A prize-winning local choir will stage a charity concert in aid of St Teresa’s Hospice this month.
Northallerton Male Voice Choir will be joined by special guests the Cockerton Prize Silver Band for an evening of music at Bondgate Methodist Church in Darlington on Saturday 13th May.
Buoyed by their recent successes at the Wensleydale Tournament of Song, the group will perform a varied programme, featuring as a joint item with Cockerton Prize Silver Band Ron Goodwin’s “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines”.
Northallerton Male Voice Choir member Bob Robinson is a regular volunteer for St. Teresa’s, and the cause is close to his heart: “Julia, my wife, died in the Hospice in March 2013 and we both really appreciated the support and care that she received in her final months.”
“I only joined the choir in January 2015 and have found that I enjoy being part of it, the rehearsals and the concerts. It’s done a lot for me, personally. I started to volunteer at the Hospice about a year ago and, as the choir aims to support local charities, it made a lot of sense to ask them to put on a concert for St Teresa’s.”
Northallerton Male Voice Choir was founded in 1968 for the sole purpose of bringing musical enjoyment to the community and the Choir members. It performs throughout the area to raise funds for local groups, churches and charities. For two years running the Choir has entered the Wensleydale Tournament of Song, winning its Classes and the Challenge Cup, which
it retains after success in March 2017.
Joining the Choir are Cockerton Prize Silver Band, who Bob says “will make a wonderful contribution to the concert – we are very pleased they can be a part of this event to support St Teresa’s Hospice.”
The ‘Cockerton Saxhorn Band’, as it was originally known, was formed in 1863. After a turbulent start during which time the group played using borrowed instruments and moved from venue to venue in search of a base, their name was changed to Cockerton Prize Silver Band to reflect their new found confidence – and a growing reputation.
The band has flourished and now has numerous appearances at the National Championships under its belt, including showings at The Royal Albert Hall.
Jane Bradshaw, Hospice Chief Executive, said: “Music really does bring the community together, and in Northallerton Male Voice Choir and Cockerton Prize Silver Band we are fortunate to have two very community-minded groups of supporters.”
“Like Bob, many people have been touched personally by the work of St Teresa’s. This concert will be a wonderful way to celebrate the Hospice and those loved ones that have been cared for over the years, whilst supporting our fabulous local musicians and singers.”
Tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £7 and are available from the Hospice’s Skinnergate, Cockerton, Richmond and Northallerton charity shops or by contacting Supporter Services on 01325 254 321.