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The 80 years of twinning between Bath and Alkmaar is being celebrated in 2025 and as part of the special celebrations the City of Bath Male Choir visited Alkmaar over the Easter holidays. Apart from tasting the celebrated Dutch beers, the group of 60 Boys from Bath performed in concerts as part of their visit. Bath Male Choir have travelled extensively in the last 15 years with numerous visits to Europe, Boston and Nashville in the States, and Japan. Travel abroad has always been an integral part of the Choir's life and this trip to Alkmaar is the latest in a number of Choir tours.
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Monday, April 14, 2025 One of Cornwall’s leading amateur operatic groups will be visiting Bath for a concert on Saturday May 3 in St Michael’s Church. Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust Singers is a mixed-voice choir, led by the highly accomplished Alastair Taylor. This mixed choir, formed in January 2004 with a membership of 30-40 aged from 17 to 70+, has achieved many successes. It has a repertoire which includes a variety of genres and styles, including musical theatre and popular music. It has acquired a considerable reputation within the county, performing regularly with other bands choirs and bands. The choir also enjoys performing outside the county and has travelled as far as Blackpool and Edinburgh. Their visit to Bath will be hosted by The City of Bath Choir and the link between the two groups was made when Grenville Jones, Founder of Bath Male Choir, met the RAOST group at a concert in Newquay. Grenville said; “They are a brilliant group of singers led by the outstanding Alastair Taylor. If you love musical theatre then this is the concert for you.” Tickets are priced £10 on the door from 6.30pm, with the concert starting at 7.00pm, or purchased in advance from grenvillemusic.ticketlight.co.uk The City of Bath Male Choir with their MD Laurie Jones have just returned from a memorable visit to Alkmaar celebrating the 80 year link between the City of Alkmaar and the City of Bath. A concert with something for everyone. ENDS   Let Us Entertain You! - Bath Male Voice Choir performed at Widcombe Baptist Church on 29th March 2025 with special guests Allegra, a ladies choir from South Wales. GRENVILLE WINS MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Over 50 National Awards were announced with the final one, the individual public vote, won by Grenville and presented to him by HRH, the Princess Royal. Last evening (March 27) in a glittering awards ceremony at the packed Bobby Moore Suite, Wembley Stadium, the work of the Bath-based Songs&Smiles Charity Golden-Oldies was recognised with its founder Grenville Jones being awarded the prestigious UK Excellence Awards 2025 Patron’s Award for Individual achievement by the British Quality Foundation Patron, HRH, the Princess Royal. It was in 2007 when respected choir leader and musician Grenville, who lives in Bath, launched the charity that was based on bringing isolated lonely people together to enjoy fun Sing&Smile organised community singing sessions in Church halls, community rooms and libraries across South West England and Wales (Goldies Cymru). Over the last 18 years Grenville has also built up a reputation for his leadership of many community choirs, although he is always quick to point out that the Goldies Charity is NOT about choir singing but more specifically about community health and wellbeing sessions for over 3,000 older isolated and vulnerable people. From the original four ‘Goldies’ sessions taken by Grenville in and around the Bath and Bristol areas the work of the Charity, with Sir Cliff Richard as its Patron, has grown to the point today where they organise over 170 sessions across England and in Wales, under the Goldies Cymru banner. Alongside the charity work, he has led the development of community choirs and, through his separate music business, runs 34 mixed-voice choirs with 1600 enthusiastic singers. Goldies however is entirely different but both Grenville’s choir work and his charity are based on a very simple principle, he says : “I understand that there were hundreds of votes and I’d like to thank everyone across my Choirs and the Goldies Charity who took time to vote for me. “Singing is good for your health and wellbeing, it encourages friendship and should most definitely be on prescription.” Carrie White, Events, Communications & Marketing Lead of The British Quality Foundation (BQF) said; “Our awards cover a variety of different areas, one of the most significant being our Patron’s Awards for everyday excellence. We have separate, independent panels of judges for all of our Awards and it is interesting to note that the Golden-Oldies Charity was nominated as a finalist in the Patron’s Award Organisations. In addition Grenville Jones was nominated for the Patron’s Award Individuals for his leadership and dedication for taking forward not only the work of the charity but his encouragement and development of community singing across so many areas of the UK.” Grenville’s work has been recognised on many occasions and has enjoyed the support of numerous Trusts and philanthropic groups, Local Authorities and supportive Trusts, the National Lottery and many others. Dr Alwyn Humphreys, MBE and Goldies Cymru Trustee said: “When Covid shut down all of the Goldies in-person daytime sessions it was typical of the determination of Grenville to find a new way to reach out to isolated people. We did this with the innovative introduction of sessions which were made available to people in their homes through YouTube and professionally produced and distributed sessions. Sofa singing was born!” The charity has also led the way with its intergenerational Primary School events, supported by the National Lottery through its Heritage Lottery Fund. Three years ago an intergenerational project from Goldies, based on the commemoration of Armistice Day and World War II, won the prestigious Education Category of the National Lottery Awards 2018. Grenville received the award from Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins at a televised event in London. “With the continued support of our brilliant session leaders and many sponsors and supporters we are adding more Goldies Sing&Smile sessions. We know that we are making a huge difference to the lives of so many older vulnerable people. “You really cannot be gloomy or sad if you are singing at a Goldies session,” added Grenville ENDS PRESS RELEASE Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Thursday 27 March 2025 A concert at Widcombe Baptist Church in Bath on Saturday March 29 will bring together two leading choral groups. The celebrated City of Bath Male Choir will host the concert and this will be a rare opportunity to hear ‘the boys from Bath’ in concert in their home City. Bath Male Choir have travelled the world making music since being founded by Grenville Jones in 2007. The MD is now Grenville’s youngest son Laurie Jones and numbers over 60 members from across the area. The choir are always in great demand for concert appearances and from April 10-13 will be representing the city when they visit Bath’s twin town Alkmaar in the Netherlands. A concert to commemorate the long-standing association between Bath and Alkmaar. Joining Bath Male Choir for the concert will be Allegra, a female choir from South Wales. Allegra have numerous awards including The Gold Cup at Cheltenham for ‘Most Outstanding Choir of the Festival’. Their MD is Rob Elliott. This promises to be a fabulous concert featuring two superb choirs. It starts at 7.00pm with doors opening at 6.30pm, tickets are priced £12 on the door or in advance from grenvillemusic.ticketlight.co.uk or by calling 0844 888 9991. “This will be our very first concert in 2025 with a number of new items and we look forward to welcoming Bath Male Choir supporters old and new!” said Bath Male Choir MD Laurie Jones. ENDS  Image shows Allegra, one of the most accomplished female choirs in South Wales. PRESS RELEASE Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on [email protected] or +44 (0) 7778 282934. Monday, February 3, 2025 The historic link between Alkmaar and the City of Bath in the West of England goes back 80 years. In that time many hundreds of people of all ages and from both Cities have visited and enjoyed the hospitality of their hosts. The City of Bath Male Choir are one of the best-loved male choirs in England. Founded by Bath music-man Grenville Jones in 2007, they have toured Europe and visited the States – Boston and Nashville – as well as being the only amateur English male choir to visit Japan. Their reputation was enhanced in their early years when Bath Male Choir reached the finals of a national televised singing competition called ‘Last Choir Standing’. This hugely popular entertainment show was on the main BBC television channel and was shown across the World. Bath Male Choir reached the finals singing to an audience of an estimated 13 million viewers. The boys from Bath will be in Alkmaar for four days in from April 10-13 as part of the 80 year connection between the two Cities. Roelof Hilgersom is a member of AUC – Alkmaar Uitwisselings Comite. He said: “We are absolutely delighted to host the men of the Bath Male Choir and we met their founder Grenville Jones back in November when he visited Alkmaar. The choir is now conducted by his son Laurie, who is head of music at a prestigious independent school in the Cotswolds, close to Bath. “The highlight of the visit will be a concert on Saturday April 12 which will take place at Kapelkerk starting at 8.00pm. Also featured at the concert will be two local mixed-voice choirs Popkoor Atlantis and Popkoor Spot-On! This will be a fabulous evening of music for everyone.” The City of Bath Male Choir (pictured) will bring 41 singers to Alkmaar for the concert and are looking for other opportunities to perform whilst staying in the city. Discover more about Bath Male Choir on www.bathmalechoir.org or come and see them on Saturday April 12! ENDS Image shows Bath Male Choir and MD Laurie Jones   On Thursday 23rd January members of the Bath Male Choir attended a special reception at the Guildhall hosted by the Mayor of Bath as a thank you for the choirs performance at the Mayor Making Ceremony 2023. What a privilege to be invited ❤️ St Michael’s Church in the centre of Bath will host a three choir concert on Saturday September 28. The concert will start at 7.00pm hosted by The City of Bath Male Choir, conducted by Laurie Jones. The boys from Bath have travelled the World since their success on the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ series and they will