Thinking of joining the choir? Come and hear us sing, we meet every week on Thursdays at Holmbridge Church Hall at 7.30pm.......

Welcome to Vocal Expressions!

Introduction

MORE THAN JUST A CHOIR
A Holme Valley based Ladies choir, for its 58 members, Vocal Expressions represents a chance to be part of something that goes far beyond a mere musical ensemble. The weekly rehearsals, the many concerts and the recording of three C.D's have opened up new horizons for the fun-loving but disciplined singers. 

The choir has a varied repertoire of both sacred and secular songs; including music by Mendelssohn, Franck, Schubert, Faure and Rutter plus arrangements of traditional folk songs and music from well-known West End Musicals.  Most are 2 or 3-part arrangements, usually with piano accompaniment some of which has been arranged specially for Vocal Expressions.

Catherine Williams formed the choir in January 1997 from a core of just 20 members. Enthusiasm for singing was the criterion for membership. This enthusiasm continues today under the direction of Catherine's successor, Michael Howell. His objective is to build on Catherine's work to create a well-balanced, polished choir whose reputation will be a magnet for new audiences and members alike.


CONQUERING THE UK AND BEYOND
From its humble beginnings the choir has evolved into a hard-working unit who are now accustomed to appearances in the most imposing of venues, such as Huddersfield Town Hall and The Organ Hall in L'viv, as well as being broadcast to the nation during BBC's Music Live Week and appearing on Ukrainian television. Incorporating concerts in their annual workshops, they have taken their musical message to Llandudno, Scarborough, St Anne's, Harrogate, Salisbury and even to passengers on the Royal Carribbean, where they have been received with great enthusiasm. Two years ago, around 30 choir members performed a concert, a first for an amateur choir, on the Royal Caribbean cruise liner the beautiful 'Independence of the Seas' during a 4 day cruise to Cork. We are planning another International tour for 2012. 

SINGING/FUNDRAISING FOR SEVERAL CHARITIES
The Choir has performed in many charity concerts around the area. These included singing for the Holme Valley Memorial Hospital in an outdoor concert on their lawn and in the Tsunami Disaster Appeal in the Huddersfield Town Hall in 2005 with several other Holme Valley choirs and brass bands. In addition to these concerts, we have helped raise monies for Yorkshire Lupus and many of our ladies donned walking boots and running shoes to enter the Huddersfield Examiner walk and run in the Great North Race for Cancer Research.
Other charities for which they have raised funds have included the Forget-Me-Not trust and the Kirklees Hospice and most recently the Dumpster Chorale and the Valuing Life Clinic. These last two are in Cambodia where one of our members, Kathryn Hinchliff, is currently working with VSO following her retirement last year..  


SINGING IN LANGUAGES
Vocal Expressions have sung in a number of languages; Welsh, Latin, and Spanish. The latest is Ukrainian in which they were called upon to sing in July 2004 when the National Choir of Ukraine, Mriya, visited and shared a concert with them. They visited the Ukraine on a return visit in October 2005 to sing in three concerts in L'viv. The incredible welcome and the generosity of their hosts was something that touched the hearts of everyone who went. It was a truly amazing experience to be able to sing with such an experienced choir. Vocal Expressions choir was treated like royalty and shown many places that most westerners would not have seen before. They have made many friends in L'viv and hope that the strong bond between them will continue in the future.


Vocal Expressions singing in Ukrainian with Mriya (The National Choir of Ukraine).