Lincoln Orpheus Male Voice Choir History Patron Join the Choir Management Committee Future events Specimen Programme

History

One evening in March 1933 the late Herbert Scott produced a concert in Hannah Memorial Church, Lincoln, given by fifteen male singers he had gathered together from various city choirs and rehearsed in great secrecy. The evening was a huge success and Herbert was inundated with invitations to repeat the concert, so much so that the singers decided to stay together. The following year the 'Lincoln Orpheus Male Voice Choir' was born with Bob Airey as Chairman and Herbert Hillman as Conductor.

The Orpheus was the only male voice choir in Lincoln and continued to flourish. Rehearsals were held in Mr Curtis's sewing factory in Water Lane on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.00pm and to purchase music and to defray other expenses each member paid sixpence (two and a half pence today) per week - most pieces of music cost about sixpence. Membership rose to about twenty-five and the Choir gave many concerts, won several cups at festivals and auditioned for the BBC at Leeds.

During the 1939-45 War the absence of so many members serving in the armed forces led to the suspension of activities, but the Choir was reformed in 1946 with Herbert Scott as Chairman and John Bonner as Conductor.

Since its foundation the Choir has raised many thousands of pounds for charity and many a church organ or roof has benefitted from its efforts. Anyone who would like us to put on a concert is invited to contact the Secretary or Concert Secretary (see list of officers).

 
Patron

In 1987 Jane Eaglen, the internationally famous operatic soprano, honoured the Choir by agreeing to become its Patron. A native of Lincoln, she first sang solos with the Choir while still at school. In 1974, at the age of 12, she was given £1.00 for singing with us. Since then she has maintained her links with the Choir, appearing with us on several occasions, notably at our Diamond Jubilee Concert in May, 1994.   Jane has a Web site which can be found at www.JaneEaglen.com.

 
Join the Choir

We are always glad to welcome men, preferably those who have had some experience in choral singing, but they do not necessarily have to be able to read music. At the moment we especially need tenor voices. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm at St Mary's Preparatory School, Lincoln (entrance by the blue door on Winnowsty Lane). Subscriptions are currently £5.00 p.a. and £2.00 weekly, OR one annual payment of £63.00.

We restarted for the 2006/7 season on Tuesday 5th September 2006.
We hold open evenings throughout the season to which everyone is welcome. Dates are shown here and in the MUSIC:LINK Diary.

Come and join us.

Anyone interested in joining the Choir should contact one of the Committee members whose names and telephone numbers are listed below.

 
Management Committee

The Management Committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting held in September each year, and consists of the following members, who may be contacted on matters relating to the Choir.

Chairman	Alan Humphries	01522 723411 E-mail: Mralanhumph@aol.com
Vice Chairman	Jerry Truscott	01522 752265 E-mail: paterman@truscottj.fsnet.co.uk
Secretary	John Woolley	01522 691512
Treasurer	Alan Greenwell	01522 824018
Concert Secretary	Tony Frith	01529 410072 E-mail: tony@tonyfrith.freeserve.co.uk
Librarian	Jerry Truscott	01522 752265 E-mail: paterman@truscottj.fsnet.co.uk
Steward	John Woolley	01522 691512
Choir Representatives	John Coulling Alan Greenwell	01522 540340 01522 824018
Musical Director	Richard Lindsay	01522 527391 E-mail: info@richardlindsay.co.uk
Accompanist	Lesley Willis	01522 826499

 
Future Events 2006

Date / Time	Venue
Saturday 4 November 2006 7.30pm	All Saints' Church, Wragby
Saturday 20 January 2007 7.30pm	Nettleham Methodist Church. Methodist Church sponsored
Saturday 10 February 2007 7.30pm	Bailgate Methodist Church. LOMVC sponsored concert in aid of Wheelpower (British Wheelchair Sport).
Saturday 24 February 2007 7.30pm	Central Methodist Church. LOMVC sponsored concert in aid of Wheelpower (British Wheelchair Sport).

 
Specimen Programme

With two solo spots, this programme represents a typical concert:

• Blaenwern - Welsh hymn
• Were You There? - spiritual
• Take Me Home - song of a Welsh miner
• Calon Lan - Welsh hymn
• Do You Remember An Inn, Miranda?
• Waltzing Matilda
• Maya Moya - Croatian love song
• Alexander's Ragtime Band
• Love Could I Only Tell Thee
• When I'm Sixty-Four - Beatles song
• Last of the Summer Wine
• Polly Perkins of Paddington Green
• Now is the Hour - Maori farewell
• Marina - German romantic ballad
• Goodnight Ladies