welcome another well-travelled male choir, the City of Truro Male Choir, from Cornwall. Also taking part will be the Glee Club who are a group of Australian singers from Melbourne, led by Vicky Jacobs. Vicky said; “This will be our first tour to the UK and the choir are really excited about singing in Bath on September 28. We are most grateful to Grenville Jones from Bath Male Choir who has made this concert possible and the evening will be something very special for everyone.” The City of Bath Male Choir now numbers over 60 singers and ticket allocation has been restricted for this concert so early booking is advised. Tickets priced £15 from grenvillemusic.ticketlight.co.uk and as a sellout is expected it is highly unlikely that tickets will be available on the door on the night of the concert. This will be the first Bath Male Choir concert since their Summer break and, looking ahead, they will be visiting Alkmaar in Holland next April as part of the 75th anniversary of the twinning link between Bath and Alkmaar. A future concert of Bath Male Choir will take place at St John’s Church, Keynsham, on Saturday October 12 when they will be supporting the Keynsham Branch of the Royal British Legion. Grenville is the founder of Bath Male Choir but due to pressure of his many other musical interests around the UK he handed over the baton last year to his son Laurie. “Two male voice choirs plus a brilliant ladies choir all the way from Australia. What a fantastic formula for a very special evening of song!” said Laurie Jones. www.bathmalechoir.org  Image shows The City of Bath Male Choir in action recently in Bath Abbey. The Highworth with Shrivenham Good Afternoon Choir and North Swindon Good Afternoon Choir will join together for a concert at St Michaels & All Angels Church on Saturday evening June 29 at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm). The choirs will be led by Jessie Thompson and Sarah Summers with over 40 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support Crisis and The Open Door. The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 15 years ago and there are now 28 across the South West of England with over 1,000 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’. There are no auditions to join and members of the two Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area. Highworth with Shrivenham Good Afternoon Choir meet every Wednesday from 1pm-3pm at Highworth Community Centre with leader Jessie Thompson and North Swindon Good Afternoon Choir meet every Thursday afternoon from 1pm-3pm at St Michael’s Haydon Wick Church with leader Sarah Summers. Everyone is welcome to come along and Jessie or Sarah and the members of the choir(s). The special guests for the concert will be Bath Male Choir one of the leading Male choirs in the United Kingdom. The ‘Boys from Bath’ have entertained audiences across the UK and toured Europe and the world performing in some of the most prestigious concert venues. In 2008 the Choir achieved national acclaim when they reached the finals of the BBC television choir competition ‘Last Choir Standing’. The Choir sing a wide range of music from traditional, pop, gospel, musicals and secular music and strive to make the best sound and guarantee they will entertain and put a smile on audiences faces. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from gac.ticketlight.co.uk – they will also be available on the door on the night of the concert. Jessie Thompson said; “It is going to be a great night of music and we are absolutely delighted to be sharing the stage with the Bath Male Choir.” ENDS  The celebrated City of Bath Male Choir will join together with the Jane Lilley Singers for a concert at St Luke’s Church (Hatfield Road, Bath) on Saturday evening June 22 at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm). The City of Bath Male Choir are one of the leading Male choirs in the United Kingdom. The Choir started back in January 2006 by Founder Grenville Jones. Grenville stepped down at the end of 2022 as conductor and his son, Laurie Jones, has taken on the leadership role as Musical Director. The ‘Boys from Bath’ have entertained audiences across the UK and toured Europe and the World performing in some of the most prestigious concert venues. In 2008 the Choir achieved national acclaim when they reached the finals of the BBC television choir competition ‘Last Choir Standing’. They sing a wide range of music from traditional, pop, gospel, musicals and secular music. As one of the most well known and respected choirs in the country, the Jane Lilley Singers have a strong reputation and a loyal following of people of all ages and backgrounds. Jane formed her choir 50 years ago with 12 family members and friends. They went on to win numerous competitions, have recorded over 20 albums, sung on Radios 1, 2 3, & 4 plus the World service and performed on television. They enjoy singing music from many different genres - the most important criteria, being to make a difference. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from grenvillemusic.ticketlight.co.uk – they will also be available on the door on the night of the concert. Laurie Jones said; “It is going to be a great night of music and we are absolutely delighted to be sharing the stage with the Jane Lilley Singers.” ENDS
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