Caldicot Male Voice Choir

18/05/2026

Caldicot Male Voice Choir was delighted to welcome St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir to its Choir Hall on Sunday 17th May for a joint concert. This was the final concert of St Edmundsbury’s short tour of South Wales which included singing with Brecon Male Choir in Brecon Cathedral and with Mynyddislwyn Male Choir in Blackwood. The choir also sang emotionally at the Aberfan Memorial.

In a mixed and varied programme, conducted by Sian Hatton and Shirley Anne James and accompanied by Olivia Dance, Caldicot included ‘Rachie’, ‘Sixteen Tons’, the lullaby prayer ‘Y Darlun’, ‘Seventy Six Trombones’ from the Musical The Music Man and the romantic Welsh song ‘Anfonaf Angel’.

In an equally varied programme, St Edmundsbury, conducted by Leslie Olive and accompanied by Jill Garett, continued the first half with the rousing ‘Rhythm of Life’, Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, the Dionne Warwick hit ‘Walk on By’, the haunting poem ‘Seal Lullaby’ and finalizing with ‘When the Saints’ which had the audience foot tapping to the rhythm.

St Edmundsbury opened the second performance with 'What the World Needs Now is Love' and included in the second half ‘The Rose’ famously sang by Bette Midler, ‘My Kind of Girl’ which included saxophonist Julian Wiggins and the tumultuous ‘One Day Like This’. The presentation also included a firm favourite with Caldicot ‘What Would I Do Without My Music’.

Caldicot opened its second performance with a premiere performance of ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ and included ‘California Dreamin’ featuring Nigel Keen on flute. Safwn yn y Bwlch’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ before finalising with ‘This is the Moment’ from the musical Jeckyl and Hyde.

Finally the two choirs combined to present ‘Morte Criste’ and the foot tapping traditional ‘Everytime I Feel the Spirit’.

The evening closed with a presentation of a commemorative slate plaque by Caldicot Chairman Leon Jones to St Edmundsbury’s chairman Mark Whitehead. In return Mark Whitehead presented an appreciated inscribed plaque to Caldicot’s chairman Leon Jones.

Following a tremendous ‘Afterglow’ and refreshments St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir returned to Suffolk knowing that they’d had a wonderful friendly welcome by all they met during its South Wales Tour. Let’s hope they can return again soon.

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett

16/05/2026

Not long to go for tomorrow night's concert. folks. It looks like it's going to be a great one from two leading choirs. Tickets are available at the door. So if you're looking for somewhere to go tomorrow evening why not go along to the choir hall in Caldicot?

11/05/2026

On Saturday 9th May the Choir was pleased to travel to the little Tredegar Methodist Church to celebrate and recognize the 150 years since the Chapel opened on Vale Terrace.

In very warm conditions the Choir conducted by Sian Hatton and Shirley Anne James thrilled the enthusiastic audience by opening with the rousing Welsh Hymn, ‘Rachie’ and followed in its first half with The Flying Pickets hit ‘Only You’ with additional accompaniment from flautist Nigel Keen, traditional ‘Shenandoah’, ‘16 Tons’, the Kinks ‘Days’ and finalizing with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from the musical Carousel.

While the Choir retired to take a well earned break, choir Lead Accompanist, Olivia Dance delighted the audience with superbly executed piano solos of songs from several films and shows including the well- known tune ‘You Must Remember This’ from the film Casablanca.

Appearing in the second spot the choir discarded its blazers to open with ‘African Prayer’ with the second verse in Welsh, the favourite wish ‘May You Always Have a Song’, the patriotic ‘Safwn yn y Bwlch’, Leonard Cohen’s ‘Halleluyah’, ’76 Trombones’ the marching song from the musical ‘The Music Man’ and ‘Autumn Leaves’ before finalizing with the beautiful and poignant Welsh song ‘Anfonaf Angel’.

There is no doubt that the audience truly appreciated the concert with its varied repertoire, superbly performed by the choir and musical team with many favourable comments and well deserved plaudits from the audience.

The choir and guests then retired to the church back room to enjoy a wonderful and incredible presentation of food, cakes, teas and coffees provided by the church ladies, very much appreciated by the choristers and music team.

The Choir will be joined next Sunday on 17th May by St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir at a joint concert at the Choir Hall, Mill Lane, Caldicot. Tickets £10 so if you want to hear two great choirs please be there.

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett

06/05/2026

Just to let you know that Caldicot Male Voice Choir’s accomplished and talented piano accompanist is teaming up with her friend flautist and celloist Sarah Waycott to present a varied and unusual musical concert at the beautiful setting of St. Briavels St. Mary the Virgin Church GL15 6RG on Sunday 10th May at 3pm. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

Some of the photos show a past joint performance by Olivia and Sarah at St Pierre Church in February 2024.

