Saint Dennis Male Voice Choir was formed in 1922 with Marsh Kessell as its first musical director. Upon his retirement, Captain Hedley Martin took over until the outbreak of World War Two forced the choir to disband.
The choir was re-formed in 1946 by Stanley Treloar whose son, Harold, took over as musical director. From the late 1950s a new approach to the choir’s repertoire was adapted under the guidance of Harold Treloar, introducing individual arrangements of music from shows an even current pop songs of the day. This brought an entirely different style and change from the traditional male voice programme. Since Harold left for Canada we have had several excellent musical directors including David Hendry, Garfield Craddock, Valerie Wilcox, David Tidball and, at present, Brian Craig. Over the years these have all been supported by our faithful accompanist like Doris Bullock, Helen Ardagh and now Rico Gerber.
The choir has also been very fortunate, over the years, to have had, amongst others, Jean Camps and Alison Harvey as our guest soloists and many will remember Harold Treloar on his saxophone.
In the past, the choir has broadcast on both radio and television and has made three recordings. As a concert choir, a considerable amount of money has been raised for charity in its 85 years existence.
Saint Dennis has enjoyed notable successes at festivals and championships – twice winners of the West of England Championships at Bournemouth, winners at the South West Championships at Paignton, winners at the Cornwall Music Festival and second place in the International Eistedfod at Llangollin [1978] in the advanced choir section.
The choir has been invited to sing at many major festivals in Cornwall and also taking part in exchanges with male voice choirs from other areas such as Honley from Yorkshire and Dursley in Gloucestershire – often miles from home, making music for the enjoyment of themselves and a variety of audiences. Other great highlights have been singing with the federation choirs at the Royal Albert Hall [St Dennis MVC took part in the 1,000 Voice Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983].
With diminishing numbers, the choir regretably feel that this will be their final concert, the end of 85 years of male voice singing in Saint Dennis. (written in 2007)
1980: Musical Director, David F Henry.
1980: Miss Doris Bullock, Accompanist.
Musical Director: Valerie Willcox (1987-1988 prog)
Accompanist: Doris Bullock (1983-1987 or later)
Some photos from the choir’s history:
This has been compiled by Barry Hawken and is a part of the Cornish National Music Archive (CNMA) project to Collect, Preserve and Share our Cornish Heritage and Culture.
If you would like to amend or add to this page then please leave a comment and we will be in touch.
This is a part of the Cornish National Music Archive (CNMA) project to Collect, Preserve and Share our Cornish Heritage and Culture.
I am delighted to read that the choir my father Bert JENSEN helped redorm post WW2 in the sitting room of our house, Hall Farm, when I was a little girl. My music teacher of thebtime was Miss Treloar and I used to.listen to them si ging as she accompanied the choir on my 8th birthday present , a Boyd baby grand piano. My father had a beautiful baritone voice and gavevseveral co certs in his lifetime,. He later used to sing duets with Madam Hough, a Dame for her services to music who retired to St Dennis and lived in a bumgalow near the cemetery. When Miss Treloar married and went to Canada I think , Madam Hough was my piano.teacher. my first teacher at four was Mrs Solomons who lived near thevPost Office next to Mr Pellympunter, the head of the secondary school, himself a very cultured man with friends amon thd film stars of the day.