Fabulous Joint concert with SEMVC 17 May 2026

Review by Lyndon Gauntlett

Caldicot Male Voice Choir was delighted to welcome St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir to its Choir Hall on Sunday 17^th May for a joint concert.  This was the final concert of St Edmundsbury’s short tour of South Wales which included singing with Brecon Male Choir in Brecon Cathedral and with Mynyddislwyn Male Choir in Blackwood. The choir also sang emotionally at the Aberfan Memorial.

In a mixed and varied programme, conducted by Sian Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied by Olivia Dance, Caldicot included ‘Rachie’, ‘Sixteen Tons’, the lullaby prayer ‘Y Darlun’,  ‘Seventy Six Trombones’ from the Musical The Music Man and the romantic Welsh song ‘Anfonaf Angel’.

In an equally varied programme, St Edmundsbury, conducted by Leslie Olive and accompanied by Jill Garett, continued the first half with the rousing ‘Rhythm of Life’, Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, the Dionne Warwick hit ‘Walk on By’, the haunting poem ‘Seal Lullaby’ and finalizing with ‘When the Saints’ which had the audience foot tapping to the rhythm.

St Edmundsbury included in the second half ‘The Rose’ famously sang by Bette Midler, ‘My Kind of Girl’ which included saxophonist Julian Wiggins and the tumultuous ‘One Day Like This’. The presentation also included a firm favourite with Caldicot ‘What Would I Do Without My Music’.

Caldicot opened its second performance with a premiere performance of ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ and included ‘California Dreamin’ featuring Nigel Keen on flute. Safwn yn y Bwlch’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ before finalising with ‘This is the Moment’ from the musical Jeckyl and Hyde.

Finally the two choirs combined to present ‘Morte Criste’ and the foot tapping traditional ‘Everytime I Feel the Spirit’.

The evening closed with a presentation of a commemorative slate plaque by Caldicot Chairman Leon Jones to St Edmundsbury’s chairman Mark Whitehead. In return Mark Whitehead presented an appreciated inscribed plaque to Caldicot’s chairman Leon Jones.

Following a tremendous ‘Afterglow’ and refreshments St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir returned to Suffolk knowing that they’d had a wonderful friendly welcome by all they met during its South Wales Tour.  Let’s hope they can return again soon.

Responses to our singing at “Carols at Tattersalls” December 2025

I thought the Bury Men’s choir was superb, my children loved all their numbers.

Lucille Martin, Headteacher,  St Louis Catholic Academy, Newmarket

I have been asked by our President Andrew Kiteley to send his and the club’s immense thanks for such a delightful Carol Concert on December 12.

The feedback we have been receiving says your music making and singing was enjoyed by everyone.
We are delighted to say that £572 was placed in the buckets by people as they were leaving, which is a tangible measure of the enjoyment people had at the concert.

From Newmarket Rotary

Bonjour Tony, Au nom de tous les musiciens et choristes de Pont-Saint-Esprit, je vous remercie et vous félicite pour le magnifique concert que vous avez donné samedi dernier. Nous avons beaucoup apprécié la qualité de votre prestation et la musicalité avec laquelle vous chantez.

Hello Tony, In the name of all musicians and choristers of Pont St Esprit, I thank you and congratulate you for the magnificent concert that you gave last Saturday. We really did appreciate the quality of your required skills and the musicality with which you sang.

Michelle Karibian (MD Pont De Esprit Orchestra)

I was one of the ladies singing in the concert on Saturday night. I just wanted to send a message for you to pass on please to your amazing choir that having only been singing with Orpheus for the last year, it was one of my best choir experiences so far so a big hank you!! Your repertoire was superb and I will never listen to Burt Bacharach in the same way! I don’t think those of us who attended the Woodmans Arms to join you in a drink afterwards will ever forget the impromptu rendition of Up Town Funk, Rythym of Life etc. Nor will the barmaid and the customers on Saturday night! Bound to make local headline news! A special thanks to Mark, Kelvin, Justin, and many others (apologies I cannot remember all the many names) who entertained us at the bar. A great fun group.

Victoria (member of The Orpheus Singers) following our concert in Hadleigh, Essex, 22 October 2016

Greetings from Ireland and remembering a memorable night in the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links. From Gerry Canavan, Loose Chipings and the DCD Dancers!!

Following a wonderful evening with the DCD dancers in Dublin, 22 May 2016.

Fantastic concert last Saturday! That was definitely the best non-professional choir that I’ve heard. Dad is a big Laura Wright fan so we bought the tickets for him for Fathers Day, but we really enjoyed the whole repertoire – really good choice of programme and so well performed. The kids really enjoyed it too because they both sing in choirs.

Kirsty Fitzjohn following SEMVC 25th Jubilee Concert at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, with special guest Laura Wright, 22 June 2013

The performance of the Choir on Saturday was excellent, I will never forget the last song which was very moving. Please thank the Choir and Mark for a really memorable evening.

Les, following the Mendlesham concert 4 May 2013

What a wonderful evening we all had last Saturday evening. Everyone to whom I have spoken has nothing but praise for the skill of the gentlemen and the excellence of the evening.

Mrs Julie Merrick of Action Research following a concert in Barton Mills, October 2003

With the warmth of the singing of the St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir in Rougham Church one almost forgot that the heating system was not working.

Rougham Parish Church News, November 2002

Well articulated – a vital and communicative performance – you made good use of your ‘drunken’ opportunities.

Judge at South Woodham Ferrers Festival of Male Voice Choirs 1997.

An impressive sight, followed by a warm integrated sound.

Neil Cox, South Woodham Ferrers Festival judge describing SEMVC in 1994

One of the most spine-tingling sounds in music is that of a large male voice choir singing mezza voce’ as demonstrated by St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir.

Ann Livett, Bury Free Press November 1989

St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir’s debut was truly impressive, having already achieved a creditable standard even in so short a time. The singers range in age from 14 through to several senior citizens and their obvious enjoyment in what they were doing shone through right from the start.

Bury Free Press, July 1988 after the Choir’s first ever concert at County Upper School.