The first conductor was W.F. Wood, organist at
St. Mark's Portadown, although he fronted the choir for just a year, and the
succession of conductors is - G. White (1928), J. Woods (1929-1939 and again in
1946), W.R.A. Anderson, J. Donnan (1947-66), H. McAfee (1967-68), J. Woods (son
of the former conductor 1967-71), J. Braid (1972-76. G. Speers (1976-95), T.
Haire (1995-970, G. Speers 1997-present day).
The newly-formed choir held its first practice in the 'Catch-My-Pal' hall in
Edward Street, which was subsequently the 'Savoy Cinema' and is now the offices
and factory of William Sprott's bacon company.
Mainly, though, the practices were held in the canteen of Spence Bryson's for
most of the choir's first 50 years and then they transferred to Ulster Carpet
Mills for several years - the company still remains a firm supporter of the
choir - and laterally to Portadown Golf Club.
In its early days, the choir performed mainly in concerts and sacred recitals,
but soon acquired a taste for festivals and competitions, and in this respect
has emblazoned the name of Portadown throughout Ireland and Great Britain.
The city of Cork, deep in the south of Ireland, is a special friend to the
choir, which has won various awards there - including the premier award - some
five times, three under the guidance of the present conductor Gordon Speers, and
two under his predecessor Jack Braid.
The Irish towns where Portadown MVC has shone roll off the tongue - Belfast,
Dublin, Arklow, Cork, Dungannon, Holywood, Bangor, Coleraine, Newry, and, of
course, home-town Portadown where the name of the male voice choir is engraved
on so many trophies, so many times.
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