Saddleworth

The Choir numbers around 60 voices. Its members are drawn mainly from around the Greater Manchester area, in particular, Oldham, Rochdale and Saddleworth. The present Choir was founded in 1955, in succession to two other former local male choirs, the first of which dated back to 1903.

Saddleworth is the collective name for several picturesque villages in the Pennine hills on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border. Always part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it became administered by Oldham in Greater Manchester in the 1974 local government reorganisation. Being very proud of its distinct separate identity, Saddleworth Parish Council was formed in the same year, its logo including the inscription "In The County Of York". The historical rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire, sometimes humorously acknowledged by choir members who come from both sides of the border, is laid to rest in the Choir's badge which incorporates both White and Red roses.

The local population supports a great wealth of amateur musical activity, including operatic societies, choral groups and brass bands as well as the male voice choir.

The Choir has made two TV appearances, including a BBC Songs Of Praise recorded around Saddleworth, shown in June 2000. There have also been several recordings, and radio broadcasts, the most recent of which was in February 2003 for the BBC’s Sunday Half Hour programme. As part of the desire to continually improve performance standards, there are regular entries into choral competitions. Over the years, music festival trophies include Hazel Grove, Huddersfield, Macclesfield, Blackpool, Blackburn, Biddulph, Penistone, Southport, Eskdale (Whitby), Don Valley (won for five years in succession), and the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition.

The present Musical Director is Damian Cunningham who took over in April 1997. His enthusiasm and commitment have contributed greatly to the Choir's achievements.

Concerts are performed locally and further afield and the Choir presents its own concerts twice yearly at Uppermill Civic Hall in Uppermill with a variety of guests including leading soloists, folk groups and brass bands, the latter having included several household names over the years. Each December the Choir is augmented by about 45 ladies to form a large mixed chorus for an annual performance of Handel's Messiah, with professional soloists and orchestra, at Uppermill Civic Hall.

Exchange visits with other choirs have taken SMVC to Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Germany, North and East Yorkshire, Holland, Slovenia and most recently Spain, Gibraltar and Italy.