Concert with Braintree Voices, The Church in Great Notley, 10 May 2025
Songs from Stage and Screen promised a pleasurable concert, in the delightfully-situated Church in Great Notley. A huge surprise occurred during it!
Immaculately-dressed Braintree Male Voice Choir opened with what is now their signature tune, Rhythm of Life. Musical director Sue Edwards knows these voices well. Together with tremendously talented accompanist Claire Howell, she presented numbers that suited them, especially the cleverly arranged Oliver Medley and the poignant Tell My Father.
But, who were Braintree Voices, co-billed on this programme? Formed only six months ago, these New Kids On The Block hit the musical ground running. This women's choir, again under Sue and Claire's expertise, projected to the audience from their opening number and never looked back. From some superb part-singing to justifying Sue's faith in her 'find' Strawberries in the Spring, this is a group with huge potential.
The combined choirs' finale, Any Dream Will Do and Thank You For the Music, was inspirational.
Thank you too for Rent's Seasons of Love and You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen, my lockdown safety valves.
Christmas concert with Bocking Concert Brass, The Church at Great Notley, 14 December 2024
As a Welsh girl born and bred I was raised on male voice choirs, so attending the Braintree Male Voice Choir's Christmas concert was a privilege looked forward to with anticipation. I was not disappointed
The ambient setting of the Church at Great Notley was ideal for the concert, providing excellent acoustics for the choir, and also for Bocking Concert Brass, who completed the programme. The smart uniforms of both were visually pleasing and added to the overall professionalism of the performances
Clearly, all members of the choir loved singing. The joy and enthusiasm was apparent in every song:- an eclectic mix of music from across the board, all executed with precision, commitment and musicality
The entire concert was a joy to listen to, from the voices of the choir to the instruments of the brass band. The programme was divided up into sections. Both halves featured five tunes from the band followed by five songs from the choir. Between these, two carols were performed by both the choir and the band together with audience participation.
All credit to Sue Edwards, the recently appointed musical director of Braintree Male Voice Choir, who also accompanied them on the keyboard, and to Paul Smith, their guest conductor. Likewise, to Rachel Hockley-Warner, the colourful and delightful conductor of the brass band
The choir and the band gave an exemplary display of their talents and enthusiasm. If you get the opportunity to hear them for yourselves, I can’t recommend the experience highly enough.
June Niner, Braintree and Witham Times
Joint Concert with Great Dunmow Big Voices Community Choir
Christ Church, Braintree - 11 May 2024
What a great performance for Thomas Duchan’s final concert as musical director of the Braintree Male Voice Choir!
The concert, at Christ Church, Braintree, was entitled 'Thank You For The Music' and the BMVC, together with their guests, Great Dunmow Big Voices Community Choir, gave the large, appreciative audience an entertainment of music including pop, showbiz, Cockney sing-alongs and touching renditions of the not-so-well-known.
The BMVC’s opening piece, Rhythm of Life, was delivered with a strong sound which belied their numbers and immediately set the concert’s high standard.
The mixed voices of the Dunmow choir maintained this standard with their opening melody All Aboard. Further pieces highlighted sections of each choir and their abilities to sensitively harmonize under the competent directions of Thomas Duchan and Jane Prowse.
Most enjoyable were the combined choirs’ pieces when the BMVC voices added a powerful backing to the soprano-led Dunmow choir.
Excellent piano accompaniment was provided by Sue Long and Amy Buchanan for BMVC and, for Dunmow, by Jerome Cacace, who also provided the choir’s arrangements (especially notable on Bring Me Sunshine).
The concert concluded with Thank You For The Music and a Thank You to Thomas when BMVC chairman Ian Whiteside presented him with an engraved decanter in recognition of his five years’ excellent hard work with the choir, including his significant efforts to rebuild the choir post pandemic. Surely, whoever picks up the baton next will have a tough act to follow.
Simon Rothman, Braintree & Witham Times
Christmas Concert - Christ Church, Braintree - 2 December 2023
Christmastime is here and the Braintree Male Voice Choir gave us a good start with their entertaining Songs for Christmas concert at Braintree’s Christ Church on Saturday.
Starting excellently with Vive La Compagnie, the choir provided their usual confident performance of well-balanced voice parts.
Musical Director Thomas Duchan was excellent, bringing out fine musical detail in each item from classic male voice pieces to comedy songs.
