[ ClassicalX ] Calendar Boyos: Hollywood-bound choir reveal all for charity

Members of the Welsh Male Voice Choir which hit the headlines last year when it simultaneously scored a Hollywood film and major record deal, have now acted in true starry style by publicly stripping for the cameras.

But the elderly gents from the town of Froncysyllte in North Wales haven’t mimicked Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. Instead they turned to British film Calendar Girls for inspiration when 12 brave souls posed naked for a 2008 calendar which will be sold in aid of one of Britain’s most worthy Charities, Help the Aged.

The Fron Male Voice Choir were bowled over when their debut album, Voices of the Valley, became both the Best-Selling Classical Album of 2006 and Fastest-Selling Classical Album ever with sales of half a million albums. Wanting to make something positive of their success, the idea of approaching Help the Aged emerged the morning after their Royal Albert Hall performance at the Classical BRIT Awards alongside Katherine Jenkins and Sting. Before returning to Wales they responded to one of thousands of fan requests by giving an impromptu performance at Elmgrove House, an old people’s home in Kensington. Seeing the impact they made on residents who were too frail to attend their concerts, the choir decided to continue this work on a larger scale.

The 60-strong choir, with an average age of 66, has a high proportion of retirees who dedicate a significant part of their life to the choir. Help the Aged and in particular the charity’s isolation campaign, which aims to help end loneliness among older people, seemed the most fitting cause to support. In contrast to the lives of many retirees, singing in the choir provides the Fron members with a real sense of community and a great social network. Amanda Ball, Director of Fundraising at Help the Aged, said, “We’ve had people cycle from London to Paris, run marathons in fancy dress and even skydive to raise money for Help the Aged, but 12 men stripping off for our cause is something totally new for the Charity! The Fron’s support is a real boost to our efforts to help end isolation among older people and the money raised from sales of the calendar will help us to ensure that fewer older people are lonely this Christmas.”

The Fron’s manager, Daniel Glatman, the former manager of boyband Blue who discovered the choir and brought them success last year, said of the initiative, “Our boys from North Wales always like to go the extra mile, and their sense of goodwill is overwhelming. It is typical of them to unselfishly ‘reveal’ themselves like this, but after the incredible support they received last year, they insisted on giving something back to the community.”

The charity calendar features 12 beautifully constructed shots by Welsh photographer Kiran Ridley, each reflecting the career of that particular choir member. They include a fireman, farmer, builder, prison warden, undertaker, retired golf enthusiast and even the choir’s female conductor, Ann Atkinson. The choir’s huge sense of fun and adventure meant that finding volunteers wasn't a problem. Retired golf enthusiast and Mr January, Dennis Williams, says of the calendar, "If our efforts can help to avoid even a handful of people spending Christmas alone again this year then braving the cold on the golf course will have been worth it."

The Fron Male Voice Choir Calendar is priced at £6.95 (RRP) All proceeds will go to Help the Aged.
Copies can be ordered by calling the Charity on 0207 239 1923

HELP THE AGED
Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. ;; Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

THE FRON MALE VOICE CHOIR
The Fron Male Voice Choir was founded in 1947 in the aftermath of the Second World War to promote community spirit. The amateur choir spent many years touring North Wales and competing in Eisteddfods, many of which they won. The choir, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, consists of around 60 members, many of whom are retired and some of whom are founding members. They have an average age of 66 and a combined age of 3984.

In 1995 the choir thought they had reached the pinnacle of their Male Voice Choir career when they sang alongside Luciano Pavarotti who was visiting Froncysyllte for the International Eisteddfod. Pavarotti never forgot the choir from the valleys and spoke of them with fondness.

But in 2006 the former manager of boyband Blue, Daniel Glatman, changed their lives when he became their manager after spotting them singing at a wedding. Glatman negotiated a deal with Universal Music, home to Eminem and 50 Cent, and Lionsgate Studios who are currently developing a script for a Hollywood film based on the traditional choir. Hollywood specialists the William Morris Agency subsequently took on the choir too.

The choir’s debut Universal album, Voices of the Valley, exceeded expectations and became not only the Best-Selling Classical Album of 2006 but also the Fastest-Selling Classical Album ever, beating the professionals such as Russell Watson, Charlotte Church and The Three Tenors. As the local community of North Wales was gripped by FronMania, an array of opportunities flooded in. They performed alongside Sting and Katherine Jenkins at the Classical Brits, appeared on Parkinson, This Morning and Ready Steady Cook, and even had to turn down a performance with Jose Carreras at the Royal Albert Hall in order to honour a prior commitment.

While 2006 saw UK success, 2007 is the year in which the Fron Male Voice Choir goes global. Members of the choir recently returned from a promotional tour to Australia and a tour of Cyprus. They have also returned to the studio to record their second album, Voices of the Valley Encore, to be released on November 12th.

Source: OS