ACCOMPANIST: ROSEMARY JONES
Rosemary came to Nottingham as a librarian In 1970 and later worked in local schools for 20 years playing the piano and teaching pupils to sing. She ran choirs within the schools and has variously been M.D. and played for a variety of musicals. She has been playing for local choirs since the 1980s. Rosemary is a trained singer and has sung as a soioist and in local choirs. She is a piano teacher and over the past 20 years has buiit up a thriving piano teaching business.
She retired from accompanying our choir in January 2024 after 25 years valuable service, for which we offer our grateful thanks, Ro.
She retired from accompanying our choir in January 2024 after 25 years valuable service, for which we offer our grateful thanks, Ro.
A Brief History of Pye Hill MVC
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Pye Hill and District Male Voice Choir was first formed in 1903 by the Providence Chapel, in a small village on the Nottinghamshire / Derbyshire border. It was later joined by men from the workforces of the local industries. It is reputed to be one of the oldest established male voice choirs in the East Midlands and possibly in the country. The choir sang predominantly in contests gaining great acclaim but, with the demise of many of the contests throughout the seventies, the choir turned to performing in concert.
Its membership has over the years varied in number and stands at the moment around twenty.
At the outset, practices were held in the homes and even in the open air before finding more permanent homes, finally settling in the Miners Welfare, now “The Dale Club” in Jacksdale.
Currently the choir performs in concerts, religious services and civic occasions at a variety of venues. These have included St. Mary's Church Nottingham, Derby Cathedral, Newstead Abbey and Chatsworth House. However, we are equally at home in the numerous local halls and churches in which we are asked to perform. Many national and regional charities continue to benefit from concert proceeds.
The choir also undertakes an annual weekend visit, which affords us the opportunity to present concerts throughout Great Britain. Areas visited include the Cotswolds, Dorset, Wales, Lake District, South Downs and the North East. In our Centenary Year we revisited the Norfolk coast.
Its membership has over the years varied in number and stands at the moment around twenty.
At the outset, practices were held in the homes and even in the open air before finding more permanent homes, finally settling in the Miners Welfare, now “The Dale Club” in Jacksdale.
Currently the choir performs in concerts, religious services and civic occasions at a variety of venues. These have included St. Mary's Church Nottingham, Derby Cathedral, Newstead Abbey and Chatsworth House. However, we are equally at home in the numerous local halls and churches in which we are asked to perform. Many national and regional charities continue to benefit from concert proceeds.
The choir also undertakes an annual weekend visit, which affords us the opportunity to present concerts throughout Great Britain. Areas visited include the Cotswolds, Dorset, Wales, Lake District, South Downs and the North East. In our Centenary Year we revisited the Norfolk coast.
The early years
The above photograph is of Pye Hill and District Male Voice Choir and was taken to mark their performance on BBC Radio at 5.40 p.m on Sunday 19th August 1934. The choir has made 23 broadcasts on BBC Radio over the years.
Pye Hill and District Male Voice Choir is one of the oldest choirs of its kind in the country and was first formed in 1903 under the leadership of Joe Bonsall who led and inspired the choir for 50 years. The choir has had a number of other distinguished leaders since and is presently led by Christine Buxton. The choir has a proud history of achievement and the photograph shows some of the trophies it has won over the years when choirs competed against each other. The choirs archives record that it has won 95 first prizes, 58 second prizes and 20 third prizes in contests, which is a remarkable record by any standard.
In more recent years the choir has performed in many concerts mainly in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, where it draws most of its membership, supporting charities and churches.
Pye Hill and District Male Voice Choir is one of the oldest choirs of its kind in the country and was first formed in 1903 under the leadership of Joe Bonsall who led and inspired the choir for 50 years. The choir has had a number of other distinguished leaders since and is presently led by Christine Buxton. The choir has a proud history of achievement and the photograph shows some of the trophies it has won over the years when choirs competed against each other. The choirs archives record that it has won 95 first prizes, 58 second prizes and 20 third prizes in contests, which is a remarkable record by any standard.
In more recent years the choir has performed in many concerts mainly in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, where it draws most of its membership, supporting charities and churches.
