We thought that our “season” 2008/2009 was a special year – celebrating our Golden Jubilee with a Massed Choir Concert in Durham Cathedral, a Formal Dinner at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, and a Celebrity Gala Concert with the Bottone family.

However, we didn’t know then that during 2012 we would have another two prestigious occasions in our Calendar.

In April 2012 most of Choir took part in a Massed Choir Concert at The Sage Gateshead, quite a thrill for most of us who hadn’t performed on that Platform before – and then in November 2012 more than half the Choir travelled to London to join in a Massed Choir and Band Concert at the Albert Hall, organised by Cancer Research UK..

This was something of a challenge for those taking part, as we normally sing with music at our Concerts, but for that occasion we were obliged to sing without music. Also, taking part in an event of this kind (with over 1,600 performers) was something we’d never experienced.

However, we managed the travelling, we managed the singing without copies, we helped Cancer Research UK to raise £160,000 from the event - and it was a great thrill to be involved in such an important and moving occasion, with so many other Choirs from up and down the British Isles, and beyond.

It was also good for us who travelled to get to know one another a little better over the weekend, and to spend a little time with like-minded people from other Choirs, from several ofwhich we have already received invitations to perform together. Indeed we have a firm date for a Joint Concert with the Worcester Male Voice Choir scheduled for 7th September this year.

The Worcester Male Voice Choir have travelled north to sing with our Choir before. In 1992, they combined with Shiney Row Male Voice Choir for a Joint Concert in Durham Cathedral, and some of those who sang with our Choir on that occasion were thrilled to meet us at The Albert Hall – hence the re-kindling of that earlier collaboration. Look out for further details of the 7th September Joint Concert.

Also, as a spin-off from the Albert Hall Concert last year, we have recently been invited to join in a similar event this year in Edinburgh, mainly for Scottish Choirs, and so a number of us are travelling to Edinburgh to sing on Saturday 16th November in the Usher Hall, again raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

Other events in recent months include a Fundraising Concert with the School Choir of New Silksworth Junior School in November last year which raised £1,650 for The Rainbow Trust, and a Concert in Sunderland last month for the benefit of the Mayor’s Charities - jointly with Rachel Orr and the Filipino Singers of St Joseph’s Church Millfield - where we helped to raise over £750.

In 2013, we’re very pleased to have already recruited five prospective new members – and this bodes well for the Choir’s commitment to continue developing, and promote Male Voice singing in our region.