About the Choir
Kidderminster Male Choir dates back more than a century, having been formed in 1904. We recently celebrated our 120th anniversary with a celebrity concert in Birmingham Town Hall. Currently we use St Mary and All Saints’ Church Kidderminster for rehearsals, and each year we make use of various local facilities including Kidderminster Town Hall (currently closed for renovation) to perform a variety of concerts.
Throughout our long history we have entertained audiences not only in the West Midlands but throughout the United Kingdom and abroad. We also participate in joint concerts with other choirs, bands and theatre groups, and sing at weddings, funerals and other social events.
As a charitable organisation ourselves, we aim to support others in the community with their charity work. We run concerts to raise funds for selected, mainly local charities each year and have previously recorded CDs for “Help for Heroes” and for The British Heart Foundation.
We are fortunate to have the support of a team of professional musicians whose credentials are set out below. We also have the support of a local peer, Viscount Cobham. Please contact us via our email address info@kidderminstermalechoir.co.uk or visit the contact page on this website and fill in the form. Someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please no spammers or sellers of products.
Our Musical Support Team
David Barclay, Musical Director
David Barclay is our Musical Director. After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and establishing his portfolio career as a Conductor, Lyric Tenor and Vocal Coach in the North-West, he moved to Worcestershire to explore new musical challenges, beginning his appointment with the Kidderminster Male Choir in September 2005.
He is also Musical Director of Pershore Town Choir, which he founded in 2006. To unwind, David enjoys the natural beauty of our local countryside, particularly spending time in the Wyre Forest. In 2025 David hopes to be promoting a solo recital series to further showcase his vocal skills.
Tony Bridgewater, Principal Accompanist
Tony Bridgewater is our Principal Accompanist. He was a student at the Birmingham School of Music and St John’s College, Cambridge, studying composition with Peter Tranchell and piano with Malcolm Wilson and Renee Reznek. He has composed music for Orchestra, Concert Band and Choir, and a range of instrumental works for piano, woodwind and strings. His music is published by Forton Music.
Tony was appointed Principal Accompanist for the Kidderminster Male Choir in September 2016. In September 2020 he became chairman of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association, and the following year he was appointed conductor of the Wyre Forest Symphony Orchestra. He also gives regular recitals both as a soloist and accompanist. In addition to his many and varied musical interests he enjoys classic cars, art, gardening and family life with his wife Veronica and their two children.
Maureen Bowkett, Deputy Accompanist
Maureen Bowkett is our Deputy Accompanist. She held the position of Principal Accompanist from 1994-2016 and enjoyed being part of this vibrant choir. After a few years break she has returned to support the musical team and continue to enjoy the camaraderie of the lads.
Our Patron
Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham inherited the title from his brother in 2006 and moved into his historic, 18th century Hagley Hall in the West Midlands, in September 2007. Born in Worcestershire in 1947, Christopher Lyttelton lived at Hagley, except for five years, when his father was Governor General of New Zealand. In 1967 he emigrated to Canada. He lived in Vancouver for a year before moving to Toronto in January 1969 where he joined a leading investment bank.
Returning to England in 1973, he married Tessa Readman, and continued working full time in the City of London until 2006. He served as a Director of the Securities and Futures Authority, from 1996 until its activities were taken over by the FCA in 2001. His interests include gliding, heritage activities and country pursuits.
St Mary and All Saints’ Church
St Mary and All Saints’ is the Parish Church of Kidderminster and has been a centre of Christian Worship for many centuries. The name Kidderminster tells us that there was an Anglo-Saxon minster but the exact site is uncertain though the names of the leading clergy are known from the 12th century onwards and are listed at the west end of the church. The present dark sandstone building dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, but significant restoration was carried out during the 19th century.
The Medieval building is a Grade I listed, with a seating capacity of 350. The church is open from May- September from 11.00am to 3.00pm for visitors or otherwise by arrangement, and is stewarded at these times. It is an imposing building both externally and internally and is part of Kidderminster’s heritage.
The outside of the building has fine architectural features, with a tower dating from the 15th century which now contains a chamber with a peal of twelve bells. The interior has many artefacts including an alabaster reredos, depicting The Last Supper; beautiful stained glass windows, as well as tombs, stone effigies and an engraved brass memorial.