Cor Mebion Caerwys held their AGM yesterday evening at St.Michael's Church in an atmosphere of gloom and doom. The membership of the choir has fallen to just 27, and this is not spread evenly across the voice groups; there is a shortage of tenors. The report of the departing musical director recognised the fine sound the choir makes, but criticised the inconsistent attendance at rehearsals and concerts.
It would be a great shame for the town if the choir disappeared. However it is increasingly difficult to persuade people to give the commitment that is required to be part of a successful choir. A large male voice choir is part rooted in the chapels and part in the 'militaristic' fashion of uniform and collective discipline. Neither of these are fashionable in the modern age of the individual.
That does not mean that choirs in general are going to disappear, far from it. But the choirs of the future will be less formal, more inventive, and younger (based around schools and colleges perhaps). For those who have spent their lives around the traditional Welsh male voice choir the future does not appear to be bright.
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