PRESS RELEASE Thursday April 4, 2019 As the popular BBC1 Saturday night talent show ‘All Together Now’ reaches its conclusion next Saturday (April 13) after five heats, two of the 100 judges have differing views on who of the 10 finalists they think will win the £50,000 cash prize. Leyland’s (Lancashire) best, Ged Thompson - The man in the braces, singer and BIG Northern Soul fan, and choir leader Grenville Jones from Bath in the West Country met at the first series last year at the BBC Manchester studios where the show is filmed. ‘All Together Now’ is presented by Rob Beckett and Geri Horner is the chief judge, trying to keep the 100 panel of UK wide singers and musicians in order. “Ged and I just hit it off and have become good pals because of the show,” says Grenville. “Some people have compared us to the grumpy old boys on The Muppet Show, that’s probably a bit unfair, but we don’t mind. It’s all about crossing the North South divide and we love being on the show.” Ged sings tenor in a big Sheffield community choir and works as a health and safety manager in an international food factory. Grenville leads a music business with 14 choirs and is also the founder of national award-winning singing charity for older lonely people called Golden-Oldies. Says Ged; “Last year’s show was won by Michael Rice who was the outstanding singer. He is representing the UK in Eurovision. This year’s winner is harder to pick as there are some great finalists.” “But will we agree Ged?” asks Grenville, the southern half of the duo? “We’ll have to see lad,” responds the Northern half...! ENDS Image shows Ged left and Grenville right. Press enquiries please call Ged on 07789 001536 or Grenville on 07778 282934.
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Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Bath’s celebrated Male Choir will be holding their annual concert at St Michael’s Church in the centre of Bath on Saturday June 1. The choir hit the headlines when they appeared on the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ series, reaching the final stages. Since that time they have sung around the UK, toured Japan, sung at the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate on Remembrance Day and, later this year, will set out for Boston, Massachusetts. At their concert on June 1 they will welcome a visiting choir from America who are touring England. Encore Chorale is dedicated to providing music for older adults, 55 and over, regardless of experience or ability. Currently comprised of numerous individual choirs around the United States, its members come together regularly to host workshops, go on tours, and present joint concerts. The group is led by its founder and artistic director, Jeanne Kelly. “We will be singing some new songs that have been chosen by choir members and we look forward to a very special concert with the Encore Chorale,” said Bath Male Choir founder conductor Grenville Jones. Grenville enjoys the reputation of being one of the UK’s best-known choir leaders. He is currently one of the ‘100’ judges on the popular BBC1 Saturday night television series ‘All Together Now’. Tickets for the annual concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are priced £15 from Bath Box Office www.bathboxoffice.org.uk ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Monday 25 February 2019 Back for second series The popular BBC1 talent show All Together Now returns to Saturday nights this Saturday March 2 at 7.30pm. Introduced by comedian Rob Beckett and with a £50,000 cash prize for the winner, viewers may recognise a familiar face on the second row amongst ‘The 100’ judges. Bath music man, choir leader and founder of the Goldies Charity and Goldies Cymru, Grenville Jones, will feature in all the programmes from the BBC studios in Salford Manchester this series. Grenville was a judge last year but because of his work commitments could not do all of the shows. With former Spice Girl Geri Horner as chief judge The 100 are drawn from across the music industry. From the acts each week they choose the top two who then go through to the final and the chance to perform for the £50,000 prize. Last year’s winner Michael Rice will be the UK’s Eurovision representative in Tel Aviv this May. Said Grenville; “There is a great new line up of talent this year, all trying to get us to hit our red buttons, stand up and join in. It’s going to be a great series.” Grenville is pictured with show host Rob Beckett. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 - www.grenvillejones.biz PRESS RELEASE Monday, February 18 2019 One of the UK’s best-loved choirs will perform at St Peter’s Church, Ruthin, on Saturday evening March 23. Bath Male Choir achieved national acclaim when they reached the finals of the BBC1 series ‘Last Choir Standing’. Since that time they have travelled around the world including a memorable tour to Japan. In November this year they will be visiting Boston, Massachusetts. The founder of the choir is Grenville Jones who has a national reputation as a choir leader but also as the founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity. Grenville started ‘Goldies’, as it is more fondly known, back in 2007 and it now reaches across England and Wales with its popular fun daytime Sing & Smile sessions. Grenville is always quick to point out that Goldies is NOT a choir, it is simply a chance for older folk to have the opportunity to get out, have a good sing-song and make new friends. Under the Goldies Cymru title the sessions are extending across Mid and South Wales and Grenville plans to bring Goldies Cymru to North Wales in the next two years. As part of the day at Ruthin Grenville will lead a ‘come and sing’ workshop from 3.00pm-5.00pm. The accent will be on easy to sing melodies and the workshop choir will perform as part of the evening concert. “The workshop is for everyone especially those who may have wondered just what it would be like to sing as part of a choir.” Tickets are priced : Workshop and Concert £5 or Evening Concert only £8 and can be purchased from the Church office on 01824 707820 or 01824 705755. ENDS Picture shows Grenville with Katherine Jenkins receiving an award for his Goldies charity as winners of the National Lottery Awards 2018, Education Category. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. edit. KATHERINE JENKINS OBE & WELSH WW1 ‘GOLDIES’ EDUCATION PROJECT HIT THE HIGH NOTES WITH NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD SUCCESS Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins today (September 12th 2018) surprised Cardiff-based project, Armistice Cantata, with the news that they have won Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. The mezzo soprano broke the news of the win to pupils at Thornhill Primary School in Cardiff, who piloted the intergenerational education project with Goldies charity founder Grenville Jones which commemorates the Centenary of the end of WW1 (November 11 2018)! The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding. Marking 100 years since the end of the Great War (November 11 2018), Armistice Cantata is part of a two-year intergenerational education project led by Grenville and his Goldies charity that encourages primary schools to open their doors to older people. As part of the programme, from Goldies Cymru – which helps older people get involved in music through daytime FUN Songs and Smiles – teamed up with youngsters from Thornhill Primary school in Cardiff who have written a musical to celebrate the end of World War One. The children from Thornhill Primary appear on stage together in a 30-minute production, named Armistice Cantata. The musical – which includes popular songs from World War One – is now being rolled out to a number of schools across England and Wales. More than 7,000 children and 800 older people from the Goldies charity are taking part. Katherine, who has been hailed as the new ‘Force’s Sweetheart’, has performed for British troops in war zones across the world over the years. She followed the announcement today by meeting school pupils and representatives from the Goldies Cymru charity who have developed a new friendship by taking part in the Armistice Cantata project whilst learning more about the Great War. Katherine releases her new album ‘Guiding Light’ on 30th November. Katherine, from Neath, South Wales, who has been dubbed new ‘Force’s Sweetheart for her performances to British troops across the globe, said: “I’m delighted to announce Armistice Cantata as the winner of the UK’s Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes, that amazing projects like this are possible. Grenville Jones, the Founder of the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust and Goldies Cymru in South Wales, lost his Grandfather at the battle of the Somme in WW1. This personal history formed part of his decision to develop the WW1 inter-generational education programme. He added: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us. We are delighted to be crowned the UK’s best Education project in the National Lottery Awards. “This is a remarkable project and it is very special because it can be adapted by schools who wish to localise their own productions. We have seen on so many occasions the joy that comes when children and older people meet together on school projects, especially when they are joined in song.” The Goldies school project website is www.ourmemories.org.uk ENDS For further information please contact Grenville Jones on 0777 828 2934 or The National Lottery Awards: Oswyn Hughes on 07976 324 179 or email oswyn.hughes@Lotterygoodcauses.org.uk PICTURE CAPTION: Welsh singing sensation, Katherine Jenkins, crowns Armistice Cantata the National Lottery’s Best Education Project. PRESS RELEASE Wednesday, May 2, 2018 They wowed BBC Saturday night audiences on ‘All Together Now’ and on Saturday evening June 2 The Sundaes singing group will be top the bill in a variety show at The Forum, Bath. The Sundaes are, quite simply, the ‘biggest’ girl group in town! With stunning vocals, sensational choreography and those flamboyant costumes. Bath’s own Grenville Jones was one of the ‘100’ judges for the popular Saturday night BBC ‘All Together Now’, which was screened earlier this year. “The Sundaes sang through to the final of the show and as soon as I saw them on stage at the BBC in Manchester I knew that I had to book them to sing at a show in Bath. ” said Grenville. Tickets are on sale priced £20 for the variety show at The Forum now from Bath Box Office on 01225 463362 and the evening is packed with personalities and performances. Grenville’s own celebrated Bath Male Choir will be singing. They hit the headlines on the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ and have since sung across Europe with a tour to Japan three years ago and a reputation for standing ovations.. Apart from Grenville’s many choirs he is the founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity which now has spread across the whole of England and Wales with its 150 FUN daytime singing for older isolated people. A Grenville initiative was to introduce an intergenerational project with his charity and schools. This year the focus is on the final months of WW1 with a project supported by Heritage Lottery, the Royal British Legion and others. The first half of his show on June 2 will be a poignant performance by young people from the Curtain-Up Theatre Group of a production entitled Armistice Cantata, a unique new focus on the end of WW1 written by children for young people to perform. There will also be community singing for all with those well-loved songs of 100 years ago; ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’, ‘Tipperary’ and much more. “Tickets priced £20 from Bath Box Office for a really special evening,” says Grenville. ENDS Picture shows The Sundaes … Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, February 1, 2018 A concert at High Street Methodist Church, Witney, on Saturday March 10 sees the return of the celebrated Bath Male Choir. The ‘boys from Bath’ were founded by Bath’s ‘Mr Music’ Grenville Jones in 2007. Soon after the choir were invited to sing on a major new Saturday evening BBC1 show entitled ‘Last Choir Standing’ they reached the finals of the popular series which has since been shown Worldwide by the BBC. In recent years the choir have sung across the United Kingdom and Europe, in 2014 they were the first amateur male choir to visit Japan with Standing Ovations all the way! On Remembrance Sunday 2016 Bath Male Choir were invited to sing at the renowned Menin Gate ‘Last Post Ceremony’ in front of an audience of thousands. The Choir have raised many thousands of pounds for various charities. After losing a popular member of its bass section in 2016 last year they raised £12,440 for the British Heart Foundation. The choir are delighted to be returning to High Street Methodist Church to renew their friendship with the Reed family, Paul having been a member of the choir for a number of years when they lived in the City of Bath. Paul’s wife Melanie is Minister at the Church. “He’s on the Tele” … the choirs founder conductor Grenville Jones has been one of the ‘100’ judges in the BBC1’s popular Saturday night series ‘All Together Now’ which is currently running on Saturday evenings with the final going out on Saturday March 3rd. Guest soloist will be Becki Reed. After discovering a love of singing at an early age, Becki began private tuition at the age of eight, and turned professional at thirteen. She has sung all over the country, but made her operatic debut in Cardiff singing the main role in a new opera, 'The flooding of the plains of Gwelod' in 2009. Becki then went on to earn a prestigious place at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Greenwich, where she studied Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre and Singing Tuition. Tickets for the concert are priced £12 adults £5 under 19s and are available from High Street Methodist Church Coffee Bar on 01993 709205 or St Andrew’s Book Shop on 01993 709429. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Monday, January 29, 2018 If you watched the new BBC1 show All Together Now last Saturday evening at 7.15pm you may have seen a familiar face amongst the judges. Bath’s own Mr Music, Grenville Jones, is one of the panel called, ‘The 100’ who choose the winners each week to go forward to sing for a massive £50,000 prize in the sing-off final show on March 3. Dubbed by the BBC as, ‘A singing show with a difference’, 10 acts perform each week for the 100 judges sat in front of them, which includes former Spice-Girl Geri Horner. Two winners each week go through to the final show. Stand-up comedian Rob Beckett presents the show which comes from the BBC studios in Manchester. The 100 judges come from across the UK and represent all genres of music. Grenville’s reputation as a choir leader led to his invitation to be part of the exclusive group. He is also the founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity whose fun formula of daytime sing-alongs for older isolated people now reaches across England and Wales. Grenville says; “It’s a great series and certainly different from all the other TV talent and singing shows. The format of judging by a large group representing all types of music and entertainment makes for some fascinating viewing.” Grenville’s list of choirs now numbers 14 which include the famous ‘Last Choir Standing’ Bath Male Choir. He is also the author of the popular choir novel Deep Harmony which has just been re-published with the addition of a final chapter answering the cliffhanger question – what happened next? ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 In Memory of Tony Frome’s Merlin Theatre will host a very special concert on Sunday evening September 24. Featuring the celebrated Bath Male Choir the concert will support the British Heart Foundation and a 2017 fundraising drive in memory of former choir member, Tony Pickett. Tony, who lived in Frome, had sung in the choir since it started 10 years ago. Choir members were devastated when Tony died after a heart attack whilst out cycling last July. After a discussion with Tony’s partner Ginette, BHF was chosen to benefit from a number of fundraising concerts and special events, including a new CD from the choir called ‘Reflections’. In March Simon Kale from the tenor section of the choir, and a friend of Tony’s, ran the London Marathon raising over £5,000. The Merlin Theatre concert will also feature the popular Courage Choir from Bradford on Avon and it promises to be a very special evening. Tickets are on sale from the Merlin Theatre Box Office priced £15 telephone 01373 465949. Looking ahead, on October 14 Bath Male Choir will continue their fundraising when they welcome the famous Morriston Orpheus Choir to a concert at St Swithin’s Church, Bath. Ticket line 01225 463362. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Monday, July 10, 2017 St Michael’s Church in the centre of Bath hosts a concert on Saturday July 22 supporting the British Heart Foundation. This charity is certainly close to the hearts of members of The Bath Chorus who will be performing ‘choral favourites’ that evening. It is almost a year since the untimely death of Tony Pickett. Tony who lived in Frome was a member of the bass section of The Bath Chorus who died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in July last year. A much-loved member of the choir, and after discussion with his partner, the British Heart Foundation was chosen to benefit from a number of concerts and special events during this year. Simon Kale who sings in The Bath Chorus ran the London Marathon raising over £5,000 and it is hoped to reach a target in excess of £12,000 by the end of this year. The July concert at St Michael’s is a free entry evening featuring soprano soloist Charlotte Newstead from Bristol. It will feature choral favourites introduced by Grenville Jones, the founder conductor of The Bath Chorus. There will be a retiring collection for BHF. “If you love choral music then this is an evening not to be missed,” said Grenville. The doors open at 7.00pm and the concert starts at 7.30pm ending at 9.30pm. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. |