Hart Male Voice Choir was formed in May 1975 with the aim of providing an opportunity for developing male choral singing and to provide entertainment for performers and audiences. Over the years we have extended our objectives to put the fun in fund raising by supporting local communities and national charities in the organisation and promotion of their charity concerts.
We are an amateur choir and a registered charity ourselves, dedicated to providing enjoyment and pleasure for both audience and choristers. The funds we have helped raise have benefited numerous charities over many years, both in Britain and abroad, such charities being spread as far apart as South Africa and Ireland, with a host of others in between!
The choir sings in four-part harmony (TTBB – 1 & 2 Tenors, Baritone and Bass) with each section having a Section Leader with responsibility for the mentoring of new members and acting as a conduit between the Committee and their relevant section.
Choir rehearsals are once a week on Wednesday from 7.30pm to 10.00pm in the Cross Barn in Odiham. Prospective new members are always welcome to come and experience a rehearsal evening to see how we prepare for our successful concerts.
HMVC is a non-profit making charity but usually charges a concert fee to cover our professionals’ costs and any incidental costs such as concert printing etc. Fixed costs including our music professionals’ rehearsal costs, hall hire, piano maintenance, uniform and sheet music etc are all covered by member’s monthly subscriptions
We are honoured to have the brilliant Welsh conductor/arranger Dr Haydn James as our Choir President. As Musical Director for the Welsh Rugby Union, Haydn has led the singing at more than 130 international matches and has arranged many of the choir’s pieces.
We are also honoured and privileged to have the great Alan Titchmarsh, English gardener, gardening journalist, writer and radio and television presenter as our Honorary Patron. Alan has supported our Young Singer of the Year initiative and our fund-raising activities for The Brain Tumour Charity and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care.
Emily Hinchliff was appointed Musical Director in July 2025 and is an enthusiastic and accomplished musician who is passionate about making music accessible to all.
Emily worked for six years with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as a professional violinist and has run both choirs and orchestras in schools and in the local community and still enjoys playing violin in string quartets at weddings and working as a freelance musician.
Under her direction the choir is looking forward to sharing high quality musical performances with our community and developing a love for music with new and existing members.
Judith Morgan studied piano and flute at Trinity College and the Royal Academy of Music and her career has taken her worldwide and we are grateful for her work with the choir for whom she has arranged many accompaniments.
Eamonn O’Rourke, was elected at our last AGM, has been a member of the Bass Section of the choir since 1989 and has served two previous terms as Chairman when he was responsible for arranging choir tours to South Africa and Ireland.
The management and affairs of the choir are conducted by the Trustees elected by the Annual General Meeting.
Currently the Trustees include:
The Trustees are assisted in managing the affairs of the choir with a number of non-trustee roles:
Click here to send us your queries about any Hart Male Voice Choir activities.
