Dorset Police and Taunton Deane Male Voice Choirs

Half the profits from the concert will go to the RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution - Saving Lives at Sea with the other half going to the Rotary Club of Bridport to support other charities and worthy causes. 

Details of the choirs can be found on their websites - The Dorset Police Male Voice Choir at Home | DPMVC and the Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir at Tauntondeanemvc.com – Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir

The Dorset Police Male Voice Choir was formed on 4 July 1995. In recent years, it has performed in many venues throughout Dorset, the South West and much further afield, having toured widely in the UK, France, Guernsey, Jersey, Ireland and the USA.

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The choir has over 40 members and, whilst affiliated with Dorset Police, is an independent registered charity (No 1067073). Many of the concerts are for charity and in excess of £300,000 has been raised for good causes since its formation.

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It has developed an extensive and interesting repertoire performed by a very enthusiastic, friendly and sociable group. In promoting male voice singing the aim is to provide enjoyment for the choir members, supporters, audiences and the wider community.

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Following her appointment as Chief Constable of Dorset Police, the Choir is delighted that Amanda Pearson has agreed to be its President, following in the footsteps of her predecessors. ​Martin Baker, a former Chief Constable of Dorset Police has been made an Honorary Member of the choir and appointed Vice President.

Musical Director, David Marshall, was born in Cornwall in 1944. His interest in music began with piano lessons and later playing cornet with his local town band.  In 1960 he enlisted with his county regiment, The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry. After 40 years of Army music, he retired in 1999 with the rank of Major. His military service culminated in the appointment of Director of Music, Coldstream Guards.

He is an active member of the Wind Band Association and participates regularly in workshops for this medium.  He is a company director of a music publishing business and writes and arranges for the wind and brass band medium.  Since 2013 he has been a member of the Rising Voices Wessex Choir and for three of those years the Deputy Conductor. In February 2023 he was appointed Musical Director of the Dorset Police Male Voice Choir.  

Accompanist, Sue Stein, is a freelance accompanist and pianist. After studying at the Royal College of Music, she worked for ILEA and Hampshire Music Service as a music co-ordinator. She now accompanies several choirs and soloists and leads the music worship at a variety of churches in the Wimborne area.

Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir – This flourishing male voice choir started life as the Wessex Male Singers in Taunton in 1946. It was the result of a merger of two previously unsuccessful attempts at forming a male voice choir in Taunton. It became the Taunton Male Voice Choir in 1962 in order to strengthen its links with the town. Deane was added in 1974 when the Coat of Arms was also displayed on its uniform.

The Choir’s repertoire is extensive and varied, offering something to suit every kind of musical taste, from opera choruses, spirituals, popular ballads and selections from musical shows to classical and romantic music, folk songs and popular ballads, Welsh hymns, and sacred music. Each year about ten charity concerts are performed. As a registered charity (No 284948) the Choir raises thousands of pounds annually for good causes. It is affiliated to the National Association of Choirs and has sung at many venues in the UK as well as Taunton's twin town, Lisieux in Normandy and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Musical Director, Nick Thomas, studied music and education at the College of St Mark and St John’s (Marjons), Plymouth and spent much of his working life in schools as head of music. First in Cranleigh, Surrey and latterly at Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe.

He is a talented multi instrumentalist playing mainly piano, flute and accordion which he uses to enhance several arrangements with the choir. He has previously served as musical director of The West Somerset Singers and at St Georges Church, Wilton, Taunton.

Over the years he has directed many stage musicals whilst working and has performed with a large number of local operatic societies. He has performed with Orchestra West and more recently was musical director for the recently formed Muses theatre group for their debut performance of the Little Shop of Horrors. He teaches woodwind, piano, brass and singing in and around Taunton and also finds time to play flute and accordion in a local folk group Tranters Folly.

Accompanist, Mike Wager, was a music scholar in Bristol, studying both piano and organ. During a career as a teacher of foreign languages, he worked in various independent schools, where his keyboard and vocal skills were often in demand. Now retired, he keeps his fingers busy as one of the lead musicians at Taunton Baptist Church, and as accompanist for two local choirs.