The third National Male (Lower Voice) Choirs Conference in association with Making Music and the Association of British Choir Directors will take place on Saturday 8th February 2025 (10am - 5pm) at the John Mansfield Campus, Peterborough PE1 4HX.

This unique one-day event for male choir music staff, officers, trustees and singers provides an unmissable opportunity to benefit from the expertise of leading sector specialists who will provide a wealth of ideas, inspiration and practical tips for developing your choir.

The day will also include opportunities for networking and chat. A buffet lunch is included in the delegate ticket price. Free on-site parking is available.

Sessions:

1. Organisational Health Check: identifying pathways to sustainability and development for your choir. 

Session Presenter: Will Prideaux, Director, Peterborough Male Voice Choir.

Using a checklist appraisal tool to identify priorities, strengths and weaknesses, sector specialist Will Prideaux will present a structured approach to strategic planning designed to help you structure your choir’s development and enable you to musically and organisationally thrive. Areas covered will include recruitment, governance, marketing, audience development, staffing, image and repertoire. If you would be happy for your choir to be used as a case study for this presentation please email Will (will.prideaux@peterboroughsings.org.uk).

2. Tuning up: a peer-to-peer sharing of effective working to help male and low voice choirs thrive.

Session Presenter: Michael Betteridge, Artistic Director, The Sunday Boys.

Led and curated by Michael Betteridge, Artistic Director of The Sunday Boys, this session will see 'micro-presentations' from conference delegates on recent successes. Each speaker will speak for five minutes on recent changes they have made within their organisation that has helped their choir, and their community, succeed and grow. A simple step-by-step process for each will be shared and discussed in order to give other delegates an insight into successful ways of working. Sharing where we are each successful will allow the whole sector to thrive. If you have an idea you want to present, or discuss further, please email Michael (md@thesundayboys.com).

3. Up up and away! How to find the (right) volunteers to help run your group.

Session Presenter: Barbara Eifler, Chief Executive, Making Music.

It’s harder than ever to find volunteers to be part of the committee or management body running a music group – this session will look at some of the reasons and potential barriers and what strategies you could use to enthuse and inspire more people to be organisers and leaders for your choir. Have a go at writing a role description and discuss it with others, find out about practicalities, best practice and what a younger generation struggles with. Come away with some practical resources to take back to your group.

4. Expanding the repertoire: Interesting new works for male/lower voice choirs.

Session Presenter: Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, Musical Director, London Welsh Male Voice Choir.

Seasoned TTBB specialist Dr Edward-Rhys Harry presents an in-depth introduction to four new works for male/lower voice choirs. With Peterborough Male Voice Choir he will explore appropriate approaches to help you are your singers enjoy these pieces and demonstrate potential rehearsal strategies. Teach tracks and learning resources will be made available.

5. John’s Boys: The journey so far.

Session Presenter: Aled Phillips, Founder and Artistic Director, John’s Boys Male Chorus.

Johns’ Boys Male Chorus is one of the most decorated British male choirs in history. In 2019 they became the first Welsh male voice choir, and only the third male voice choir in the history of the competition, to win the prestigious title of Choir of the World at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Artistic Director Aled Phillips presents a whistle-stop-tour of their journey so far from their founding in 2016 to their experiences of Britain’s Got Talent and their 2024 British Tour.

6. Effective rehearsal techniques.

Session Presenter: Will Prideaux, Director, Peterborough Male Voice Choir.

Using rehearsal time effectively is at the core of all male/lower voice choir activities. Will Prideaux and Peterborough Male Voice will choir demonstrate a range of practical approaches to rehearsal to improve ensemble, balance, intonation and tone quality, with a focus on developing your singer’s skills and confidence and improving the standard of your performances.