The first evidence of a Male Voice Choir in Newquay dates from the post war years when a group of men got together and formed a choir in 1947. This choir disbanded in 1956, but was eventually reformed as Newquay Male Voice Choir with the first practice held on 20th November 1974. Mr Morley Trethewey was appointed as Musical Director at this time and as well as conducting, he was one of the principal soloists, having a very rich bass voice.
In 1982, after some 8 years at the helm, Morley Trethewey resigned and Roy Magor was appointed to replace him. In 1987, Alan Taylor took up the baton as Musical Director and it is interesting to note that in the first 25 years of the choir’s existence, it had just 3 Musical Directors and one principal accompanist, Mr Donald Hosking, who supported the choir throughout this period.
In 1999, Judith Mumby arrived to support Donald Hosking as accompanist and in 2001 Janet Harling also joined the choir to offer her support as accompanist. In the summer of 2003, Alan Taylor stood down as Musical Director (though remains as a keen tenor within the choir) and we were delighted to appoint Judith Mumby as MD and Janet Harling as principal accompanist who went on to act as Deputy MD until 2009 when Janet retired through a combination of ill-health and other commitments. After a difficult period without a regular accompanist, the choir welcomed Chris Bennett to the position in 2010 and he has now accepted the post on a permanent basis.
The Choir has made a number of recordings over the years, on vinyl, tape, CD and DVD and has featured in a large number of broadcasts by the BBC and others. It has also proudly participated in massed concerts including the 1000 male voice choir concerts at the Royal Albert Hall with the Federation of Cornish Male Voice Choirs; BBC Songs of Praise programmes; and joint concerts as part of the International Festival of Male Choirs.
Since 2008, the choir has established a proud record of support for local schools and NMVC choristers regularly encourage, rehearse with and sing with local primary and secondary schools. The focus for all this activity is the encouragement of boys to participate in and enjoy choral singing, in the hope that the proud Cornish tradition of Male Voice Choir singing can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Newquay Male Voice Choir has helped to raise many thousands of pounds for charities both in Cornwall and other parts of the U.K. including especially Wales, Northern England and the Isle of Wight! International visits have also supported charities in France and Austria.