Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir was founded in 1921 by the late John Knox Esq. with a group of singers from church choirs and other local singing groups.
For the next 25 years, they grew in strength and delighted many an audience under his leadership until, at the ripe old age of 85, he handed over the baton to his son in 1946. The choir continued the fine tradition of Male Voice singing, taking part in many festivals and Radio and TV broadcasts until, in 1978, after 32 years conducting, the son returned to the singing ranks. The founder’s grandson then took over, changing from the accompanist’s position, which he had held for 19 years, to that of conductor. Much has happened since the choir was founded all those years ago but the one constant theme has always been, and will continue to be, our enjoyment of Male Voice singing.
It all started in and on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in the town somewhere during the First Wold War. “PSA’s” were simply informal gatherings of folks around Scotland, mainly in churches, who literally wanted nothing more than to have a ‘pleasant Sunday afternoon’ together.
Kirkintilloch Town Hall is where one report says the first PSA meetings were held at the beginning of the 1914/1918 conflict. A choir was needed for the meetings and that’s where the choir’s founder, John Knox comes in. He conducted a mixed choir simply called ‘The Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Choir’. Rehearsals for the group were held in the YMCA rooms. However, when the PSD meetings stopped John Knox decided to carry on and in 1921 the Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir was formed. The rest we may say is “history”. But what a history!
Since 1921 the choir has been one of the golden threads running through and reflecting the history of the town throughout the 20th century and now into the 21st.
John Knox conducted the choir from 1921-1946. But why was the Ministry of War involved in the choir’s activities? Why were the choir later suspected of being a “darts team” when their bus went off the road near the Campsies? The plots multiply and thicken.
John Know passed over the conductor’s baton to his son Andrew M.B Knox who remained conductor until 1978. The Knox family dynasty didn’t end there. Ian Knox who will be conducting his own special arrangement of Scottish songs, took over as KMVC conductor from 1978-1999.
Our Motto
But where did the motto ‘Blessed is the world that sings – Gentle are its songs” come from? What’s the connection between man from uncle and KMVC? Which ladies group thought the choir was called “The Kirkintilloch Boys Choir”? and why would one of the Taggart’s detectives be interest in what the second tenors were upto? Here’s a clue… It wasn’t murder!
There are many other question to be answered ,such as “Why was the choir asked not to drink at the COBRA concert”? What was on the menu when KMV appeared at the Edinburgh Festival?
Answers to all of these maybe found in our “90 years of song”
Bob Tomlinson,
Choir Member
