ONE of the nation’s oldest male voice choirs is hitting a high note this year as it celebrates its 120th anniversary.

Kidderminster Male Choir boasts a rich history of music making and has performed at many top venues across the country and abroad.

Wearing their trademark red blazers, the ‘Men in Red’ are tuning up for their gala anniversary concert with Welsh-born singing ace Aled Jones at Birmingham Town Hall later this year.

The former child-star turned international vocalist, TV presenter and broadcaster will perform with the choir as well as solo numbers at the eagerly-awaited performance on Friday, September 6.

A whole year of events has and will take place to mark the momentous milestone, including a special project to encourage men who have never sung in public before to sing their hearts out and, in doing so, raising more than £10,000 for a cancer support group.

Bravely, the choir set a challenge to attract 40 men to rehearse over just 11 weeks to become a choir fit to be put in front of a ticket-paying audience and for them to be sponsored to complete the dare in aid of the Kidderminster and Worcestershire Prostate Cancer Support Group.

The gamble paid off and the 40-strong Wyre Men Sing performed to rapturous applause at a sell-out concert with Kidderminster Male Choir and guests GRVIII shanty singers at the town’s St George’s Church in June.

They also raised more than £10,000 for the prostate cancer support group in memory of stalwart male choir member Colin Tomkinson who died from the disease.

Kidderminster Male Choir member and communications manager John Parkinson said: “We launched the Wyre Men Sing project not really knowing what to expect but our members are passionate about the value of singing and, as part of our 120th year, wanted to let men who have never thought about joining a choir experience the enjoyment and camaraderie.

“We could not have been more delighted with the outcome. We attracted more than 40 men but had to stop at 42 for logistic reasons.

“They were so enthusiastic and sang incredibly well together. The raising of so much money in memory of our much-missed friend Colin was the icing on the cake.”

He added the choir’s gratitude to first-year art students at Kidderminster College who have designed a logo to mark the anniversary.

Other events this year include a collaboration with Severn Valley Railway on Saturday, August 17 with seven male voice choirs from around the country set to join them for Singin’ on the Train.

The choirs will perform throughout the day at different stations along the 16-mile line, culminating in a grand finale in the evening on the concourse at Kidderminster Station.

For more information and tickets visit svr.co.uk/event/singin-on-the-train.

The choir’s 100th birthday was celebrated with a sensational sell-out concert at Birmingham’s prestigious Symphony Hall.

Other British venues where they have performed include the Royal Albert Hall, London, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and St David’s Hall plus Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre.

The choir has been on numerous tours abroad including Australia and Canada.

A highlight of last year’s tour to Belgium was the honour of singing at The Menin Gate, Ypres, at the Last Post Ceremony.

The choir was formed in 1904 and not much is known about how a group of men came together to sing but it is known that, before long, it was performing regularly and entertaining the good folk of Kidderminster and surrounding areas.

An early photograph shows a choir of 51 men posing for a picture outside an imposing house somewhere in the vicinity.

An old poster shows on December 5, 1908, they staged a concert at Kidderminster Town Hall with tickets for the gallery or front seats costing the princely sum of 6d and 3d for the body of the hall.

Currently, the choir has the privilege of rehearsing in Kidderminster’s historic parish church of St Mary’s under the expert tutelage of David Barclay and principal accompanist Tony Bridgewater, ably assisted by deputy accompanist Maureen Bowkett.

As a charitable organisation, the choir is always keen to support others in the community with their charity work and regularly gives ticket proceeds to good causes.

Its most successful attempt at fundraising to date, via a CD, generated £55,000 for Help for Heroes.

Mr Parkinson added: “As current members, we are custodians of a very important organisation which has stood the test of time because singing is such a powerful tool for both the singer and the listener.

"Singing lifts the soul and is vital to our wellbeing. Here’s to the next 120 years and the Men in Red of Kidderminster Male Choir.”

The gala concert with Jones will also feature the ladies of Kidderminster Valentines Choir and tickets, priced from £39, are available from bmusic.co.uk/events/kidderminster-male-choir-120th-anniversary-gala-concert.