'It is a new way of life - I have sung at the Cliffs and in huge churches in Poland - truly awesome'
'The invitation was to come and sing. And sing they did - raising the roof of Westcliff's Cliffs Pavilion and a substantial amount of cash for local charities.
Yet, just months earlier 60 members of the Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir had only ever sung to themselves in the shower.
In September 2006, the choir launched Come and Sing, a project aimed at taking 40 inexperienced men and turning them into a choir to perform a charity concert.
More than 90 men applied, with 66 eventually signing up for the weekly rehearsals to whip them into shape under the tutelage of Leigh Orpheus musical director and conductor, David Clark.
The project was his brainchild and was developed from the TV programme the Singing Estate, where members of a housing estate were crafted into a choir to sing a one-off concert at the Albert Hall.
David admits he wasn't sure he could pull off something similar here. But proving the adage he who dares wins, Come and Sing was a great success, raising £13,000 in funds that were divided between Essex Air Ambulance and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute
Now as the choir shapes up for its 40th anniversary, they are planning to do it all over again.
The choir has launched Come and Sing 2, offering at least another 40 men the opportunity to find their inner tenor.
David says: “We will welcome complete novices as well as more experienced singers who want to become and join us at what is a very exciting time. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year and are looking forward to a series of concerts as well as a tour of Tuscany.”
David believes Come and Sing – which has now swelled the massed choir ranks to more than 120 members – has made the choir a force to be reckoned with.
"Our size, together with our potential quality, makes it a very exciting prospect," he says. "We believe we are now one of the biggest choirs in the country as far as male voice is concerned.
"What we need to do now is work on our performance. We are getting there. There are moments of greatness, even at the Cliffs performance, but with a bit more time Leigh Orpheus really will be a force to be reckoned with."
Some of the 66 new members, including baritone Mick Jacks, from Benfleet, say the decision to join the choir has been life-changing
"I am amazed how much I enjoy this whole experience," he says. "I did not think of myself as a particularly good singer, but surrounded by strong voices I feel great being part of making such a fabulous sound. There are times when the hairs stand up on the back of your neck."
Aside from the Cliffs Pavilion concert last year, some of the newest recruits have had the chance to join the choir on tour in Poland.
"To me it has meant a whole new way of life," explains tenor Robert Moore from Southend. "I had never ever sung before and I couldn't read music. But now I can make sense of the dots.
"I have sung at the Cliffs and sang in huge churches in Sopot and Gdansk in Poland - a truly awesome experience."
Robert adds: "I've made many new friends, they are a great bunch of blokes with terrific banter. What more can I say, but Come and Sing."
For more information on Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir and the introductory sessions for Come and Sing 2, visit www.lomvc.org or e-mail comeandsing@lomvc.org
