Either together or individually we’ve performed at National Street Choir and Raise Your Banner Festivals since1988, fundraising and charitable events, folk clubs and local festivals, indoors and on the streets!.
Between us we’ve sung and performed in other harmony singing groups including Achord, Bradford Voices Community Choir and Moornotes. We’ve also performed in instrumental groups such as Codarajo, First View, Leeds/Bradford Samba Band, Red Herrings Street Band, The Klatsh (Klezmer band). Read more about each of us below.
Between us we’ve sung and performed in other harmony singing groups including Achord, Bradford Voices Community Choir and Moornotes. We’ve also performed in instrumental groups such as Codarajo, First View, Leeds/Bradford Samba Band, Red Herrings Street Band, The Klatsh (Klezmer band). Read more about each of us below.
Dave R
I sang as a 14 year old paper boy, burst into song once as a sixth former and eight years later at college (teacher training) I learnt guitar and sang with a fellow student. Rather than using my skills as a first school teacher, I spent the next 10 years working with stained glass where there’s not much call for singing! I kept up the guitar performing as a member of Codarajo – a former instrumental folk band which included singer songwriter Rahel Guzelian.
Three friends of mine, all of whom said they used to enjoy singing, decided to do something about it. So we enthusiastically got something going and tried to arrange 70’s favourites complete with harmonies and fumbling guitars. One of the trio had been to a community choir in Hebden Bridge which, when I went along, inspired me to set up a similar choir in 1996, Bradford Voices, as a WEA class with the same teacher at that time, Kate Howard. This 25+ choir continues today ever as strong and was the real start of singing for me. I hope what this choir gave me, is what I bring to VoiceMale: a love of harmony singing, and especially songs from around the world and songs on issues dear to my heart such as justice and peace; a basic understanding of written music; a love of performing; and the chance to sing in different settings.
Since then I have sung with the former 7 piece mixed harmony singing group, Achord. I do some song writing and sing solo, and in 2007 I set up ‘Moornotes’, a community choir in Ilkley.
I have run music activities for ‘Sacar’, a support group for people with asperger’s syndrome and autism. I have also encouraged singing through my voluntary work with ‘BIASAN’, a support group for asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK from a range of nations
Three friends of mine, all of whom said they used to enjoy singing, decided to do something about it. So we enthusiastically got something going and tried to arrange 70’s favourites complete with harmonies and fumbling guitars. One of the trio had been to a community choir in Hebden Bridge which, when I went along, inspired me to set up a similar choir in 1996, Bradford Voices, as a WEA class with the same teacher at that time, Kate Howard. This 25+ choir continues today ever as strong and was the real start of singing for me. I hope what this choir gave me, is what I bring to VoiceMale: a love of harmony singing, and especially songs from around the world and songs on issues dear to my heart such as justice and peace; a basic understanding of written music; a love of performing; and the chance to sing in different settings.
Since then I have sung with the former 7 piece mixed harmony singing group, Achord. I do some song writing and sing solo, and in 2007 I set up ‘Moornotes’, a community choir in Ilkley.
I have run music activities for ‘Sacar’, a support group for people with asperger’s syndrome and autism. I have also encouraged singing through my voluntary work with ‘BIASAN’, a support group for asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK from a range of nations
Keith
I’ve sung since 1995 and as a teenager played guitar and drums in punk and rock bands. In the ‘80s I was drummer/percussionist for the Manchester People’s Band, Bradford’s ‘Red Herrings Street Band’, Leeds/Bradford School of Samba. I am currently drummer/percussionist for the Klezmer dance band, ‘The Klatsh’ which plays all over northern UK. I aim to bring my creative sense of rhythm into VoiceMale whether it’s through voice, instrumental pieces or with actual use of percussion.
