The choir was formed by a group of sixteen enthusiasts in February 1985 and several of the founder members still sing with the choir. Members come not only from Dalston, but also from Carlisle and a wide surrounding area. The choir rehearses on Sunday evenings in Dalston Methodist Church.
The choir’s strong development since its formation is due in no small part to the skilled and energetic guidance it received from Hilary Hodgson, who was its Musical Director from its formation in 1985 until her retirement in December 2011.
You can read more about how the choir was formed and about Hilary Hodgson, our founding Musical Director.
The objects of the choir under its constitution are “to advance the appreciation of male voice singing…by the presentation of public concerts…to give pleasure to others and to help charitable causes.”
Charities and causes
The choir now gives about 8 concerts each year to support causes such as church funds, NSPCC, Macmillan Nurses, Eden Valley Hospice, WI, Women’s Guild, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Overseas Aid Trust, Crossroads, Cancer Funds, Christian Aid Tear Fund, Rotary International Charities and the Jubilee Sailing Trust.
Concerts near and far
Concerts are given largely in Cumbria, but performances have also been held in Northumberland and Dumfriesshire. Further afield, the choir has sung with the World Choir at Cardiff Arms Park (8,000 male voices!) and in Atlanta, USA. In 2000, the choir took part in the Massed Male Voice Millenium Extravaganza in Manchester; and the Cumbria Massed Male Voice Choir Millenium Celebration Concert in Whitehaven.
Encouraging young musicians
The choir has made opportunities available to many young up and coming musicians in the county by inviting them to appear as guest artists at concerts, giving them encouragement and the experience of performing to audiences, and affording those audiences – and the choir – much pleasure.
Recordings
We recorded our first CD, With a Voice of Singing, in 1999. Our second CD, Ain’t Misbehavin’, was made in 2006. In 2010 the choir celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a re-issue of our first recording, the 1994 cassette Rhythm of Life, as our third CD. You can listen to samples on our recordings page.
Festival success
At the 2019 Carlisle Music and Drama Festival the choir won its class and was awarded the Helen Snowball cup. You can see photos from the festival in our gallery.