New Choir President.
New Choir Chairman.
Choir Photographs.
Colin Baines - Musical Director.
Darren Hogg - Accompanist / Assistant Chorus Master.
Rehearsal Details.
New Choir President.
The Annual General Meeting held in October 2008 was a memorable affair. In 1988, Eric and Marian Dawes moved to Birmingham and, as all choir members have done, Marian came in fear and trembling to audition to join Birmingham Choral Union at the start of the season. Colin decided Marian could stay and that was the start of her long association with the choir. That November, the then Treasurer died and Edgar Richards and Geoff Brevitt came to their house and invited Marian to come onto the Committee as Treasurer. Then, in 1994, Marian was elected Chairman and now it is time to retire!
Teamwork has always been important and working in harmony is vital for all aspects of the Choir! Marian likes to think that this has been achieved most of the time. Colin and Marian developed a special relationship over the years and have always been totally committed to the ideals of the Choir. Marian's personality may not have suited everyone, that wouldn’t be normal if it did, but everything she introduced, helped facilitate, streamlined, taken the flak for and enjoyed, has been from the heart.
Marian also added that the Committee had invited her to become President of Birmingham Choral Union and she was honoured and delighted to accept, especially as she was following in some illustrious footsteps – Professor Carl Chinn MBE, Felix Kok, Harold Gray OBE, Sir John Barbirolli, The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, to name but a few!
Marian also announced on behalf of the Choir, that Marie Rogers (soprano) and Val Munro (retiring contralto), in honour of their dedication, commitment and long service to the organisation, had been appointed Honorary Vice-Presidents of Birmingham Choral Union.
New Choir Chairman.
Mike Bloxham is a bass with Birmingham Choral Union. At the same AGM in October 2008, Mike volunteered himself for election to the Choir committee. At the next committee meeting, he found himself elected to Chairman and is showing himself to be a worthy successor to Marian Dawes who has retired from the committee and is now the Choir President. This is probably the first time the Choir has elected a professional entomologist as Chairman. A working life that started in Oldbury at Albright and Wilson (Mfg) at the age of nineteen also saw his first choir membership with the Bach Choir under Hamish Preston and Roy Massey. He soon decided to train as a teacher and remained in the profession until retirement in 1994. The following years not only saw him take up his current calling as a part time entomologist, but also led to him joining Birmingham Choral Union (at the instigation of Geoff and Marian Brevitt). A busy life today also includes full participation in several wildlife organizations and he is greatly indebted to his family (wife Hazel plus two sons, Andrew and Donald) both for their support and also for tolerance of the activities that take place in the ‘Natural History Museum’- a converted bedroom in the house! The picture shows examination of a beetle found on the top of an Inner Circle bus by a member of the public.
Choir Photographs.
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Marian Dawes (Left) is the President. |
Colin Baines (Right) is the Musical Director.
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Colin Baines - Musical Director.
Colin, our Musical Director and Conductor, studied music at Birmingham and Liverpool Universities. He has conducted the Birmingham Choral Union for over twenty-five years, directing performances of choral works from Bach's Mass in B minor to Fanshawe's African Sanctus in various major venues across the Midlands. He is also deputy chorus master of the City of Birmingham Choir.
When not working with choirs, he is a freelance performer, accompanying other choirs and soloists, playing the organ, playing keyboard and double bass in a number of dance bands and teaching piano and keyboard. He is a member of the Valentini Piano Trio and has recently played the piano in Elgar's Piano Quintet and Schubert's Trout Quintet with the Midland Chamber Players.
Colin is also a composer, having written a number of children's musicals and music for many series of BBC programmes including Let's Move and Something to Think About. He also directs the music for the Festival Arts group in Birmingham and St. David's (Pembrokeshire).
He lives in Birmingham with his wife and four grown-up children.
Darren Hogg - Accompanist/Assistant Chorus Master.
Darren, was born and educated in Birmingham. He trained at Birmingham Conservatoire from 1989 to 1993 studying organ, harpsichord and piano accompaniment with David Saint and David Ponsford. Darren was appointed Organist and Director of Music at St Augustine’s Church, Edgbaston, Birmingham, in September 2004. He is Organist at Aston University and is one of two Organists at Lodge Hill Crematorium, Selly Oak.
Darren has also performed with many other societies in the Midlands and has featured as Organist on BBC 1’s Songs of Praise, BBC Radio 2’s Sunday Half Hour and BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service. He now runs his own private teaching practice (Organ, Music Theory and Piano). Darren is a member of the Birmingham Organists’ Association and has also served on the Association council. He is a full member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (I.S.M.) and is married to Barbara, mezzo-soprano and primary school teacher. Their daughter - Abigail - was born in November 2004.
Choir Rehearsal Details.
The Birmingham Choral Union is always interested in hearing from potential singers in ALL voices and, like many choirs, we are particularly interested in hearing from tenors and basses! The Choir rehearses on Monday evenings at the Unitarian Church, Ryland Street, Five Ways which is easily reached by any bus along Broad Street. There is also ample parking. If you are interested in singing and would like to be considered for the choir, we would love to meet you at our Monday rehearsals.
Choir Brochure (opens a new window).
This requires Acrobat Reader -
(opens a new window).
New Member Form (N.B. Needs MS Word - opens a new window).
New members, please print this, complete it and hand to Marian Brevitt at your first rehearsal.
| Time: | 6.45 pm to 8.45 pm. |
| Venue: | Unitarian Church, Ryland Street, Birmingham. |
| Email: | chair@birminghamchoralunion.org.uk |
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Unitarian New Meeting Church, Birmingham. |
This map will help you find Ryland Street.