This highly popular event organized by Wye Valley Music is not to be missed so click on the link to learn more and book your tickets.

https://www.wyevalleymusic.org.uk/sarah-waycott-olivia-dance-2026

06/05/2026

Caldicot Male Voice Choir will be joined by The St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir at the Choir Hall on Sunday 17th May for a great concert. The poster says it all so reserve your ticket with Ken Cooper before they sell out.

02/05/2026

A few years ago the Choir appeared on ITVs Coast and Country television programme when Sean Fletcher joined the cycle club and later came over the hall to listen to us sing. During the programme he interviewed Tony Griffiths, Alyn Dawe, Lyn Gauntlett and musical director Sian Hatton. A lovely afternoon. Enjoy.

Click on the link to watch the You-Tube video.

4 likes. "Caldicot Male Voice Choir on ITV Wales Coast and Country broadcast"

27/04/2026

CALDICOT CHOIR AND CHEPSTOW AND USK SINGING CLUB PERFORM FOR SARA

On Saturday 25th April Caldicot Male Voice Choir joined with the fabulous Usk and Chepstow Singing Club to perform a concert at St Mary’s Priory, Chepstow to raise funds for SARA, The Severn Area Rescue Association which, as explained by compere Richard Newhouse, carries out sea and land rescues and searches throughout the Severn Estuary. Entirely made up of volunteers the Association receives about 100 callouts every years, saving many lives. The concert was also supported by Chepstow Town Council and attended by Deputy Mayor Vanessa Badderley-Potter

The concert opened with Caldicot Male Voice Choir, conducted by Musical Director Sian Hatton, Deputy Musical Director Shirley Anne James and accompanied by John Nicholson presented to an audience of almost 200, a wide range of 15 songs in its programme, opening with ‘Rachie’, ‘African Prayer’ sung partly in Welsh and including favourites ‘Shenandoah’, ’16 Tons’, ’Benedictus’ and ‘Anfonaf Angel’, both by Robat Arwyn and the hymn ‘Cwm Rhondda’. The choir’s programme also included ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, ’May You Always Have a Song’, Autumn Leaves’ and finalising with ‘This is the Moment from the musical Jekyll and Hyde receiving enthusiastic and long lasting applause.

The concert also included the wonderful Chepstow and Usk Singing Club conducted and accompanied by Jayne Thomas. The club, consisting of mixed voices presented a delightful range of songs opening with ‘Lean on Me’ followed by ‘Rags to Ritz’ a medley of Irving Berlin songs. The next items included ‘O Waly Waly’ (The Water is Wide, a Scottish Folk Song) with violinist Sara Long and on whistle Suzanne Moore-Orly and included ‘A River of Dreams’, ‘A Million Dreams’ from the Greatest Showman, finalising with ‘One Day Like This’ arranged by choir founder Karl Daymond.
The concert was thoroughly enjoyed by all and everyone left knowing that they had experienced a unique event to raise much needed funds for SARA.

Please visit the web sites https://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/ www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk and https://singingclubber.co.uk/ for more information of both choirs and SARA.

Photos by Colleen Gauntlett

22/04/2026

Do you remember this day in 2019 when the choir took part in the pageant to mark the reconciliation of the Zulu and British Nations following the Anglo Zulu War in 1879?

Although the choir rehearsed the South African National Anthem perfectly it was drowned out by the Zulu bodyguard who sang what sounded like a different version.

King Goodwill and his entourage enjoyed it though.

20/04/2026

If you didn't already know, Caldicot Male Voice Choir owns its magnificent Choir Hall in Mill Lane, Caldicot. Over the last few years it has undergone major refurbishments such as repairs to the roof, soffits and guttering, a new large extension at the front, a completely new bar, an incredible projection and sound system, low energy LED lighting and new glass doors all making the purpose built hall a fabulous venue for concerts, parties, and not least business events.

Many of these projects have been overseen and instigated by chorister chairman Leon Jones with support from many other craftsmen choristers. Well done all.

The latest project, partly funded by a Welsh Government Community Facilities scheme, has been to install solar panels to help the environment and reduce substantial electricity costs for the choir. It is already showing these benefits.

The installation, overseen by Leon was completed in less than 3 days, to an exceptional standard by Prometheus Electrical & Solar LTD of Swansea. This company did a fabulous job to an extremely high standard and is well recommended by the choir. Many thanks to Chris Jones, Business owner and installer and Jon Stauber, solar specialist.

The website link to Prometheus is https://www.prometheuselectrical.co.uk/

To follow are a few photos, taken by Leon of the installation progress.