began life as an Adult Education ‘Male Performing Group’ in 2004 and became the Men in Black in 2007. From the initial group of 12, numbers have grown to 30, and the group recently recorded its first CD ‘Anthem’.

The group has an almost perfect balance of Tenor 1, Tenor 11, Baritone and Bass and this allows for a very smooth sound. Songs are performed in two-, three- and four-part, depending on the arrangement available. Ages range from 20’s to retired.

The Men in Black’s repertoire has classical, incl. Dvorak’s Goin’ Home from the New World Symphony; lots of songs from music theatre, incl. Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha and Anthem from Chess; comedy with Nothin’ Like a Dame from South Pacific and The Gendarme’s Duet (with choreography) by Offenbach and The Pirates Song from Pirates of Penzance; plus more serious works, ballads, folk songs, gospel, etc. The only genre not attempted is barbershop, which is well catered for in Hobart with the Hobart Men’s Barbershop Harmony Club.

After being guest performers at concerts in and around Hobart between 2005-07, the Men in Black performed their first full-length concert in St. James’ Church, Main Rd. New Town in August 2008 to a packed house and resounding applause. Their second annual performance was in the same venue in October, 2009, and the 2010 performance called ‘A Celebration of Male Voices’ - a joint concert with the Launceston Male Choir - was performed in Launceston on Sunday, August 1, and in Hobart, St. James’ Church, Main Rd. New Town, on Sunday, August 22, at 2pm. Both performances were well received, and the choir’s reputation for excellence continues to grow.

2011!

All three choirs in Choral Productions Tasmania joined for our second Anzac Day Concert on Easter Monday at CityWide Convention Centre on Hobart’s Eastern Shore, and again in Launceston on Saturday, April 30 in the Door of Hope auditorium. The first Anzac Concert in 2009 was an outstanding success with standing ovations from the capacity 500-seat crowd, and the second biennial event was just as good. Learn more by clicking onto ‘Joint’ performances.

The Men in Black presented their 2011 annual concert for the first time in Hobart’s Town Hall, with its wonderful acoustics. Guest groups from both the Lincoln Singers and the Southern Voices added variety, and all singers joined for Leonard Cohen’s Hallelua as an encore item. The Men in Black presented several new songs at this concert, including the world premiere of ‘Gethsemane’ from Jesus Christ Superstar, arranged by our accompanist Ben Young, especially for this group, and approved for world-wide performance and distribution by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company. The men also performed ‘An American Trilogy’ - three American folk songs, made famous by Elvis Presley many years ago. Because two of the three folk songs were the theme songs for the North and South armies in the American Civil War, this item will be performed again in the next Anzac Concert in April 2013.

Love to sing? Come and join us! New singers are always welcome. You just need to be able to sing in tune, and most people can! We will teach you the rest.

Margot’s regular 10-week ‘Beginner Choral Singing’ class in New Town will begin again in February next year. This is designed to introduce newcomers to the joys of singing in a group. More information can be obtained from Margot by phoning 6244 5344 or emailing  contact@choralproductions.com.