The ancient parish of Audley lies on the Staffordshire/ Cheshire border and is described as "an out of the way, quiet place" by local historians. There was a male choir  singing in Audley in the 1940's but ceased to exist until the Audley Male Voice Choir  as we know it was re-founded in 1954 by William Bowers and had strong links with the non-conformist and mining traditions of North Staffordshire. William Bowers was a local teacher and conducted both mixed and childrens choirs in his own considerable contribution to choral music in the Audley area. His decision to form an all male choir and supported by his family began a story that continues on to this day. During his final period of illness the choir's ability to continue regular practices and honour concert commitments rested  upon the  shoulders of two choir members Wallace Fryer and Geoff Statham. 

Philip Broadhurst who subsequently owned and provided a much appreciated valuable community service as the local chemist in Audley was the choirs accompanist at this time and eventually became the second designated Musical Director of the choir. Membership has ebbed and flowed over the years. Up to the time of Philips retirement over 40yrs later over two hundred and Fifty men have shared in the life and successes the choir has achieved during his tenure.

The choir performed in many local venues raising money for local charities, such as the Douglas Macmillan Hospice and Donna Louise Trust in addition to British Heart Foundation amongst many. The choir has been pleased to provide financial assistance to Audley Theatre and Audley Brass Band to enable them to refurbish the theatre and build the new band rehearsal room respectively. In October 2008, £7000 was raised in one concert to assist Audley Rotary Club Fund a drug awareness scheme for Audley and wider afield in addition to monetary assistance for Audley Parish Church to restore the ancient Tower. In 2004, a concert with Biddulph Male Voice Choir and the Birmingham Salvation Army Band raised in excess of £8000 for a Rotary Centenary Appeal. 

Appearances at 1000 voice concerts at the Royal Albert Hall include three with English Voices, two with Welsh Voices and one with Yorkshire Voices. In addition, in November 2000, the choir was invited to take part in a Festival of 2000 Yorkshire Voices in the Sheffield Arena to raise funds for Cancer research.

The choir has competed in many musical festivals, with enviable success, winning prizes at Biddulph, Blackpool, Freckleton, Huddersfield, Macclesfield, Morecambe, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and most notably at the International Festival of Malta where it won 1st place in the Male Voice section in 1990 but more importantly made many friends amongst the local population and even made two Nuns cry with our memorable rendering of Ave Maria.

The choir visited Cornwall in 2004 and was hosted by the St Stythians MVC.  The choir gave concerts in Newquay and St Stythians as well as a short recital in Exeter Cathedral on the return journey. The choir sang a different complete programme of 16 songs at each of the two concerts they  participated in, quite a remarkable achievement for any choir. In 2006, the choir paid a visit to the West Coast of Scotland where concerts were given in Dunoon and Rothesay. Large audiences were very appreciative of the choir's singing and in excess of £2000 was raised for local charities organised by the Rothensay Rotary Club. The choir also gave a half hour recital in Glasgow  Cathedral on the way home. St Stythians MVC made a visit to Audley in May 2007 and together the choirs enjoyed a weekend of fellowship and singing.   

In  the spring of 2010 the choir were invited to take part in the Cornwall International Festival of Male Voice Choirs in Truro. Whilst not successful in the competition which involved some 15 choirs ranging in size from 50 to 90 choristors the choir took part in two concerts with other choirs in Padstow and the Eden Project.

The choir celebrated its Diamond Jubliee Anniversary in August 2014 and during the year held special events to mark this milestone culminating in a Celebrity Concert. A dinner took place in March 2015 and a special DVD was commissioned. ‘Let All Men Sing’  which chronicles the Diamond Jubilee year and a brief history of the choir. Six recordings of the choir have been made, the most recent being in the summer of 2014  "Singing for You" together with a “Nostalgic Disc” to celebrate sixty years of singing. Sounds of a Male Voice Choir", "In Concert", "With a Voice of Singing" and "Musical Treasures" are in our current discography.  Several new works for Male Voice Choirs have been commissioned over the years. "Let the Peoples Praise Thee" by Antonin Tucapsky celebrated the twenty fifth anniversary of the choir and  Psalm 150 by Alan Bullard was commissioned for the Fiftieth Anniversary. In between “ Sleepy Head" and "Short leg Long Leg and Silly Mid-Off " by Alan Simmons . and a Goff Richards work with words by David Dearlove entitled "China" were commissioned with funds given in memory of members. “China” connects the Chinese Dynasties to our local Pottery Industry, in particular to Josiah Wedgwood, and was premiered at the Celebrity Concert in 2008.

The choir provided a bursary for a music student at Keele University for many years,and the choir also had a long history of  supporting the now sadly terminated "Biddulph Musical Festival" and we take this opportunity to place on our record our admiration and appreciation to Gwenda Jones Biddulph Male Voice Choirs Musical Director, the Mrs Motivator who's  inspiration and energy was responsible for this long running Music Festivals success over many years and which in turn inspired many local songsters and musicians in the surrounding area to improve their potential.

A  special occasion worthy of note occured in 1998 when the choirs status and reputation were recognised by being  privileged to be invited to "christen" the newly refurbished Victoria Hall (part of the new cultural quarter). The soloist was local soprano Denise Leigh, who subsequently shot to national fame by becoming a joint winner of "Operatunity" on Channel 4.

Denise appeared at many local concerts with the choir together with other local artistes notably Pamela Clarke and Lynne Bradbury.

Samuel Winter the choirs Deputy Conductor  joined the choir in 2015. He was born on the tip of North Kent and spent his formative years in and around the London Borough of Bromley. His music education began at a young age and was fostered by the prestigious Bromley Youth Music Trust( BYMT), where he studied clarinet and choral singing. Samuels involvement with BYMT took him on several tours of England and Europe including the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland as a bass clarinet player and to Westminster Abbey as a chorister. Samuel moved to North Staffordshire in 2009 to read musicology at Keele University at undergraduate and Master's levels. During his time at university he was involved with many extra-curricular music activities, some of which involved tours of Europe.He taught Mathematics at Newcastle -Under-Lyme College. In 2021 Samual was offered and accepted the chance to move to London in a similar capacity, his presence , musical ability and contribution to the choirs developement will be missed but he leaves with the choirs appreciation and graditude .

Christopher Cromar

Until recently Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Aberdeen, he is a former Music Director of Congleton Choral Society, Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir and Keele University Bach Choir.

He has worked with many other choirs including the BBC Singers, Brighton Festival Chorus, Radio France Chorus, and has conducted many prestigious orchestras including the CBSO, BBC Philharmonic, and English Symphony Orchestra.

As an organist he has given recitals in prestUntil igious venues including Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

His involvement with male voice choirs goes back to his time working with the Metropolitan Police Male Voice Choir, performing in Westminster Cathedral and the Barbican in London, and playing the organ for massed choir events in the Royal Festival and Albert Halls in London and elsewhere.