70th annual concert by Male Voice Choir

The choir currently has thirty members and meets weekly every Monday night from September to April in the Music Centre of Dalriada School.

Their conductor is Mrs. Margaret Brown from Ballycastle and their Accompanist is Mrs. Amanda Davies from Coleraine - both very gifted musicians who bring much experience to the choral aspect and harmonious singing of the choir.

The choir actually extends back eighty years to 1933 when it initially formed with Mr.James Moore ARCO as the first Conductor and the choir was called the Route Glee Singers. It was dispersed with the onset of WW2 in 1939 and then re-formed in 1943 as The Ballymoney and District Male Voice Choir.

The photograph within this newspaper article shows members of the Glee Singers in 1936 with Mr Jim Moore in the centre of the front row. Many of the readers will be interested to see in that 1936 Photo, the presence of Mr. Jack Wilkinson second from the right in the Back row, together with his brotherJim third from the right in the middle row and their father Tom Wilkinson first on the right in the front row.

Jack Wilkinson, although unable to sing with the choir nowadays, still maintains a keen interest in the choir’s activities and he is now in his 98th year.

This year the choir looks forward to hearing the lovely voice and presence of Sheelagh Greer from Ballyclare. She is a Mezzo Soprano, who previously sang with the choir three years ago and returns by popular request.

The other guest soloist with the Choir will be Heather Montgomery with the violin. She will perform in the Choir Concert in the First half some favourite violin solos accompanied by Louise Glenn and then in the second half will introduce the Trad Trio

Group Bri which includes Heather with Deirdre Tasker (nee Havlin) and David Dunlop. Deirdre is one of Ulster’s finest flute players having won, in the past, seven All-Ireland titles . David plays guitar and bouzouki and is a former teacher and Principal of Limavady Higb School.

The Male Voice Choir will sing a selection of well known and well loved songs and choral pieces finishing with that well known and revered arrangement by Emrys Jones of “Morte Christe”.

A special Brochure/ Printed programme will be available to purchase at the door on the night of the Concert and will include a history of the choir written by one of the longest standing members – Tommy Murdock .

The brochure will also include photographs and descriptions of all the performers and the choir members are grateful for support given by local businesses to the printing of this special programme and to Impact Printers in Ballycastle.

Tickets (£10) are available from any member of the Choir or at R.H.Gaults shop in Church Street, Ballymoney and there will be some available at the door on the night of the concert (April 5th).