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ABOUT US
K Shoes Male Voice Choir
-or KSMVC for short - is based in Kendal. KSMVC was 40 years old
in 2009. The choir gives about 12 concerts each year in and around
Cumbria and North Lancashire. The choir was created in 1969 from
the Netherfield Male Voice Choir which was previously for employees
of K shoes. 40 singers meet each Wednesday evening in Kendal town
Hall to rehearse led by Ian Allan our new musical director.
Ian has plenty of local
experience as he is M.D. for Arnside Choral Society and Kirby Lonsdale
Choral Society. Before settling in Cumbria Ian spent twenty three
years as a conductor, trombonist, pianist and harpist in the British
Army. He has performed professionally with jazz bands, pop groups,
big bands and orchestras on an array of different instruments. He
has conducted professional bands and choirs at all levels from primary
school demonstrations through to Royal Occasions encompassing a
wide variety of genres. The British Army had two professional choirs,
one of which was formed by Ian and he subsequently conducted the
choir both nationally and internationally until his retirement in
2005. In 2004 Ian’s choir was chosen to sing at the Festival
of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Ian has toured the world
as a musician and has performed Fanfares for the Royal Variety Show
and led the fanfare team that heralded the reopening of the Brandenburg
Gate in 1989.
He is a prolific arranger
having had several arrangements recorded commercially and for several
years he led a team of musicians onto the stage of the nationally
acclaimed Sights and Sounds of Christmas at Thursford, Norfolk where
he and his wife, Tracie Penwarden, met. They now live in Milnthorpe
and have a 5 year old son, Austin, and a 5 week old daughter, Mabel.
Brian Gray
is the Reserve Conductor, who, in Ian's absence, will take rehearsals
and concerts.
David Weare is the Deputy Accompanist for rehearsals if Daiva Petkeviciute
is not available.
How to buy one of
our CDs here
More
details about our emblem here
Our history
here with some notes about Netherfield Choir and K Shoes the business
(for more detail about our recent doings use the Newsletter link
from the Past Events page)
Parts of this site last revised (R33) on
February 3, 2012
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