READING Male Voice Choir is launching its third quest to find the best local young singers, to commemorate its founder and leader of more than 40 years.
The Lower Earley music group is contacting junior and secondary schools, colleges, music teachers and music organisations across Berkshire this week asking them to encourage talented singers aged between ten and 21 to enter the third bi-annual Gwyn Arch Young Singers’ Competition to be held next year.
Ryland Lee, former choir chairman and organiser of the competition, said: “The aim is to give young singers recognition, encouragement and a chance to sing in public they might never get otherwise.
“One of the winners from last year is a finalist in the curent BBC Young Singers competition”.
Competitors will be asked to send in a video of themselves singing.
A shortlist of 30 will be invited for audition by a qualified adjudicator and the choir’s musical director, Clive Waterman, who will choose the winners in three age groups.
All will receive written feedback, and the winners in each class will win a three-figure cash prize.
They will also be invited to star in a choir gala concert in July.
“The competition is a homage to Gwyn Arch who was passionate about music and especially developing young talent,” said Mr Lee.
“He was eminent as a composer, arranger and publisher and was in international demand as a choral judge and adjudicator.”
Mr Arch, who founded the male voice choir in 1971, was educated at both Cambridge and Oxford, and started his career as a grammar school English teacher.
He switched to music, becoming head of music at Bulmershe College, Reading, in 1964.
He founded several choirs, including the South Chiltern Choral Society, which he led for nearly 50 years before retiring in 2014.
He founded the male voice choir in 1971, retiring as its musical director in 2015.
And he was awarded an MBE in 2006 for his contribution to music in Berkshire.
He died in 2021, aged 91.
“Gwyn was a dynamic musican and was once publicly described as a legend in his own lifetime,” said Mr. Lee.
“Nobody who knew him will ever forget him, and this competition helps keep his work and legacy alive.”
Competition classes are for ages 10 to 13 years, 14 to 16 years, and 17 to 21 years.
The closing date for entries is Saturday, January 31, 2026, with the competition taking place on Saturday, March 28.
For information, and to enter, visit: rmvc.net/ysc
