Our story
Felling Male Voice Choir have been ambassadors of male voice singing for over 100 years. It all began in 1920 after a concert at Holly Hill Methodist Church, and we are still going strong today. From church concerts to community stages, FMVC brings a rich male voice sound built on more than a century of singing in the North East.
The choir has a reputation as one of the best in the land. We rehearse on Friday nights in a welcoming, open atmosphere — whether you're new to singing or experienced, there's a place for you. "When voices lock together, a community hears itself."
Who's who
Click a name to read the full write-up.
President
Stuart leads the choir as President, supporting FMVC's heritage and community presence in the North East.
Director of Music
Derek brings a lifetime of musical experience to the choir, from The Salvation Army to Voices Together, now leading FMVC as Director of Music.
Principal Accompanist
Julie is the choir's Principal Accompanist, bringing assurance and talent to the piano at rehearsals and concerts at home and away.
Felling Male Voice Choir has for many years invited a distinguished local person to be the choir's President.
In recent times the choir was served by Doctor Gordon Adam in that honorary role with great loyalty.
Since he retired, the role of President has been vacant and the choir's Committee has now decided to invite a member of the choir to take on the role.
Stuart Dearlove, who has been a member for 25 years and has served on its Committee including 12 years as Chair, has accepted the honour and hopes to serve the choir as faithfully as former chairs.
Derek Duggan has been involved in singing with and conducting Salvation Army choirs, and playing in brass bands for most of his life.
In 1972 work brought him to Tyneside and very quickly he was appointed to lead the Newcastle Salvation Army Choir which during his 10 year tenure visited Salvation Army centres throughout the U.K. and in 1978 undertook a tour of Holland.
Derek has had a number of music-led roles in choirs including the Sunderland based Voices Together where he was Director of Music, and currently sings with Wallsend Community Choir.
He has been a member of Felling Male Voice Choir for a number of years and recently was appointed Director of Music.
Julie re-joined FMVC in 2015 having been a short-term accompanist in 2009 and she is, currently, Director of Music at St. Andrew's Church, Stanley.
She studied music with the late William Cowell, organist at Fulwell Methodist Church, Sunderland and has an affiliation with that church to this day. Julie also played keyboards as part of a resident band backing many acts on the North East Club circuit from 1980 to 2000.
In addition to work with the main Felling choir she also acts as accompanist to "Pieces of Eight".
Raymond Albert Dean — BA; LTCL; ALCM; DAES — Deputy Director of Music.
He was born (1943) and raised in 'The Felling'. His musical journey commenced when he was just seven years of age, learning to play cornet in Felling Salvation Army band.
On leaving school he served an engineering apprenticeship but was made redundant from Churchill TI in 1972. At which point he made a complete career change and took up studies at Newcastle College of Art and Technology where he gained diplomas of LTCL and ALCM. In 1982 he also gained a BA (open) studying Music and Mathematics.
He was involved in the brass band world until 1988, playing baritone with Westoe Colliery Band. He went into a teaching career, teaching Music, Mathematics and Information Technology in Secondary Education during which time he also started teaching music in a private capacity. Mainly pianoforte and brass instruments.
He has been organist (self-taught) at the Church of the Ascension, Kenton, Newcastle for over 20 years. He has also been keenly interested in Irish Studies playing flute and tin whistle and studying the Irish language.
Rehearsals
Fridays 19:00–21:30
Felling Methodist Church, Coldwell St, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 9HH
We welcome new members — come along and find your voice section. Community ethos: open and welcoming.