30 MEMORABLE YEARS!
It was 1976 when the Cape Town Male Voice Choir came into being. Dr. Chris Molyneux, the choir’s founder opened the choir to men of all colours, creeds and backgrounds. The only criteria were an ability to sing and a commitment to the choir.
The choir is now about 40 strong, and has a highly varied repertoire with material across a wide range of classical, popular, sacred and traditional music styles and preferring four voice part numbers.
The aim of the choir was to bring the joy of choral music to its members and audiences alike. And so it has continued by giving performances at a host of venues throughout the Western Cape including churches, schools, homes for the aged and the needy-grand events at opera houses, wine farms, botanical gardens, sports stadiums, the V&A Waterfront, and even Rhodes Memorial.
The choir has been seen and heard on television and radio and has recorded a few CDs and tapes.
From the start the choir has won medals, diplomas and trophies at various Eisteddfods. The first was in 1976 (year one) when it won a cup for Male Choir and more recently, it won two gold medal awards at the Roodepoort International Eisteddfod.
Proud of its ability to attract the very best of musicians in its musical directors it has during its 30 years, appointed the following directors: |
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- Dr. Chris Molyneux, who had many musical qualifications to his credit and who has been involved with church music and secular choirs for many years.
- Bill Holland, a professional musician who is equally at home in a classical orchestra or jazz band.
- Margaret Barlow is a choral trainer extraordinaire who, apart from her widely acclaimed school choirs, has fine-tuned both the Cape Town Male Voice Choir to its present high standard.
- Belinda De Villiers, who has just finished a stint teaching music at Pinelands High School in Cape Town, and has relocated to Johannesburg where she is now teaching music at St David's (Marist Brothers) private school in Inanda, Sandton.
The choir also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Bruce Reilly, Keith Mattison and Martinus van der Westhuizen who at various times in history have stood in as temporary musical directors. To Bruce, appreciation for his long stint as assistant musical director from 1982 to 1990, and to Keith for willingly sharing with the choir his extraordinary talent on any keyboard instrument.
During Margie Barlow's tenure since 2004, Jocelyn Wrensch conducted one concert, and probably also qualifies for a mention as an acting musical director.
The choir also acknowledges its various accompanists, in particular Barbara Gresty for her services for over a decade. The accompanists were, in order of appointment: Chris Dew, Lyn Wade, Barbara Gresty, Ceri Fleming, Helen Broekman, Ashlea de la Roux, Jocelyn Wrensch, Karien Els, Paula Spiegel and Gregory Winn.
... and here are some photographs of the choir.
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