It has been quite a year so far for Haydock Male Voice Choir.

The choir has been busy celebrating its 99-year anniversary this year, performing several concerts as well as staging a special event in March, which marked the start of the celebrations.

The latter part of the year looks to be just as busy for the choir, with lots happening in the coming months.

In September the choir relaunched the six-week singing course it introduced earlier in the year. The course proved to be successful first time round, helping to attract new members who found that it helped develop their singing ability and also boosted their confidence.

The course started on September 6 and runs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. New members will receive an induction pack, which includes sheet music and tips on how to read music, and they will also be assigned a mentor who will support them throughout the course.

Later in September the choir will hold the first of its autumn concerts, performing at the Ashton-in-Makerfield Festival on Friday, September 16.

This will be followed by a joint concert with Rossendale Male Voice Choir, which will be held at St Mary’s Church, Rawtenstall on October 15.

Arguably the highlight of the year for the choir so far has been the collaboration with exciting northwest band Gustaffson.

The choir was invited to join Gustaffson at Blueprint Studios in Salford in April, and provided backing vocals on two songs, ‘Night People’ and ‘Kingdom’. Both songs feature on the band’s acclaimed and much publicised ‘The Jacaranda’ EP, produced by Craig Potter, keyboard player and pianist in the multi-award winning Manchester band Elbow.

Haydock Male Voice Choir committee chairman Mike Danvers, who took part in the recording session at Blueprint Studios, said working with Gustaffson was an unforgettable experience.

“What a night and what an experience,” Mike said. “It was probably a unique experience in the choir’s ninety-nine-year existence.”

 For further information about the singing course or to reserve a place, email committee@haydockmvc.co.uk