SHOES MALE VOICE CHOIR KENDAL

History of the Choir

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K Shoes Male Voice Choir evolved from the original works mixed voice ‘Netherfield Choir’ formed in 1929 by the Somervell family, founders of K Shoemakers Ltd, to raise monies for the local hospital.

The photograph above shows Netherfield Choir at their bi-ennial concert on 7th April 1938 in aid of the Westmoreland County Hospital (now the Westmoreland General Hospital). In the front row are Mr J Noble (Accompanist), Mr R A Somervell (Conductor), Mrs Helen Gillow Reynolds (Soprano soloist), Mr J M Somervell (President) and Mr Leslie Holme (Baritone soloist).

Becoming ‘Netherfield Male Voice Choir’ after the Second World War most of the choir’s efforts were put into the biennial Mary Wakefield Festival. In 1969 membership was opened up to non-employees and the choir then began to attract singers from outside the Kendal area. Mary Powney, now the choirs President, was invited to be musical director and took the choir from strength to strength. Under her leadership and with the sterling support from Colin Tolson the accompanist the choir has gained a succession of first places at many musical festivals and has broadcast on local and national radio and television, made several commercial recordings, toured Germany and the Netherlands and of course performed innumerable concerts throughout this country. Most of our concerts are for local charities with just one concert a year, our annual Kendal Gathering Concert, being organised by the choir itself in order to raise much needed funds to cover the day to day running expenses.
Our present Musical Director Martin Webster came to us with an excellent pedigree as the ex conductor of the Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir before moving into the area.

In 2002 the choir sang at the funeral service of Donald Campbell in Coniston. In June 2003 the choir took part in a charity concert for our local Derian House Childrens Hospice.

In May 2009 we visited Killarney in Eire. A brief record is here

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the choir there was an Anniversary Concert in the Kendal Leisure Centre on 13th June 2009. For more details click here

The choir is always happy to welcome new members and will accept any male with a tuneful voice.

A brief history of K shoes the company here

One of the founders of the company that became K shoes was John Somervell. One of his sons was Arthur Somervell (later Sir) who was a musician and composer. In turn his son Hubert conducted the Netherfield Choir in the 1930's and Hubert's twin Ronald conducted the Netherfield Male Voice Choir after the Second World War.

Information about Sir Arthur Somervell