Felling Male Voice Choir

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} 300px|thumb|alt=FMVC in 2007|FMVC in 2007

==History== '''Felling Male Voice Choir''' was established in 1920 and is based in Felling, Gateshead, in the North East of England. The choir performs throughout the region and also undertakes national and international tours, and has won several major awards.<ref>{{cite news |title=A local tradition that still strikes a chord |url=http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/ic/eveningchronicle/2003/10/20/a-local-tradition-that-still-strikes-a-chord-50081-13535241/ |work=Evening Chronicle |date=2003-10-20 |accessdate=2008-02-25 }}</ref>

The choir has its roots in the Methodist Church and promotes male voice singing by developing an increasingly wide repertoire. With music from Palestrina to modern classics.

In 2010 the choir celebrated its 90th year in a joint concert with the Reg Vardy Band.<ref>{{cite news |title=Musical merger a true treat for the senses |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/10/27/musical-merger-a-true-treat-for-the-senses-72703-27551161/ |work=Evening Chronicle |date=2010-10-27 |accessdate=2010-10-27 }}</ref>

===Notable concerts=== *October 2008: Celebrity Concert with Sir Thomas Allen (at Sage Gateshead)

===Competition successes=== The choir has the unique honour of winning the choral competition at the 1951 Festival of Britain.

==The choir today== FMVC has a membership of around 80 members, ranging in age from 20s upwards. Their current director of music is Mark Edwards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark Edwards {{!}} Conductor|url=http://www.markedwards.org.uk/|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Mark Edwards}}</ref>

===Repertoire=== *The Long Day Closes *The Caller *Cullercoats Bay *I'm Gonna Sing

==Discography== *Ain't Got Time to Die (1973) *Home and Away *Rejoice with Felling *Voices of the Tyne (1981) *Voices of the North *Chart Toppers (2006) *Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny! (2006) *Christmas with Felling (2010)

==Alumni==

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.fmvc.org Felling Male Voice Choir] website *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz7GLp6usts FMVC on Youtube]: photographic montage set to a sample FMVC music excerpts. *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1973552.stm BBC News story]: performed for Queen Elizabeth during a visit to Sunderland. *[http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/accessions/1997/97returns/97ac183.htm The National Archives] stores records of the Felling Male Voice Choir from 1921-95. *[http://www.14theweb.co.uk/bridge.html Performed the national anthem] for Queen Elizabeth at the opening of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. *[https://books.google.com/books?id=lNHyBiEIbDgC&dq=%22alan+bush%22+%22felling+male+voice+choir%22&pg=PA104 "Men of Felling"], a piece dedicated to the Choir by composer Alan Bush. *[https://www.jstor.org/stable/956198 Article on Alan Bush] in journal ''The Musical Times'', references "Men of Felling". *[http://www.alanbushtrust.org.uk/music/compositions/CH.asp?room=Music Entry for "Men of Felling"] at the Alan Bush Music Trust. *[http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/DServe2/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=overview.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo='SX75') Catalogue of Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022200916/http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/DServe2/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=overview.tcl&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27SX75%27%29 |date=22 October 2015 }} at the Tyne and Wear Archives Service. *[https://books.google.com/books?id=u_I614Pw3C8C&dq=%22felling+male+voice+choir%22&pg=PA57] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2696249.stm BBC News article] on a piece of public art incorporating recordings of the Choir. *[http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/search/display.var.1812661.0.big_band_sound.php Northern Echo Article]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} on For Saturday 10th Niv 2007 concert, at St Oswald's Church, Durham City

Category:English choirs Category:Music in Tyne and Wear Category:Boys' and men's choirs Category:Musical groups established in 1920