Chairman – Chris Coats

The leader of the choir organisation. – Responsible for Choir Development Strategies – Leading the Executive Committee. Chris sings as a Top Tenor in the choir.

Vice-Chairman – David Adcock

The man to get things done, positive, decisive and capable, the ‘VC’ puts into action the Executive Committee’s decisions and strategies. David sings as a Top Tenor in the choir.

Choir Secretary – Howard Lloyd

Maintains administrative records – Communicates with the choir – Deals with correspondence to and from other choirs/organisations. Howard sings as a Bass in the choir.

Concert Manager – Terry Gray

Visits venues to ascertain staging, seating and access requirements for the choir – organise stage management at performances – co-ordinate team to transport equipment to venues. Terry sings as a First Tenor in the choir.

Concert Secretary – Brian Allen

A very important person in the team – without a venue or concert we have nowhere to sing – seek out venues and ascertain their suitability – confirm availability of music team and book concerts – collects the concert fees. Brian sings as a Baritone in the choir.

Social Secretary – Stan Candler

It’s not just about the touring, although this is a big part of the role, the Social Sec also works with the Carlton Support Group to ensure a range of enjoyable social events for the choir and arranges the ‘Afterglow’ (social sings in the pub following a concert). Stan sings as a First Tenor in the choir.

Membership Secretary – Bo Zinn

Maintains records of members of the choir – reports on attendance to the executive committee – works with section leaders to promote attendance. Bo sings as a Second Tenor in the choir.

Choir Treasurer – Joe Bean

Manages the choir finances – keeps the executive committee informed of choir finances – accepts the money! Joe sings as a Bass in the choir.

Marketing Manager – Position Vacant

Promotes the choir through high quality media, produces a strategy for publicity, ensures effective promotion of concerts and organises tickets and programmes. This important position is currently vacant.

 

The Music Team

(L-R Andrew, Ian, Roger)

Carlton Male Voice Choir calls upon the services of a team of dedicated and talented musicians who work tirelessly to bring the best out of the Choir.

Musical Director – Ian Watts

At the helm is Ian Watts, our Musical Director. Ian not only conducts choirs but performs himself in The Kinx tribute band and previously a Beatles tribute band. He is an accomplished pianist, organist and guitarist who also manages a commercial record label and recording studio business. Ian was the President of the Nottingham & District Society of Organists in 2017/18 and is also the Musical Director of the Lyrical SoNGbirds, an upper voice choir of around 22 singers based in Wollaton, Nottingham.

He is no stranger to Male Voice Choirs as his father Peter Watts was a founder member of Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir! Under Ian’s leadership the choir has been rejuvenated and has met the many new challenges and standards he has set. He works tirelessly to develop the choir’s repertoire, and music theory skills, produce learning tracks, plan the rehearsal schedule and concert content. He focusses highly on performance standards, entertainment and stage craft bringing his experience of performance into the world of our male voice choir.

Ian is a great advocate of other choirs in the area and often finds ways of supporting them where possible, he also enjoys sitting in on a rehearsal or even singing with other friendly choirs in the region. He received Honorary Membership of Treorchy Male Choir in 2022 and of Dowlais Male Voice Choir in 2023 as an expression of appreciation and gratitude for outstanding service to that choir and as such joins an elite family of celebrated celebrities and distinguished musicians.

Assistant Musical Director – Andrew Atkinson

Andrew conducts and rehearses the choir as a Assistant Musical Director covering concerts and rehearsals as necessary, but is also involved with repertoire choice, interpretation and quality of singing, auditions as well as bringing his fun and challenging warm ups. Andrew brings his vast choral experience to the game and he also sings as a Second Tenor in the choir.

Principal Accompanist – Roger Holland

Roger’s playing is exceptional, being highly praised by one of the world’s finest opera singers, Rebecca Evans after he accompanied her at the Royal Concert Hall. He is in his second spell with Carlton, having first played for the Choir between 1984 and 1991, before returning in 2001.
Roger was born in Nottingham and brought up in Carlton itself prior to moving on to study and graduate at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He is immensely experienced as an accompanist, having worked with choirs, chamber groups and musical theatre. As a piano soloist, he has made recordings for local and national BBC radio. Roger takes an active and important role within rehearsal nights expressing his views and ideas whilst accompanying the choir which truly reflects the team approach found at Carlton MVC. Roger will retire in July 2024.

Second Accompanist – Philip Miles BA (hons)

Philip is the latest member to join our Music Team. Musically, he has a broad range of experience, from composing and conducting to performing and academic study. Philip possess a wide array of keyboard skills, including providing accompaniment to singers and instrumentalists, the realisation of figured bass, and the ability to sight read proficiently. He has sang in numerous choirs, from the age of 11 as a chorister at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, to the Barbershop Quartet formed with three colleagues while at University. Philip has been the accompanist to our friends at Bestwood Male Voice Choir.

Deputy Accompanist – John Sellers

John studied at Huddersfield school of music, the Royal Northern College of Music and then at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. He was Accompanist from 1991 to 1999 and returned in 2003 as Deputy Accompanist. A very accomplished pianist, John brings his own flamboyant style and soloist expertise and can often be heard on the piano stool improvising a solo!

Associate Accompanist – Anne Hall

The choir is proud to have the brilliant Anne Hall as an Associate Accompanist. Anne is also the accompanist for the Woodthorpe Singers and as such has gained a wealth of experience, she also helps the choir with its image and often sneaks into the audience to gain an audience perspective of the choirs performance, feeding back to the team. Anne’s often heard to say “it’s good, but let’s see what we can do to make it even better!”. Anne can also be heard performing duets with others in the Music Team.

Carlton Male Voice Choir is greatly indebted for the work that our music team put in and we hope our performances do full justice to their efforts.

Library Team – Jean Lacey

Library Team – Ian Rowbotham

 

The Choir Support Group (CSG)

The Carlton Male Voice Choir Support Group (CSG) meet regularly to arrange events and organise fund raising activities to support the choir financially. The success of the group is due to the hard work and dedication of all its members, past and present. Their Chairperson is Mrs Jean Allen.

Others who help us

Compére/MC – Howard Ketton

Howard offers a professional face at our most prestigious formal events, bringing a larger event under control with his introductions, stories and wit.

Logistics Operations – Dennis Clifton

The ‘unsung hero’ behind the scenes, Dennis can usually be found standing at the back of the concert hall whilst the choir performs but his role is endless. From driving the choir trailer of equipment to venues and managing the set up to running the coach on choir tours to welcoming an audience on the door to finding a screw to fix a broken music stand Dennis is the ‘turn to’ man. Dennis is usually the first to arrive at the venue and the last to leave but always has a smile on his face!

Conductor Emeritus – Terry Moore

Terry was the Musical Director of Carlton MVC from 1995 to 2016, following on from Roger Pilgrim and Bob Davies, Under Terry the choir flourished for 21 years (and some 200 songs). Terry was instrumental in the formation of the Music Makers Competition. He retired after long service but still maintains an active interest in the choirs’ ongoing progress as ‘Conductor Emeritus’. He was awarded a Life Vice Presidency for his commitment and service to the choir and is really loved by the choristers being a ‘Carlton Man’ through and through.

 

Bridie – our mascot and guide dog

 

 

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