Choir purpose as defined in the choir’s constitution 2011
The object of the choir shall be the study and practice of choral music, in order to foster public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public performance and to assist and support such charitable institutions or purposes as the Committee shall from time to time determine.
Some discussion about this definition
Internal. Our professionals (musical director and pianist) help singers to learn new skills and prepare them for new experiences, resulting in quality singing and good to great performances. Our singers enjoy a repertoire of popular, classical and traditional male voice pieces. Depending on the repertoire of those with whom we share a stage, audiences must therefore be partial to a male voice choir.
During rehearsal, touring and performance (and ‘afterglow’ – apres concert celebration), the choir fosters fellowship. Extra-choral activities thrive (golf day, bowling competition, shooting, walks etc). It’s a thing the choir members must do, part of the structure of their lives.
Understanding the singers’ needs to perform what they enjoy in venues they appreciate, compromised by what the audiences want and the feasibilities of travelling, booking and expense, is on the music subcommittee and full committee agendas.
External. Good quality singing and performance should lead to repeat custom, particularly by local people who are into male voice choirs. However, do we only want to perform to audiences mostly of friends and family? How are we going to reach new people? People who are not natural male voice choir supporters. What are we going to say to them? Do we have something they want? Do we want our community to be proud of its local choir, a source of identity and civic pride? It’s difficult to define ‘community’ other than ‘all the people living in a particular place’. Links and common themes are not implicit, so identifying and contacting the ‘community’ can be nebulous and time-consuming. Nevertheless, local people who are not keen on male voice choirs should be able to identify with ‘their’ choir. Our reputation for good singing and a well-organised, welcoming, in-demand, and easily identifiable choir, popular with seasoned singers and beginners alike could and should spread beyond New Mill.
Role of the merchandising group
(1) All-year round. Passing on information about the choir (what we do, what we are and what we stand for), through brochures, leaflets on how to book the choir, how to join ‘friends’, how we might be invited as a guest by other musical ensembles, and about the choir diary/how to book concert tickets. These sources of information would form part of the stall selling choir merchandise which would also push the choir website and social media sites.
The stall would be part of our concert routine. Would there be other opportunities for a stall, say once every couple of months?
(2) Being part of the push to sell tickets prior to concerts – promotion.
| Method of contact | Who to? |
| choir website | choir members |
| choir social media site | Bower-Roebuck, Birks, New Mill Club, Team Spirit …………. |
| word-of-mouth | parish council, Holmfirth arts festival committee, Christ Church, local history society, |
| directory of specific local organisations/ companies |
pubs, shops, libraries, TIs, churches, |
| directory of email addresses | Examiner, Holme Valley Review, Community News (Holme Valley), parish magazines, Nat Ass Choirs magazine |
| directory of phone numbers | Holmfirth craft market/other markets, New Mill gala, concerts |
| poster advertising | HHS and other schools |
| specific event flyers/general brochures (choir diaries, application for ‘friends’, ‘how to book us’, ‘how to invite us as guests’) | computer/TV/radio owners |
| articles in the press | concert/event sponsors, charities we help, other fund raisers |
| merchandise/stall | care homes, rotary, probus, lions |
| lecture circuit – ‘Men in Green Jackets’: a lighthearted presentation of the life and times of the choir | other choirs and musical ensembles |
| Video/Utube – ‘New Mill Story’ http://youtu.be/QJQsgswdg4k |
ex-choir members |
| Radio/TV | circles of acquaintances |
| Partnerships, shared distribution | membership of clubs, societies … other leisure organisations |
