About us

Backworth Male Voice Choir was founded in 1951 by miners of the Backworth Colliery. Our first Musical Director was Joe King, the Colliery Manager, and although the Colliery is long since closed, there is still a close association and affection for our heritage.

The Choir performs extensively throughout the region and beyond, supporting charity initiatives as well as performing alongside some of the region's finest instrumental/choral ensembles and soloists.

The Choir have toured Europe on a number of occasions having visited Germany, France and Belgium as well as playing host to a number of European choirs on UK tours. In June the Choir travelled to Germany to meet up with old friends from the Bergischer Mannerchor, Solingen and to take part in a series of special concerts. Both choirs were asked to sing at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Finkenweder Choir, Hamburg.

The Choir have been fortunate to have had a number of well established and distinguished conductors who have all brought their own unique styles and ideas. Today the choir are under the leadership of Andrew Clarence.

Today’s Choir is a forty strong community choir, attracting members from all walks of life. We are proud to support the work of many regionally charities and organisations through our performances.

  HOME 

In July BMVC participated in two performances of HOME in the Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields.

HOME was a community opera led by Timothy Burke (Chorus Director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia) which explred what "home" meant to the people of North Shields and the surrounding area. It linked dance, song, drama and spoked word.

Participants included Tête à Tête opera company, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, two local community choirs (Can't Sing Choir and Backworth Male Voice Choir), a dance group (Forever Dance), director Bill Bankes-Jones, soloist Anna Huntley and children from three North Tyneside primary schools.

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Backworth Male Voice Choir sang the following numbers:-                

The Colliers' Requiem, Cullercoat's Bay and Bobby Shafto--

  1. ·     We also had a spoken word contribution from Andy Rutherford (From Drift Mines and Bell Pits).

     

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