In 1948, a group of men belonging to Gledholt Methodist Church formed a double male quartet
under the leadership of Joe Ripley and with Marcus Draper as the pianist to sing at local churches,
old people's homes, hospitals, etc. Gradually the original double quartet expanded to become,
first the Gledholt Glee Singers, next the Ripley Singers for two years, and finally the Gledholt
Male Voice Choir.
Joe Ripley retired as Conductor in 1977 when Malcolm Fairless was appointed as Musical Director.
Malcolm Fairless
Malcolm Fairless was appointed Musical Director in 1977. He is a native of County Durham and he started his male voice choir experience in his early teens. He was for some time Organist and Choirmaster at Bede College, Durham University before 'emigrating' to Huddersfield in the early 70's. Here, he quickly joined Huddersfield Choral Society, was a member of the Karalian Quartet and in regular demand as tenor soloist. He joined Gledholt
MVC as a First Tenor in 1972 and, in those early days, he was also a member of Skelmanthorpe MVC,eventually being appointed their Deputy Conductor.
The choir rehearses at Lindley Methodist Church Centre,
Huddersfield each Tuesday evening and potential new members are always welcome.
The Choir's repertoire varies widely and now includes arrangements of popular songs from
the Shows as well as traditional male voice items, music from the Opera and religious works.
This broadly based repertoire ensures interest in rehearsals and is essential for the
planning of programmes for public performances. The Choir fulfils regular concert
engagements both locally and further afield having sung in Settle, Keswick, Bradford
Cathedral, Bridlington Priory, Scarborough Spa Theatre, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Fountains
Abbey, Pudsey Civic Hall, Manston (Leeds), Boston Spa, Shifnal, Wellington (Salop),
York Minster, Royal Albert Hall and Llanfyllin.
The Choir is justly proud of initiating and organising - for 10 years - the
National Male Voice Choir Championships which broke new ground for the whole choir movement.
In July 1997, the Choir competed at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The latest highlight has been the completion in May 1997 of its first exchange with
an overseas choir - the very talented male voice choir from Besancon, Eastern France
- Les Chenestrels. This involved four concerts on consecutive evenings in the district
of Franche-Comte during a memorable week's visit in 1998.
A recording has been made to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Choir and it is available
on CD and Cassette, together with other items of memorabilia.
PAUL A IREDALE-Conductor
Paul was appointed Musical Director of Gledholt Male Voice Choir in January 2006 and served until May 2008.
Susan M. Wilkinson,
Musical Director-since 2008
Susan M. Wilkinson studied initially under Professor Shackleton Pollard in Halifax before graduating in Pianoforte and Voice at the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the Royal Northern).
Susan has extensive knowledge about teaching music. A former Ofsted Inspector, Teacher Trainer, and Music Adviser for a local authority she has spent many years in education with pupils younger than age 5 to Post-16 and beyond. Susan also conducts the award winning Huddersfield Choral Society Young Choirs.
John S Bailey, Accompanist
John S. Bailey began studying piano at the age of eight and progressed to
the organ shortly afterwards. As a ten-year-old he was playing regularly for services at St. Augustine's
Church, Scissett and was aged only fourteen when he was awarded an organ scholarship at
Wakefield Cathedral where he studied under Jonathan Bielby. His range as a solo performer
covers both organ and piano and encompasses a variety of genres, from Classical to Jazz.
In demand both in Britain and Europe as a freelance accompanist, he has worked with
performers as diverse as Opera North and Freddie Starr and is even to be seen and/or
heard in episodes of BBC1's 'Last of the Summer Wine' on occasions when the storyline demands
an organist! John who lives in Huddersfield, was appointed accompanist to Gledholt Male Voice Choir
in September 2000, after having played for the choir's successful tour of France. He was
also accompanist for the Huddersfield Singers and Marsh Ladies Choir, and in 1999 he was
invited to join the team of official accompanist's for the Mrs. Sunderland Musical Competition.
John has accompanied a number of choirs, including Holmfirth Choral Society, as well as being official accompanist for several Music Festivals. He was also the Organist and Musical Director for St. Stephen’s Church, Lindley.
Choir
Joe Ripley