I have been a long standing member of the 25+ Bradford Voices community choir and used to sing in Achord - a 7 piece a capella group. Since 1980’s I’ve sung in the annual National Street Choir/Music Festivals and was part of organising the one held in Shipley (Bradford) in 2005. Since 2007 I have been choirs co-ordinator for the bi-annual Raise Your Banners Festival of political song and campaigning arts.
I arrange songs more by ear and work a lot through creative improvisation - something I take from my background in drama/theatre work and my training as a drama teacher, my former job as a community drama worker and my performance work in repertory theatres. I even performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and did some street theatre.
By the way I’m the smallest man of the group and often sing in the highest of pitches!
I have been a long standing member of the 25+ Bradford Voices community choir and used to sing in Achord - a 7 piece a capella group. Since 1980’s I’ve sung in the annual National Street Choir/Music Festivals and was part of organising the one held in Shipley (Bradford) in 2005. Since 2007 I have been choirs co-ordinator for the bi-annual Raise Your Banners Festival of political song and campaigning arts.
I arrange songs more by ear and work a lot through creative improvisation - something I take from my background in drama/theatre work and my training as a drama teacher, my former job as a community drama worker and my performance work in repertory theatres. I even performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and did some street theatre.
By the way I’m the smallest man of the group and often sing in the highest of pitches!
Dave Mc
Hi my name’s Dave or, to some, ‘Geordie’, as I’m originally from the North East. Though technically not a real Geordie as I’m from Guidepost, Northumberland.
I joined Keith and Dave in VoiceMale in December 2008 to fill the gap when one of its members left. At the time (and to this date) I was singing with Moornotes choir. Moornotes is a community choir in Ilkley which I’d been singing with since about June 2008. Dave, who runs Moornotes, kindly offered me to join VoiceMale. Well to say the least, I was pretty pleased as I hadn’t known Dave for long and hadn’t been singing for the last 6 years! I suppose he didn’t have much to choose from in Moornotes as I was the only guy at the time (ha!ha!ha!)
Some of my family sing and we even sing sometimes when we get together. I’ve always had this music side of me that’s been looking for a chance to be expressed. I took some group singing lessons about 6 years ago when I did a year once a week evening sessions at Intake High School, Rodley W Yorkshire.
I like to think I bring a fresh new outlook and love and passion for singing to VoiceMale. In my other spare time I team up with one or two others doing the rounds of singing spots in local music and folk clubs.
I joined Keith and Dave in VoiceMale in December 2008 to fill the gap when one of its members left. At the time (and to this date) I was singing with Moornotes choir. Moornotes is a community choir in Ilkley which I’d been singing with since about June 2008. Dave, who runs Moornotes, kindly offered me to join VoiceMale. Well to say the least, I was pretty pleased as I hadn’t known Dave for long and hadn’t been singing for the last 6 years! I suppose he didn’t have much to choose from in Moornotes as I was the only guy at the time (ha!ha!ha!)
Some of my family sing and we even sing sometimes when we get together. I’ve always had this music side of me that’s been looking for a chance to be expressed. I took some group singing lessons about 6 years ago when I did a year once a week evening sessions at Intake High School, Rodley W Yorkshire.
I like to think I bring a fresh new outlook and love and passion for singing to VoiceMale. In my other spare time I team up with one or two others doing the rounds of singing spots in local music and folk clubs.
Damian
I've been involved in musical activities since I was a child, initially with recorder lessons at first and middle school, then at Salt Grammar School taking lessons in a number of instruments, singing in the choir and playing in the school orchestra. Having also completed GCSE and A Level music during this time, I was hooked for life and have been fascinated with all things musical ever since. In 2001 I graduated from Hull University with a first class honours degree in Music with Creative Music Technology and since then I have worked extensively as a music teacher and performer all over West Yorkshire. I continue to love singing as an outlet for creatively expressing political and emotional sentiment and have performed with the other members of VoiceMale in various groups since the late 1990's. I also perform as a pianist for weddings and other ceremonies, and you can find out more about this and my other musical pursuits at www.finishmysong.com.
