FANCY yourself as a conductor? Or a decent singer? Then Newlyn needs you.
The Newlyn Male Choir is gearing up to celebrate its 90th year in 2011 and it badly needs younger members, as well as a new leader.
Founded in 1921, the choir is calling for local singers to swell its ranks to ensure it carries on.
"As with all choirs, our future depends on a sizeable intake of younger men to take over from our valued older singers as they retire," says secretary Bryan Marshall.
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"We are the third oldest male voice choir in Cornwall. We hope to organise some special events next year, and an increase in membership would be a great help in being able to do so."
As well as terrific tenors and booming baritones, the choir also needs a new conductor as John Philpotts is set to leave at the end of December.
"I did nine years with the choir, then retired for five years," says Mr Philpotts, who's also the church organist at the chapel in Mousehole.
"They really needed somebody to pick them up and asked me, so I happily did.
"But I am 75 so I decided that really, having got them through the year, it is time to call it a day – again.
"There have been ups and downs healthwise so we have struggled at times, but we had a good tour to Exeter earlier in the year."
The choir, which will be singing hymns as the lights are switched on in Newlyn on Friday, December 17, is putting on two popular events in the run-up to Christmas.
The first is a free festive concert at St Peter's Church in Newlyn at 7.30pm on Sunday. And then, on Sunday, December 19, they will be singing carols at an informal social evening at the Queen's Hotel in Penzance from 8pm, where there will be a raffle and mince pies.
And if you fancy adding your voice to theirs, the choir rehearses on Mondays at 7.30pm in the Centre in Newlyn.
Adds Mr Marshall: "You don't need to be able to read music; just be able to follow the music and have a reasonable voice."
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN