Wessex Male Choir facts for kids

The Wessex Male Choir, also known as 'The Wessex', is a group of men who love to sing together. They are based in Swindon, a town in Wiltshire, UK. They are an amateur choir, meaning they sing for fun and passion, not as a job.

Where Did the Name "Wessex" Come From?

The choir is named after an old kingdom called Wessex. This kingdom covered parts of England like Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Somerset. The choir's logo even has a special dragon called a wyvern. This two-legged dragon was a symbol used on the flag of the ancient Wessex kingdom.

How the Choir Started

The Wessex Male Choir began in September 2001. It was started by a person named Robert T. Elliott.

Where and When They Perform

The choir usually performs about seven or eight concerts each year. Two of these concerts are held in their home town of Swindon. One is around Christmas, and the other is in the summer. They also travel to other places around the country to perform.

The Wessex Male Choir has sung at very big events! They have performed before Six Nations rugby games. They have also sung at other rugby and NFL matches. These performances were on the pitch at famous stadiums like Twickenham Stadium and Wembley Stadium. They have sung for huge crowds, sometimes as many as 80,000 people!

Winning Awards and Competitions

The Wessex Male Choir also takes part in singing competitions. They have won several awards both in the UK and internationally.

• In 2011, the choir won first place at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. This is a very important music festival. They beat other male choirs from Wales, England, and the USA. In the same year, their smaller group, the Chamber choir, came in third place.
• The Wessex choir won the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival three times. They won in 2008, 2013, and 2016. This award is for the best choir in all the competitions at the festival.
• In June 2019, the Wessex choir traveled to Poland. They won two awards at the Krakow International Choir Festival. One of these was the main Male Choir competition. They sang better than choirs from all over Europe!

Wessex Camerata: A Smaller Group

The Wessex Camerata is a smaller group of about 16 experienced singers. They are part of the main Wessex Male Choir. This group mainly sings songs without any instruments, which is called a cappella. Their performances add more variety to the main choir's music.

Their Music Albums

The Wessex Male Choir has recorded several albums. You can listen to their music on these recordings:

• Men in Black (2005)
• Shades of Wessex (2008)
• It's Christmas (2011)
• Memory (2018)