Churchdown Male Voice Choir
Our Purpose
The primary purpose of the Choir is to enjoy singing whilst raising money for good causes. We all intend to continue this long into the future with your continuing support of course!
Join Us
We practice on Monday nights at 7:30pm at the Churchdown Community Centre in Parton Road, Churchdown , followed by a social gathering at the bar! Join us!
Meet The Choir
Front Row (left to right)
The late Charlie Roberts, John Ginley (TI), Ken Palmer (B1), Brian Rose (B1), John Blenkinsopp (MD), Ralph Barnes (Assistant MD), Andrew Chalmers (B1), Mike Lander (B2), Malcolm Webb (B1), Ron Simpson (B2), George Taylor (B2).
Second Row (left to right)
Daniel Jesudasan (T1), Peter Richardson (T2), Thomas Kus (T2), Warwick Bentley (T1), Ron Parker (T2), John Bowles (B2), Derrick O'Brien (B1), The late Den Ripley (B1), Pete Wilson (B2), Laurence Artus (B2), Eric Cooper (B1).
Third Row (left to right)
Dave Ducket (T2), The late Ron Bennett, Graham Crisp (T1), Greg Owen (T1), Albert Bater (T2), Mike Brown (T2), Bob Bonwick (T1), Geoff Senior (B1), Harry Cole (B1), Terry Febery (B1), Jim Phin (B1), Jim Major (B1).
Forth Row (left to right)
Kyle Howell (T2), Ken Shaw (T2), Colin Stone (T1), Colin Acton (T1), Clive Ryder (T2), Barry Woods (T2), Jeff Bourton (T2), Trevor Colclough (B1), Mike Beresford (B2), Dave Hawker (B1), Ron McCullen (B1), Dave Humphris (B2).
Back Row (left to right)
Meirion Jones (T1), Dave Hier (T1), Albert Pettit (T1), Jolyon Waldon (B2), Richard Bonwick (B1), Mike St-John Green (B1), William Johanson (T2), Adrian Law (B2).
Not present on 17-12-07
Brian Medlicott (B1), Bill Beamish (B1), Eddie Wakefield (T1), John Capel (T2), Charlie Jones (T2), Bill Gough (T2), Hugh Fletcher (T2), Hugh Griffiths (T2), Phil Gardiner (B2), Terry Williams (B1), Peter Brazil (T1), Glenn Gaston (B2), John Jeffreys (B1), Lorrie Stepney (T1), Mike Smart (B2). Philip Boswell (B1), Leslie Fulford (1), David Fuller (B2), Michael Lake (B2), Keith Waldon (B1), Ken Turner (B), Mike Smart (B2) and our accompanist Pam Taverner who just missed the photo session.
Photograph taken by Tony Hickey on 17-12-07
Email: Tony.hickey [at-sign] thphotography.net
John Blenkinsopp
Musical Director of Churchdown Male Voice Choir since September 1974, John ensures that not only does the Choir sing to a high standard but that its repertoire is varied in its content enabling concerts of all types to be accommodated.
Interested in a wide variety of music, his first local musical activities were as a trombonist in various local orchestras and as a choral singer. He also conducted the Cheltenham Opera Group, the Cotswold Savoyards, Cheltenham Bach Choir and Cleeve Choral.
A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, in which he first developed his love for music, he is organist and choirmaster at Winchcombe Methodist Church.
In more recent years he has entered the field of composing and arranging and several of his arrangements are in the Choir's repertoire. He continues to widen and diversify the repertoire for male voice choirs and has successfully introduced several pieces from the classical repertoire, which have been appreciated by Choir and audience alike.
In 2002 John achieved an ambition when the Churchdown Male Voice Choir sang a classical programme in concert with a symphony orchestra in Gloucester Cathedral.
Ralph Barnes
Ralph Barnes was born in Cheltenham in 1979.
He was educated at Rendcomb College in Gloucestershire and in 2001 graduated from Roehampton University in London with a BA Hons Degree in Drama and music. At University he studied singing with Michael Goldthorpe and conducting with Dr Colin Durrant. He was a regular performer in recitals and concerts.
He has also performed in America, Spain, Germany and Italy.
Ralph has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus at the Royal Albert Hall.
A keen actor, Ralph has played many roles in plays, musicals and opera.
As well as his work with the Churchdown Male Voice Choir, Ralph is a guest soloist with Churchdown Choral Society, Charlton Kings Choral Society and Cheltenham Choral Society.
Since 1984 Ralph has been a competitor at the Cheltenham Festival winning prizes for poetry readings, acting and singing and in 2006, he was awarded the Foxwell Rosebowl for singing.
Also, in 2005, Ralph performed solo with Jemima Phillips, Royal Harpist to His Highness The Prince Of Wales.
As an orchestral conductor, Ralph has directed The Young Workers Music Association Symphony Orchestra, The Halesowen Chamber Orchestra and The Belarus White Russian Army Band.
Ralph is currently studying singing with Maria Jagusz.
Pam Taverner
Born in Cardiff, South Wales, Pam Taverner has been the Choir's Accompanist since January 1998.
She teaches the piano, both privately and at St Edward's Junior School, Cheltenham; is the organist at St Stephen's Church, Cheltenham and is the Accompanist and Assistant Music Director of Blue Moon Harmony, Cheltenham.
In past years, Pam has taken part in the Cheltenham Competitive Festival, both as one of the official accompanists and as a competitor and has won a number of awards, the most recent of which being The Harold Chipp Memorial Rosebowl and The Janet Salsbury Challenge Cup in 2006.
