Royal Albert Hall, 14 November
2015
Monday February 16th – celebration concert to remember one of our patrons, Pam Forshaw
St Giles Church, Pontefract, 7.30pm
Saturday February 21st
Morley Central Methodist Church (Teenage Cancer Care)
A warm welcome at Morley Central Methodist Church, with almost a full house who seemed to respond well to our set list. As usual our soloists added their own flair to the programme, particularly Gary who always likes to make an entrance! Our Assistant Accompanist was on duty on this occasion, and was able to sight read two new songs. What a star.
Saturday March 14th
Normanton Baptist Chapel (Yorkshire Cancer Research)
This was an excellent concert in the recently-refurbished Normanton Baptist Chapel. Over £900 was raised for Yorkshire Cancer Care on this occasion. Soloists were Jack Noble, Gary Davis, David Brierley and Bob Humphreys.
Saturday March 21st
St Thomas’ Church Featherstone (Mayor’s Charity Concert)
Local historian and author Ian Clayton was the compère for this concert, which was to raise funds for Macmillan Care – the Mayor of Featherstone’s nominated charity. FMVC was joined by Featherstone Brass Band, who debuted at the concert.
Saturday 11th April
Ian Dransfield Memorial Concert (Prince of Wales Hospice)
This was the first of five annual concerts in Ian Dransfield’s name, and more than £1400 was raised for the Prince of Wales Hospice. Featherstone Methodist Church on Wilson Street was packed and soloists included Bob Woodhead, Robert Humphreys, Gary Davis and Jack Hodgkinson (Assistant pianist).
Saturday April 18th
Private Concert Bradford Grammar School for Northern Masonic
We were honoured to be invited to support this event as it is usually held in London. This sell-out show was compered by Freddie Davies (known to a certain generation as ‘Parrot Face’), and we were performing alongside Clifton and Lightcliffe Band and a number of soloists. We were warmly welcomed and the audience showed their appreciation of all the performances.
Saturday May 2nd
Wedding
Saturday May 9th
Wedding
Friday May 15th to Monday 18th
Llandudno Weekend with Greater Manchester Police MVC. Joint concert at St. John’s Methodist Church Saturday May 16th 8pm.
“What a great concert – I was moved to tears when they sang The Lost Chord” Linda Whittingham
“What a great weekend – lovely to meet up with everyone again” Marilyn Owens.
FMVC was almost double the size of the Greater Manchester MVC, so of course it was easy for us to raise the roof when both choirs sang together. Individually, each choir and their soloists were superb. FMVC debuted two new songs at this concert: God’s Choir and Gonna Rise up Singing, which were received well.
“This was my first time singing with the choir at Llandudno and I have really enjoyed it. My dad was Welsh and he would be proud of me tonight!” Jeff Pierce, second bass.
Saturday 25th May
St Botolph’s Church, Knottingley, 7pm
Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June
Annual Patrons’ Concerts, Methodist Church.
“The new songs were great, and the soloist had a beautiful voice. It was an uplifting evening.” Kath Oxley.
“I loved the new song – Working Man. It was such a lovely evening.” Hazel Fawcett.
The concerts were a great success and a new patron was enlisted as a result.
Saturday 27th June
Wilson Street Methodist Church, Featherstone, Gilbert and Suulivan Society.
A very entertaining evening with a full house. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society were really friendly and provided much fun with their characterful portrayal of the Gilbert and Sullivan songs. Hopefully they will be able to join us again in the future.
Saturday 4th July
This concert with Horbury Ladies Choir raised £625 for St Gemma’s Hospice.
“Excellent evening. Our favourite songs were “Working Man” and “You raise me up”. The compere was spot on. It was good to compare and contrast two very different choirs”. Charmaine and Steve Straker-Purvis.
Saturday 19th September
Wakefield Cathedral, with Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
What an honour to sing once again with Grimethorpe Colliery Band – recently taking the first place at the British Open Championships for brass bands. As expected, they were amazing and moved some of us to tears with the power of their music.
The choir soloists on this occasion were Richard Hirst and Robert Woodhead, who wore pit helmets for ‘A Working Man’. The combination of band and choir for ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ was matched by the inclusion of the Cathedral organ on the choir’s rendition of ‘The Lost Chord’, and the audience would have had to be made of stone to not join in with the band and choir for ‘Jerusalem.’ A wonderful evening of music.
Saturday 10 October
Joint concert with Sharlston Male Voice Choir at Featherstone Methodist Church.
A fantastic night was had by all in a Concert that showed the community the singing talent in our local area.
Saturday 14th November
Festival of Brass and Voices, in aid of Cancer Research UK.
What a fantastic night for the massed male voice choirs, plus a number of joint items with the ladies’ choirs, and the Grimethorpe and Cory Bands. The choirs assembled from across England, Scotland and Wales, and the wonderful young Fochabers Frontline Fiddlers were just brilliant. Guests from a choir in The Netherlands accompanied the concert’s pianist. The finale with Land of Hope and Glory was particularly poignant and enthusiastically sung following the tragic overnight news from Paris.
Saturday 28th November
Crigglestone Methodist Church (Wakefield Hospice)
Friday and Saturday 4th and 5th December
Featherstone Methodist Church carol concerts at 7.15pm. Two really good concerts to launch our Christmas season.
Thursday 10 December
Christmas Carol Concert at Prince of Wales Hospice, 7pm. We opened the Carol concert by singing in the marquee and we’re delighted to share the moment with YTV Calendar presenter Duncan Wood.
Friday 11th December
Christmas Carol Concert with pupils from North Featherstone Junior school, Green Lane WMC, 7pm. This was a fund raiser for the Dr Jackson Cancer fund and we were pleased as always to support this very worthy cause.
Wednesday 16th December
Christmas Carol Concert with Featherstone Main Brass Band and school choirs, at St Thomas’ Church, Featherstone, in aid of Featherstone Town Council 6.30pm. A really enjoyable concert with local school pupils, and the brass band was excellent.
Thursday 17 December
Carol concert for live broadcast on Radio Leeds, from All Saints Church in Ackworth.
Friday 18th December
Private concert for North of England Barristers, York Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.
Wednesday 23 December
Our choir sang Christmas songs and carols at the Shearings interchange in Normanton, to inspire the holiday makers with Christmas spirit! Novelty hats were worn.
“This is the first time that we’ve taken a Christmas holiday with Shearings, and the choir is a treat.”
“We had an early start this morning and we still have a long journey, so this has been a lovely break for us.”
