About us

About us

Our repertoire is wide and varied. Like most male voice choirs the music is chosen to suit the range of voices and the ability of the Choir.  We still sings some traditional pieces as well as a more up-to-date repertoire. We are divided in to four parts: Tenor One; Tenor Two; Baritones and Basses. Most of our music too is in four parts but sometimes only two parts and once in a while five or six. We are a Portsmouth choir, based in Havant but have members from all over Hampshire and West Sussex. We sing for fun!


Our MD is Welsh and we sig some songs in Welsh. That is when we become the Solent Côr Meibion ​​Hyawdl.  The Choir is a registered charity with Trustees overseeing the running of the Choir.  It is managed by a small committee (many of whom are Trustees) who arrange concerts in a variety of venues in the area as well as occasionally joining with other choirs. To find out more about joining us, or if you would like to book us, click a button below.


Meet Our Music Team

Our Musical Director

Huw Thomas

Born in Llanelli,South Wales Huw studied music at the local grammar school where he played piano, organ and trumpet and sang in the choir. Huw emerged from Bath University with a BA Honours in Music. He studied and gained his diploma as Associate of the Royal College of Music. A teaching post at Tiffins Boys School, Kingston led to promotion as director of music at Bishop Luffa School,Chichester.

Huw joined the SMVC in September, 2018 and has enjoyed playing the diverse range of music in the choir’s repertoire…” reminds me of my younger days listening to dad singing with the Llanelli Male Voice Choir ” he says.

Accompanist (and our President)

Canon Tom Kennar

Tom is our President. He took up his post at "vibrant" old Havant Church to become the parish priest for St Faith’s Church, in the centre of Havant, and St Nicholas Church, Langstone in February 2015. He was an area dean for Portsmouth, and has substantial connections with churches in West Africa, where he is the Honorary Canon of two cathedrals in Ghana, Cape Coast and Ho (Volta Region). 

As well as being the Rector of St Faith's Tom is an accomplished musician and singer..

SMVC Trustees and Committee Members

Top row, left to right: Dave McVittie, Chair; Paul Butcher, Treasurer; Colin Rampton, Secretary


 Second row, left: Bob Crutchley, Stage Manager, Right: Brian Thomas, Membership Secretary.

Choristers

First Tenors

Naveed Akhtar

Arthur Brameld

Rob Clark-Ford

Bob Crutchley

Ravi Fernando

Stan Lewis

John Rees




Section Leaders in bold

Second Tenors

Tony Buller

Paul Butcher

Dai Jones

David Lusby

Roger Lygoe

Tony Parry

Baritones

Bob Burman

David Harris

Ron Hargest

Maurice Lillie

Dave McVittie

Brett Martin

Colin Rampton

Brian Riggs

Brian Thomas

Enrique Vela

Peter Weller

John Wright

Basses

Ian Bartle

Rob Floyd

Colin Hunt

Leon Naveed

Martin Paton

David Rydiard

David Stretton

Mervyn Turk


Click on Section Leaders to send them an email.

In addition to our 33 singing membrs we have four Life Members: Stan Lewis, Brian Goff, Trevor Jenkins, Terry Sheldrake

Two honorary Life Members: Cherie Lewis and Margaret Goff

SMVC has sung in support of many charities, either raising funds or simply entertaining them,  including:

Save the Children UK

Step-by-Step

St. Wilfred's Hospice

The Elizabeth Foundation

The Cure Parkinson's Trust

Shelter

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Emsworth House Care Home

Rowan's Hospice

The Rosemary Foundation

Brighton and Hove Hospitals

QA Hospital Ricky Appeal

The Marie Curie Trust

SANDS Neonatal Bereavement

St Faith's BIG BUILD Fund

RNLI

If you are a charity or community group and would like raise funds by organising an event that could feature the Solent Male Voice Choir please CLICK HERE  to find out how we could help.

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