tour. Tyne Cot is the resting place of soldiers from the Yorkshire regiment who fell in Ypres Salient during the First World War. The choir performed on the 100th anniversary of creation Commonwealth Graves Commission. Musical Director Tim Knight said “It was a very moving performance for the whole choir, and a memorable tour”.

They Lie at Rest is a setting of a Christina Rossetti poem by the choir’s musical Director, composed specifically for the choir’s tour of Belgium. Leeds Male Voice Choir also performed at St Bavos Cathedral in Ghent and the Menin Gate in Ypres as part of the Last Post Ceremony, in the 100 year old choir’s first international tour in more than thirty years.