POIGNANT, PASSIONATE, PERFECT - RMVC’S CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF SONG News

To mark an occasion so special to us this had to be the best we could achieve, and we did achieve the best in so many different ways……

Where it all started:     The event started with co-founder and President Keith Lawrenson offering the sold-out Romsey Abbey audience a short journey through the beginnings of Romsey Male Voice Choir in 1995 and ended with the 65 on stage choristers raising their arms high towards the vault and towards the next wonderful 30 Years of Song.

Getting to the big day:     BUT, to make the concert the best ever, the ingredients leading to the big day included a Celebration Committee fired up in January before it laid down its laptop on October 11 in time for on the day preparations for the VIP reception in the Abbey Rooms and an Afterglow at the Romsey Abbey Primary School. As well as this, while the year progressed towards concert take off, the back-stage ladies support group worked tirelessly to bring together the all-important details helping to uplift a great concert experience to the greatest of RMVC’s own concert experiences.

The Music and highlights:     Then there was the concert music programme, comprising old and new favourites, sung with the love and passion felt by all choristers for each of the songs. Eighteen pieces including Elvis Presley’s American Trilogy with Richard Stannard taking to the Abbey organ to the delight of all. Poignancy arrived in the shape of Morte Criste, a piece sung so very many times over the years, when invited previous choir members rose from their seats in the audience to join the choir on stage remembering as they did both the words and the music.

In between songs RMVC’s longest reigning, but now stepped back, compere Terry Morrison, stood to say a few words; as did Nick Grout, Chairman Kevin Cleary, Musical Director Marion Maxey and singer James Viney, who also performed the solo in a new piece called ‘Biblical’ 

And so…..     We know the audience loved the event, afterwards so many told us so and the audience’s final standing ovation brought tears to the eyes of the singers. Perhaps though for the choir, as importantly was the confirmation that Romsey Male Voice Choir has grown not just in numbers, but in how well it sings and performs, and the value present and past choir members place on being part of the RMVC family.

But it wasn’t all over:

No major concert is complete without the Afterglow and this was the Afterglow to beat all Afterglows. The colourful table dressing, the amazing spread of food, the cake, the socialising and excited talk, and the singing. All fantastic and, gentlemen and ladies this is one we will most definitely remember.

We cannot leave without special thanks:

• To our honoured guests, the Right Honourable Caroline Nokes MP whose face we delight in seeing at so many of our concerts in the Abbey – thank you Caroline.
• To our Patron The Honorable Alexander Knatchbull and her husband Thomas Hooper.
• To the Mayor of Test Valley Borough Council Gordon Bailey MBE and the Mayor of Romsey Town Russell Theron.
• To our generous sponsors, Brightbeech Property Ltd, Michael Rhodes Estate Agents, Paultons Park, Rathbones Wealth and Investment Management, Romsey Fencing Club, and Parker Bullen Solicitors.
• To our very talented two soloists, Morgan Dunn Soprano and Taylor Gover Piano.
• To Test Valley Borough Council for generously giving RMVC a Community Grant
• To the Romsey Abbey Team and in particular Liz Wagner who keeps us all on our toes so well.

Nearer to home we thank:

• The team without whom no concert could happen, Marion Maxey Musical Director, Richard Stannard Deputy MD and Accompanist, and rehearsal and concert Accompanist Brian Budden.
• The one-off brilliant committee who pulled the concert together so well.
• The fabulous, creative and hardworking Ladies Support Group led by Lesley Cleary.
• Alan Willsher who so ably produced the video highlights of RMVC’s 30-year journey.

Finally, we thank Keith Lawrenson and the late John Taylor for founding, what was and remains. the only Male Voice Choir at the Heart of Romsey.  WE LOVE IT!

Photographs courtesy of Philip Clever - thank you Philip as always appreciated. Also thanks to RMVC's own Lesley Cleary.