The first mention we can find in the local press of Bournemouth Male Voice Choir was in 1919 but we suspect the choir existed even before this. Our best guess is that we pre-date the First World War, so we are well over 100 years old!
It is more than 90 years since our predecessors, the Bournemouth Labour Choir, amalgamated with the Springbourne Male Voice Choir and gathered on the steps of Bournemouth Town Hall for their first performance as Bournemouth Male Voice Choir to sing at a reception held by the Mayor in 1922.
This photograph, courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo, shows Mrs Empson, conductor of the choir, possibly following her last performance before handing over to her successor, Matt Dando. The trophy is believed to been won at the Musical Festival at the Town Hall.
Matt Dando was involved in conducting the choir for over 30 years, and during that period we have uncovered various references to the choir being involved and successful in numerous choir competitions.
Following Matt, there were a number of conductors involved with the choir until in 2025 our current Musical Director Ben Siebertz-Willett took over. Ben’s tenure as MD is seeing the choir modernise and move forward to become amongst the leading exponents of Male Voice Choir singing.
In 2019 the choir hosted a Male Voice Choir competition in Poole which culminated in a gala concert involving 400 voices singing together.
An amazing sound which raised an amazing sum of £12,500 for the Bournemouth Hospital Charity.
Over the last year alone we have raised over £6,000 for good causes.
