Programme Notes

Colne Valley Male Voice Choir

Colne Valley Male Voice Choir is one of the leading male voice choirs in the country and has entertained in many locations in its native Yorkshire and in many other places both home and abroad. Now, well into its second century, Colne Valley Male Voice Choir is well and truly stitched in to the musical life of its West Yorkshire Community.

Newly formed Choir in Spa Park, Slaithwaite, in 1922

Remarkably, just two conductors have covered close on 80 of its glorious years. The great George Stead (seen as young member, third from left on the front row) led the men for 46 years. The current – equally great – Musical Director, Thom Meredith, is in his 35th year now and counting.

From the beginning, Colne Valley entered contests of national standing to hone its skills, winning its first trophies in 1923. Since then, the Choir has won over 100 competitions across the country. Perhaps a highlight would be winning the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen for three consecutive years in the 1960’s and then twice more in 1998 and 1999.

The Choir on tour at Lands End, 2015

The Choir currently won the accolade of ‘Best UK Choir’ in the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival on three occasions.

The Choir continues to seek out challenging music alongside the popular and has developed an entertaining and constantly changing concert repertoire: an event almost every month and well over 50 different pieces performed every year, all sung without copies.

They are always looking for new members to join – just ask a choir-member. Or leave your name and email address and we will send you our free email newsletter to keep you in touch with the Choir’s activities.

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Thom Meredith

Almost as difficult to believe, I’m sure for Thom if not for the rest of us, Thom became the Choir’ Musical Director as far back as 1989. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1965, Thom was educated at Lawnswood School, Leeds and then Brasenose College, Oxford. Thom is at the heart of the musical life of the area, not least because of his long-held role as Principal of the ‘Musica Kirklees’, the Kirklees Music School.

There’s always a demand, too, for his fine baritone solo singing voice.

(A fuller biography is available – click here)

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Christopher Pulleyn

Chris took up the role as Colne Valley Male Voice Choir’s pianist in 2020 succeeding the legendary accompanist, Keith Swallow.

Few players can match his keyboard skills and the sensitivity of his support to choir performance.

Christopher is a local lad, who studied music at Greenhead College (where he retains links though now as a tutor) before going on to study English Literature at the University of York. Chris spent a few years in Japan, before returning to forge a career as a professional musician in the UK. In that, he is being increasingly successful. In addition to his work with CVMVC, he works regularly with a number of major arts organisations across the country including Opera North, Leeds Conservatoire, Sage Gateshead, Huddersfield Choral Society, Leeds Lieder, and the Hallé. Christopher is also Assistant Musical Director of Bradford Festival Choral Society.

In 2018, he established &Piano, an annual music festival in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, to further support and encourage the appreciation of song and chamber music in the region.