**After 10 incredible years, our Musical Director Dan Craddock will be stepping down at the end of 2024.**
Dan recently wrote to the choir to let them know of his intentions. He said:
*”When I first joined HMVC as a 21-year-old, I was just starting out in my career. The men of this choir have allowed me to grow not only as a musician but as a person. You’ve taught me humility, leadership, and friendship. You’ve pushed me in ways I never imagined, and for that, I am eternally grateful. This choir has shown me the true meaning of family, as you have watched and supported me in growing my own. Our concert with Roberts Bakery Band was a real highlight, having my own son in the audience.
But most of all you’ve allowed me to work and form a friendship and partnership with one of the most talented accompanist I have ever had the pleasure to work with Ruth . The consummate professional whose support has been incredible! Thank you.”*
Dan has taken over 1000 rehearsals and just under 150 performances with the choir. He has led us through some difficult challenges over the last 10 years, but we must remember the successes too, especially our impressive win in the Isle of Man in 2019.
As we look to the future, we will soon be posting an advert for a new Musical Director to be the 11th in the choir’s history, starting in 2025.
Ladies and gents, today we present our new, FREE singing course for men, FIND YOUR VOICE! Starting at the end of May, this 6 week course with professional tuition is suitable for anyone, no matter your level of singing experience, even if you have NONE! To sign up for this FREE course, contact Steve at committee@haydockmvc.com or fill out our form by clicking HERE!
Tickets for Christmas concerts going FAST!We have two Christmas concerts at the Haydock Conservative Club coming up as usual, and as of this morning our concert on 20th December is officially SOLD OUT! But we still have some tickets left for the 13th, so if you want to come to one of our fantastic Christmas concerts, get in touch with our treasurer NOW on 07890023563 so you don’t miss out!
HRH Queen Elizabeth IIEveryone at Haydock MVC sends our condolences to the Royal Family and the whole nation at the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
We have filmed a tribute to the Queen, which we present to you here.
Latest 200 Club draw tonight!Our latest monthly 200 Club draw will take place LIVE tonight at 8.30pm, on the Haydock MVC Facebook page!
If you’re not already a member and want to know more, check out our 200 Club page right here on the website, or contact committee@haydockmvc.com for more details! You have to be in it to win it!
A great night at the Gustaffson Launch PartyEver wanted to join Haydock MVC but not known where to start? Our singing workshop is for you! Starting on 6th September and running for six weeks across both our weekly rehearsals, you’ll get a welcome pack with a handbook, sheet music and more, and be assigned a mentor in your section to help you get used to choir life! For more information or to book your place, contact committee@haydockmvc.com now!
Singing Course Starts Next Week!If you’ve been anywhere near our facebook page in the last month or so, you’ll doubtless have seen an advert for our BRAND NEW Six Week Singing Course! The course starts next Tuesday, April 26th, 7.30pm at Haydock Conservative Club. It doesn’t matter what level of singing ability you have, the course caters to people who haven’t sung before just as much as to those who have! You’ll receive a handbook that tells you all about the basics of learning to sing with the choir, as well as music of the pieces you’ll learn during the course, and you’ll be assigned one or more mentors to sit with you and help you learn at rehearsals! If you want to know more, or to secure your place on the course, please contact secretary@haydockmvc.com now!
“A wonderful night of musical entertainment!”On Saturday 26 March a full house waited in anticipation for what would prove to be a wonderful night of musical entertainment.
Playing host for their first concert at St Helens Town Hall for two and a half years, HMVC welcomed the renowned Rossendale MVC, most ably directed by Matthew Thomas, together with The Parr Band led by Haydock’s own Musical Director, Dan Craddock.
Haydock MVC started the evening with a powerful selection of songs based on hymns: How Great Thou Art; And Can It Be; and finishing the section with Grace, an arrangement of Amazing Grace. All three showed the choir to be in fine voice, and were each greeted with rapturous applause from the audience.
As Haydock left the stage, The Parr Band played their first piece of the evening, a rendition of Doyen, which was warmly received. Then Rossendale MVC took to the stage for the first time and started with Fionnghuala, a traditional Scottish Gaelic song, which was a treat for the ears. The Seal Lullaby followed, a choral adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s poem, by Eric Whitacre. The section finished with Anthem from Chess, which the choir dedicated to the people of Ukraine. This last rendition in particular caught the mood of the evening and the applause was warm and prolonged.
As Rossendale left the stage, The Parr Band played their second number entitled Ukrainian Prayer, which had been composed in the last month by Andreas Wetterlands. This was The Parr Band’s tribute to those in Ukraine.
HMVC’s second set found them in a more sombre mood with a rendition of How Soon, remembering loved ones lost to the pandemic, followed by Stars I Shall Find. This last was dedicated to anyone suffering with mental health issues. They finished with Bring Him Home from Les Miserables – Haydock’s own tribute to the Ukrainian people.
The first half ended with both choirs singing Homeward Bound, conducted by Matthew Thomas. The sound of seventy voices on stage was wonderful both to behold and see.
The second half began with Rossendale’s What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor, followed by The Sweetest Kick. The last song of this section was an arrangement of the Oasis hit Don’t Look Back in Anger.
Following this was The Parr Band’s own version of Amazing Grace, arranged by William Himes.
Haydock started their final set with O Se Shalom, followed by regular crowd pleaser We Rise Again. Then there was the ever popular New York, New York, and the choir finished with a vigorous rendition of When The Saints Go Marching In.
The Parr Band’s final piece was Michael Buble’s It’s a Beautiful Day.
Rossendale then returned for their last set, Sing Your Way Home, and Seize The Day, which we were informed had been named ‘Song of the Competition’ at the Cornwall International Choir Festival 2019.
Presentations were then made to the accompanists and the musical directors – most notably by Rossendale, marking the retirement of their accompanist, Michael Farnworth after 53 years.
The last item was American Trilogy, sung by both choirs, and conducted by Dan Craddock.
This capped a great evening, acknowledged by the audience with much appreciative applause.
We can now all look forward to Haydock’s next concert to be held on Saturday 28th May at St Helen’s URC. Thanks go to all those who took part as well as the organisers, and, last but by no means least, the enthusiastic and very appreciative audience!
Article by Louise Thornton
Musical Directors Dan Craddock & Matthew Thomas happy after a thrilling performance
Happy Birthday to us!On Tuesday 1st March we held a most joyful evening celebrating our 99th birthday! It was a real honour to share the stage with old friends, and still meet new ones in those who shared our festivities! Being 99 years old feels pretty good! This is just the beginning of a year-long countdown to our centenary in March 2023, when the celebrations will REALLY begin! Look out for more photos from our 99th Birthday Party later this week!