The choir were joined by Lyons Hall Primary School Choir. With superb guidance from Rachel Pritchard, the children sang out beautifully, clearly and strongly in seasonal songs, all sung from memory (and some withh additional choreography!). Notable were Winter Carol (excellent diction) and Can You Hear Me? with impressive signing. A big ‘Well done’ to tomorrow’s stars.
The large audience responded warmly throughout the varied programme.
The clear soprano voice of Amy Buchanan featured in solo songs by Benjamin Britten (with sensitive accompaniment from Thomas) and again with the Male Voice Choir.
Contrast came in the form of Vince Horsman’s original, witty spoken pieces, and in a Swahili song (brilliantly sung a capella), plus The Wellerman, a traditional New Zealand song featuring the gloriously strong voice of Ed Tillyer (he could probably be heard in New Zealand!).
Sue Long provided excellent accompaniment on piano and drum.
Yes, Christmastime is here and this concert provided a fine start.
Simon Rothman, Braintree and Witham Times
50th anniversary concert, Christ Church, Braintree, 20 May 2023
“I’m still standing” was a very apt choice of song for the Braintree Male Voice Choir’s 50th Anniversary Concert, held at Christ Church, Braintree.
As Thomas Duchan, their musical director, said: “The BMVC had difficulties in surviving the ravages of the Covid pandemic period, but they are now well on the way to recovery”. And I agree. It was so good to hear the rebuilt BMVC once again in full voice – good clear diction, intricate multi-part harmonies, and sensitive dynamics throughout a programme of music ranging from classical to pop to folk and to comedy.
This special full-length concert by the BMVC was to mark 50 years since the choir’s foundation. The choir was actually founded 52 years ago, but, due to Covid, the concert was postponed.
A large audience included many past members and directors of the choir as well as individuals who have been supportive of the choir in recent years. And the audience was obviously very appreciative of the hard work put in by the original and new members of the choir under the sure leadership of Thomas who has been their MD for the past four years and has seen the choir through its very difficult period.
The well-balanced programme clearly showed off the styles for which male voice choirs are known and which the BMVC achieved with confidence. The singing had gusto and enjoyment which was, no doubt, brought out by Thomas’s detailed rehearsals.
Special mention must also be made of the excellent soloists and of Sue Long whose precise piano accompaniment (ably assisted by Katie Watley) provided no small part in the overall presentation.
The BMVC welcomes anyone who is keen to sing and, as Thomas said, “there are no auditions, no requirement for previous musical experience, just …. Enthusiasm!”
Here’s to the next 50 years!
Simon Rothman, Braintree and Witham Times
Jubilation concert with Hedingham Singers and the Essex Police Band, 3 June 2022
The success of Jubilation in St Andrew’s Church Halstead was based on Musical Director Thomas Duchan, Organist and pianist, Phillip Prior, The Essex Police Band and the full-to-capacity audience.
Wisely, Thomas turned his Hedingham Singers and Braintree Male Voice Choir into a massed chorale of patriotic pleasers. The programme still allowed the Singers to showcase their musical theatre skills and confident soloist, Amy Buchanan. Hopefully, BMVC will reveal more of their special style in their November concert.
Former MD of Halstead Choral, Phillip Prior, was outstanding. For me, he provided the highlight of the evening with his sensitive realization of Bob Chilcott’s Londonderry Air.
Cheeky chappy Band Conductor of this Jubilee Proms David Rowlands, is still wet behind the ears in his compering role, but his trumpet playing was spot-on.
Cornet soloist T-Jay Mackenzie provided a terrific touch of Hoagy Carmichael syncopation. This got the eager-to-participate crowd swaying slowly, in contrast to the energetic demands made of them throughout.
Pat Rudkins, Braintree and Witham Times
Concert with Hedingham Singers, Empire, Halstead, 29 June 2019
Musical maestro, Thomas Duchan, took his two choirs to the plush comfort and satisfying acoustics of Halstead Empire Theatre.
Braintree Male Voice Choir’s harmonic prowess, with Duchan’s beautifully controlled dynamics, ranged from poignancy to novelty, culminating in their Wonderful World party piece.
Hedingham Singers were very good indeed. Their inspirational show songs climaxed with a sensational Phantom medley, worthy of wider acclaim.
A superb, pulsating Rhythm Of Life finale, confirmed the success of this excellent enterprise. More please!
Pat Rudkins, Halstead Gazette
A Christmas concert, with Lyons Hall Primary School choir, Braintree Arts Theatre, 9 December 2018
What a privilege it was to sit behind a row of excited parents as their offspring delivered an immaculate performance under charismatic Rachel Pritchard.
