OUR picture shows founder conductor Grenville Jones outside Sydney Opera House in November 2005 following The Silver Ring Choir's concert tour of Singapore and New Zealand. He conducted the Silver Ring for 11 years but his other commitments meant that he had to stand down in December 2008. In his own words, "With so many other music projects to pursue, the time had come to move on!"
Grenville enjoys the reputation in and around Bath of being 'Bath's Mr Music!' He was given the accolade of Bath Man of the Year 2008 in the local newspaper, the Bath Chronicle and was recognised again in the 2009 listings. In the same year he was one of 10 nominees nationally in the Daily Mirror and ITV community champion award. This was for his work with the Golden-Oldies Charity. He was also named as a Mayor's Citizen of the Year in April 2009 for his work with Goldies.
The Golden-Oldies Charity was started by Grenville in January 2008 with four fun singing sessions in sheltered housing community rooms in Bath. By the end of 2010 that number will have increased to over 70 each week across the West. The charity - through its ethos of social interaction through singing and movement - is making lives happier for hundreds of people.
The Charity has attracted world-wide media coverage and Grenville is anxious that whilst he was the founder, the charity now has an increasing base of volunteers, trustees, session leaders and supporters, without whom Goldies would not be able to develop. Bath Male Choir have sung for Goldies on a numbers of occasions and 40 members joined Grenville to run the Bath half in 2010, as reported on our home page.
Grenville begins work on a two year EEU project in May 2010 working with partners from across Europe and led by the acclaimed Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. Together they will look at how music and other related therapeutic projects can enhance the lives of elderly people living in isolation.
Back to the music where he also has an auditioned fabulous, girls close-harmony and swing group called the fabulous Stockingtops, 60 girls who just love to belt it out.
He started a series of GOOD Afternoon Choirs in May 2009 across the West of England for retired people. The Bath Good Afternoon Choir has 100 members and is conducted by Francis Faux. Grenville plans more soon, watch this space!
After leaving the Silver Ring Choir, he announced his new mixed-voice choir THE Bath Chorus in January of last year with over 150 people attending an open night. The Choir rehearses on Monday nights and already has over 80 auditioned members. They have sung with Hayley Westenra and Aled Jones as well as Hollywood star Nicholas Cage at the 2009 BIG Christmas Lights switch on and attended by thousands.
Grenville therefore has a growing reputation as the man who gets people of all ages singing. Back in September 2008 he was guest of Aled Jones on his Radio Three programme “The Choir.” Grenville talked about his experiences on Last Choir Standing with his Boys from Bath. Aled was also fascinated to hear about the success of the Golden-Oldies Charity and Grenville’s growing reputation for getting people of all ages to sing.
He became a Grandad last year - twice! Isaac is the son of Daniel and Rachel and Artur is the son of Kieron and Marianna. Laurie is Grenville's youngest son. A talented drummer, he is now pursuing a musical career.
For a number of years in the 80s he sang in the barbershop group Five-in-a-Bar, making records and appearing on many national radio and TV shows including Jim’ll fix it, The Cliff Richard Show and Blue Peter, but he’s lost the badge! Many of the arrangements sung by the quintet were his. During the Last Choir Standing series the BBC showed a clip of a very young GJ singing with Five-in-a-Bar on Blue Peter, and one of the interviews with Grenville on the show was in the Blue Peter garden!
Grenville is a member of the Association of British Choral Directors and his natural musical ability and enthusiasm have taken his many music groups and projects on exciting journeys.
You can check out all of his projects - up and coming concerts etc - on www.grenvillejones.biz