THE VOICES OF THE

ESTABLISHED in 1936, the Honley Male Voice Choir has been entertaining the Honley community with melodic performances for over 80 years. Its 60-strong body of members love to sing their hearts out – and raise money for local causes.

The choir regularly performs with musical luminaries, including big stars such as the sublime Lesley Garrett. In recent years the choir has staged several theatricalstyle theme concerts with movement, drama and comedy and they regularly appear at the Huddersfield Town Hall with the country’s top bands.

The annual ‘Christmas with Honley’ concert is a highlight of the county’s musical calendar.

The choir has even had a brush with international fame when, back in 1942, 38 members travelled to the BBC studio in Leeds to record six songs which were later broadcast in the USA in a programme titled ‘Britain Sings’.

Since then the choir has regularly embarked on performance tours, not just to festivals in the UK, but also taking their music abroad to sing in the Netherlands and in Florida.

Although the choir has won a clutch of prestigious awards, entertaining audiences and raising money for charities has always been more important to its members.

The choir has raised thousands for charities, including West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust Children’s Hospice, Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Honley Male Voice Choir achieved charitable status in 2014, with the aim of promoting singing in the community.

The choir welcomes new members to join and encourage those of mixed singing ability to come along and give the group a try.There are support roles for those averse to performing and there’s even a ‘ladies circle’ of women who support the choir and also raise funds for local charity.