Articulate, impeccably tuneful with an imaginative programme that included Helen Turner’s challenging Winter Wonderland arrangement, this choir is a musical jewel.
BMVC musical director David Wood used beautifully controlled dynamics to blend the young voices with his adult ones and produced the show’s outstanding, poignant climax, Little Donkey.
Hard-working concert accompanist Sue Edwards ensured that the male voice choir, among its many numbers, did particular justice to Elvis and the Beatles, while a well-received Gaudete proved its fears of singing a cappella in the variable acoustics were unnecessary.
Pat Rudkins, Braintree and Witham Times
Spring concert, with Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir, St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall, 5 May 2018
Coggeshall Parish Church made a glorious May Day weekend venue for music and art*.
In Let All Men Sing, Braintree Male Voice Choir scored an a cappella hit with Sunset Poem while choir member Richard Sillett gained an A for effort with his own composition. Resonant guests Eastwood Collieries MVC sang out confidently. Individually both choirs delivered impressive trilogies. Together they created the concert’s emotional highlight Morte Christe.
Pat Rudkins, Braintree and Witham Times [*A review of a Coggeshall Art Group made up the second part of the article]
Brass and Voices at Christmas, with Bocking Brass, Braintree Arts Theatre, 8 December 2017
This warm, accessible venue sadly has poor vocal acoustics. Braintree Male Voice Choir’s beautiful lyricism was much reduced. While Shepherds Watched, rousingly sung to the Ilkley Moor tune with an a cappella verse that contrasted superbly with Sue Edwards’ spot-on piano entry, was thus its greatest success.
Ian Coote, laconic musical director of well-modulated Bocking Brass, added interest. First, he referenced band founder Ken Few through his sweet-playing cornet soloist grandson Robert Few. Secondly he brought 10-year-old Charlie forward to achieve a deserved 'aah' response to his solo spot.
BMVC’s musical director David Wood most modestly joined his singers in the excellent ensemble numbers that delighted the packed audience.
Pat Rudkins, Braintree and Witham Times
Spring Concert, St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall, 6 May 2017
The beautifully balanced ‘If I Were A Rich Man’ with Sue Edward’s sympathetic piano accompaniment, later confirmed by ‘There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame’ and underscored by a delightfully-descanted ‘Hippopotamus Song’, revealed the success of Braintree Male Voice Choir’s foray into musical theatre.
Familiarity did not breed contempt as a nearly score-free ‘Nessun Dorma’ and a wonderful ‘Morte Criste’ and its thrilling acapello verse and forte chorus contrast, proved. The varied, appealing programme, did meticulous musical director, David Wood, proud.
Guests, Swing Express Big Band, soon got into their stride under their laid-back saxophonist leader. Muted numbers and clever positioning ensured an acoustically pleasing segue from instruments to the well-modulated choir.
Pat Rudkins, Braintree and WithamTimes
Christmas Concert, with the Essex Police Band, Braintree Arts Theatre, 5 December 2016
I was thrilled to see, at the start of this successful, sold-out show, that Musical Director, David Wood is encouraging his choir to abandon scores where possible and focus their attention on his precise conducting, Exemplified in My Lord What A Morning and well on the way in Softly As I Leave You, it paid dividends.
In the well planned programme, the tenors’ descant in Do You Hear What I Hear and a lovely New Zealand carol, anchored by the tremendously strong Rhythm Of Life, were special delights.
Well placed on the Arts Theatre stage, Nigel Cooper, MD of the Essex Police Band, quickly established a beautifully modulated sound. T Jay Mackenzie’s syncopated solo and Les Mis, in which percussion and almost vocal bass section shone, revealed the musical visitor’s scope.
The band’s second set got the pulses racing. After the challenges of an inaptly-named, Joyous Carillion, it was bass trombonist Andrew Norton’s novelty number, Frosty The Snowman, that stole the show. Three choir members threatened to do the latter too, when they made very able contributions to an uplifting samba
For me, the band’s highlight was their sensitively played Wagner. Nigel prefaced it with a deserved tribute to BMVC’s long-serving accompanist Hilary Morgan. Thomas Duchan, who has succeeded her, played throughout as if to the manner born.
Excellent timing, thoughtful programming and two carols sent the audience home very satisfied indeed.
Pat Rudkins. Halstead Gazette