Feel like singing?
Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir members have in common a love of singing and a willingness to embrace the highest standards achievable by a male voice choir. The men of the Choir demonstrate this by committing time to rehearsals and engagements. New members are always welcome. No audition is necessary but alongside the tuition of our Musical Director, Nick Thomas, new members receive plenty of help and encouragement from choir colleagues. The choir therefore is able to maintain a respected reputation in the region. The ability to read music, although an advantage is not essential; the most important attribute for a member of the choir is commitment and enthusiasm.
We rehearse at Temple Methodist Church Hall, Upper High St, Taunton TA1 3PY at 7.30pm every Wednesday evening from September to June.
Contact our Chairman Jeff Garland via the form below or just turn up!
Then and Now
The County town of Somerset is as different as it gets from the traditional mining or industrial base from which many of our male voice choirs hail, but there has been a flourishing male voice choir in Taunton since 1946; the Choir started life as the Wessex Male Singers and was the result of a merger of two previously unsuccessful attempts at forming a male voice choir in Taunton by the Avimo Company and the Taunton Trades Council. The Choir became the Taunton Male Voice Choir in 1962 in order to strengthen its links with the town and Deane was added in 1974 when the Coat of Arms was also displayed on its uniform.
The Choir further strengthened its links with its home town in 2009 when the Mayor of Taunton Deane Borough Council became the Patron of the Choir. Two of the principle aims of this association is to act as an ambassador for Taunton and to sing in support of the Mayor’s annual charity’s appeal.
What we like to do
Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir has three main objectives – to preserve the traditions and standards of male voice singing, to maintain public interest in male voice choirs and to assist organisations in raising money for charitable causes. Over the years the choir has performed at countless charity concerts locally and nationally promoting both Taunton and Male Voice Choral Singing. The Mayor of Taunton Deane is our Patron and every year we stage a concert in support of the Mayor's chosen charities
The Choir is affiliated to the National Association of Choirs and has sung with massed choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, The Evening Standard Arena in Manchester, in the World Choir in Cardiff, and on several occasions at the Royal Albert Hall in The Festival of Brass & Voices Concert in aid of CANCER RESEARCH UK. On five occasions since 2007 we have performed at various venues in the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival. In 2016 the choir visited Taunton's twin town, Lisieux in Normandy where we performed in the Cathedral. In 2017 the choir was honoured to sing with the band of the Royal Marines in aid of the Go Commando charity; and with three other Somerset Male Voice choirs in a massed choir concert at Wells Cathedral in aid The South West Children's Hospice and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. In 2019 the choir travelled to Rotterdam to sing at several venues with the Prince Alexander Choir
The Choir’s repertoire is extensive and varied, offering something to suit every kind of musical taste, from opera choruses, spirituals, popular ballads and selections from musical shows to classical and romantic music, folk songs and popular ballads, Welsh hymns, and sacred music.
Each year we perform about ten charity concerts. As a registered charity the Choir raises thousands of pounds annually for good causes and we are always pleased to hear from potential concert organisers who can offer a theatre, church or hall with reasonable acoustics and an audience of 100 or more, if possible.
The choir is available to sing at weddings and appropriate private functions; please enquire via our Concert Secretary.
We believe we’re sociable too.
Off stage the members of the choir have an active social life and a strong spirit of camaraderie exists between them. Social activities are organised by our Social Secretary and a warm welcome is also extended to supporters of the Choir to a range of events throughout the year. These include an annual golf competition with supper, occasional breakfast with speaker, a ‘Black Tie’ dinner and trips to interesting places.
Everyone is kept up to date via regular emails sent out by our Publicity Officer. We also produce a regular newsletter VoiceMale published bi-monthly. If you would like to add your email address to our supporter’s list please let us know via the ‘Contact’ page.
The choir is a Registered Charity, Registered with the Charity Commission number 284948