Century-old male voice choir seeks new singers

The choir is 108 years old

A 108-year-old all-male choir is trying to find new singers so that one day it has the chance to hit its 200th anniversary.

The Ashington and District Male Voice Choir in Northumberland has about 30 members but is seeking new blood to ensure it has a long term future.

Kevin Lillie said the choir had an average age "above retirement" and, like choirs throughout the country, lost some members due to Covid-19.

"There's a big focus on recruitment," he said.

Mr Lillie said the choir, which was founded in 1916, doesn't have a formal audition process.

"You don't have to have any previous singing experience," he said.

Male choirs have a long tradition in the UK and typically go back to coal mining and the Methodist chapels, he said.

The Ashington group still sing several coal mining songs, as well as traditional songs from north-east England, he said.

The team have designed a new website, started putting their videos on to YouTube and plan to hold more training sessions for singers.

"We're going to train members, not to be karaoke singers, but to train them to be able to work without an accompanist with backing tracks," he said.

"The long-term goal of the choir is to celebrate 200 years," he added.

Mr Lillie said singing in a choir was good for health and bought "tremendous satisfaction".

"Some of the guys in the choir don't just come to sing," he said, adding: "They actually come to interact with their friends on a Thursday night - it's about making it a social enjoyable occasion."