History

First Performance

The first concert was at the Church Hall, St James’ Road Marsh. It was a great success with the choir singing a wide variety of two-part songs with solos from Barbara (piano) and Muriel (contralto) accompanied by Barbara. From then onwards there were requests which the choir gladly accepted, to sing in local nursing homes and hospitals.

First Competition

In February 1958 the choir entered their first competition, ‘The Mrs Sunderland’. The set piece was ‘A Funny Fellow’ and their own choice was ‘All in the April Evening’. They were placed third.

So encouraged, the choir welcomed the introduction of more difficult pieces. They had acquired a taste for competition. On 13th May 1959 the choir was invited to sing at a Spring Fair in Huddersfield Town Hall organised by Huddersfield & District Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds. There was a welcome by the Mayor and Mayoress of Huddersfield in the afternoon, followed by a concert in the evening with items by combined and individual choirs and a recital of songs by Muriel.

In April 1961 the choir were invited to take part in a concert by the combined Choirs of South West Yorkshire Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds in the concert version of ‘Merrie England’ in Huddersfield Town Hall. It was a great success, but by this time Muriel was getting too busy to devote the necessary time to the choir. She sadly handed over the baton to Roy Firth, who kept them in good form until such time as Ann Hoyle was available to take over.

Mrs Sunderland Competition

Former accompanist Paul Iredale became Musical Director with pianist and organist John Bailey the next accompanist. With Paul and John, the choir went from strength to strength, most notably taking first place in the 2001 Mrs Sunderland Choir Prize Winners Challenge and winning the trophy for the best overall performance of choirs.

First trip abroad

In 2007, Marsh Ladies Choir embarked on its first trip abroad, travelling to Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. Energetically conducted by Gordon Stewart and accompanied by Andrew Dean, the choir performed at the Niguliste Museum Concert Hall, housed in the 15th-century St Nicholas' Church and the Tallinn Town Hall.

A growing musical presence

The visit to Tallinn in 2007 demonstrated that Marsh Ladies were already willing to take their music beyond Yorkshire. In the years that followed, that outward-looking spirit continued through performances at festivals, community events and concerts with other choirs.

In 2010, Marsh Ladies performed at the Wharfedale Festival in Ilkley, while in 2011 they appeared at Golcar Lily Day, performed with Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir and held a charity concert at Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, with Kirklees Music School.

Taking the music further afield

The choir's willingness to take its music beyond its immediate home area became increasingly evident during the following years.

In 2012, Marsh Ladies took part in a flash mob on the Piazza as part of the GledHolt Music Festival and performed during the Olympic Torch procession when it passed through Marsh in June. In October they travelled to Hexham, where they were guests of Hexham Male Voice Choir for a joint concert.

The choir continued to build relationships with other choirs and audiences around the country. In 2013, they travelled to Whitby to perform with the Dalesmen Singers Male Voice Choir and in 2017 the connection with Hexham was renewed when the two choirs performed together again, this time at Lindley Methodist Church.

Success on the festival stage

Competition and festival singing have remained an important part of Marsh Ladies' musical journey.

At the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival in 2014, the choir won the Ladies Choir Class and subsequently performed at the festival's gala concert. The achievement was celebrated later that year when Marsh Ladies joined Colne Valley Male Voice Choir for a Concert of Champions at Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, on 17th May. Both choirs had won their classes at the Mrs Sunderland Festival.

The choir's involvement with Mrs Sunderland has continued over many years, providing a regular opportunity to perform competitively and to meet other choirs from across the region.

Celebrating sixty years

2015 marked Marsh Ladies Choir's 60th anniversary, celebrated with a special Dazzling Diamonds anniversary concert at Huddersfield Parish Church on 3rd October.

The anniversary attracted attention beyond the choir's own audience, including an appearance on BBC Radio in the period leading up to the concert. The year also included performances with the Dalesmen Singers and at the Bexley Wing of St James's Hospital, reflecting the choir's continuing combination of concert, community and charitable work.

Music, community and collaboration

The years around the choir's 60th anniversary saw an increasingly varied programme of performances and partnerships.

In 2016, Marsh Ladies performed at the Huddersfield Town Hall Gala Evening, appeared at Whiteley's Garden Centre's Christmas launch and supported Kirkwood Hospice through a charity concert and other activities.

During 2017, the choir performed with Lindley Band at St Mary's Parish Church, Mirfield, welcomed Hexham Male Voice Choir to Lindley and continued its regular programme of concerts and community performances.

The choir's partnerships continued to grow. In 2018, performances included joint concerts with New Mill Male Voice Choir and Marsden Silver Prize Band, alongside charity and Christmas concerts. In 2019, the programme included a Mayor's charity concert at Dewsbury Minster, a charity concert supporting S2R Create Space, a musical-theatre concert and performances at Shelley and other local venues.

Alongside its musical programme, charitable work has remained a consistent part of the choir's identity. Over the years Marsh Ladies have supported organisations including Kirkwood Hospice, the Welcome Centre, Yorkshire Children's Centre and S2R Create Space, as well as raising money through individual concerts and community events.

Beyond the Local Stage

Although Marsh Ladies had already travelled abroad — including the choir's visit to Tallinn in 2007 — its later years brought further opportunities to develop musical links beyond Britain.

In 2010, the choir took part in the inaugural Isle of Man Festival of Choirs, competing in the Ladies Voice Choir section and finishing fourth. The visit provided another opportunity to meet and perform alongside choirs from elsewhere and formed part of the choir's continuing pattern of musical travel and exchange.

In 2017, Marsh Ladies travelled to France, giving three concerts in the Charente and Dordogne. The visit included performances at Bertric-Burée and Gurat and a joint concert at the historic church at Rauzet with the local choir Cant'On Chant'.

These visits were not simply opportunities to perform in different places; they reflected the choir's growing willingness to form musical friendships and share its music with new audiences.

New partnerships and new audiences

That outward-looking approach has continued in more recent years.

In 2022, Marsh Ladies were guests of Côr y Penrhyn for a fundraising concert at Glanogwen Church in Bethesda, North Wales. The concert brought together music in Welsh, Latin, Italian, French, South African languages and English.

The same year saw Marsh Ladies join Gledholt Male Voice Choir and soloist Natasha Rudd for the Huddersfield Rotary Club centenary concert, while their Sing for Ukraine concert raised funds for the DEC Ukrainian appeal..

The choir continued to appear at the Mrs Sunderland Festival and other concerts, maintaining its mixture of competition, collaboration, community involvement and charitable performance.

Looking forward beyond seventy

2025 marked the 70th anniversary of Marsh Ladies Choir, providing an opportunity to celebrate seven decades of singing while looking towards the future.

The anniversary year included special concerts and new musical material, including a new arrangement of What Would I Do Without My Music, with the choir receiving a response from Bruce Belland, who wrote the original lyrics.

The anniversary was also marked through a series of performances and collaborations throughout the year, culminating in the choir's Christmas concert.

The story has continued into 2026, with Marsh Ladies taking part in a major charity concert alongside some of Huddersfield's best-known musicians. The concert was broadcast live worldwide, giving the choir another opportunity to reach audiences far beyond its traditional home.

From local festivals and community events to national performances, international visits and worldwide broadcasting, the story of Marsh Ladies Choir has been one of broadening its musical reach while retaining the community, friendship and enjoyment of singing at its heart.