Carlton Male Voice Choir: How Determination, Vision, and a Bit of Risk Sparked a Revival

If you ever find yourself wondering whether it’s really possible to turn around the fortunes of a traditional male voice choir, look no further than Carlton Male Voice Choir.

This is a group that didn’t just talk about change —they did it. And at the heart of it all is a determined, visionary music director: Ian Watts.

Let me be very clear: what Ian has achieved with Carlton isn’t down to luck. It’s down to guts, strategy, and sheer musical graft. He took on a choir with a familiar profile—aging, static, and struggling to recruit — and helped reshape it into a growing, outward-looking, musically ambitious ensemble. And the best part? He didn’t compromise the choir’s identity. He expanded it.

Let’s start with one of the biggest success stories: recruitment.

With support from Peterborough, Carlton ran a project-based recruitment campaign that brought in an incredible 80 participants at the start of the programme. And while, as ever, not everyone stayed, a significant number did — and are now fully integrated into the choir.

How did they do it?

They made it attractive. They made it clear. And they made it feel good.

They got the messaging right: “Come and sing with us, no experience needed, learn something new, meet people, and be part of a brilliant performance.” Not: “We’re a struggling choir that needs more men.” That shift in tone made all the difference.

But Carlton didn’t stop at filling seats. They made sure that new members were supported. One of the most impressive aspects of their development has been their music literacy programme.

Now, this is something more choirs need to pay attention to. Too often, “we don’t read music” is worn like a badge of honour in male choirs. At Carlton, they saw it for what it is: a missed opportunity. Ian launched a structured, friendly, and practical training programme that helps singers — new and old — gain confidence in reading music, understanding notation, and developing vocal technique.

This is exactly the kind of skill-building that makes a choir stronger and more appealing to potential recruits. It tells people: “Join us and you’ll grow.” That’s a powerful proposition.

Of course, none of this would matter if the wider culture of the choir hadn’t evolved too — and it has.

Carlton made a conscious effort to reach beyond their usual circles. They’ve built links with local cultural and community groups, performed in new spaces, and made sure that their image — online and in the real world — reflects a welcoming, vibrant choir that’s interested in the future, not just the past.

They’ve moved away from the funeral-and-flag-waving repertoire trap and are exploring new music, diverse programming, and events that appeal to a wider audience.

And crucially, they’ve done it together. Ian may be the driving force, but the choir as a whole has embraced the changes. That’s no small thing. We all know how attached people can be to “how we’ve always done it.”

I’ve spoken to Ian many times, and one thing that always comes through is his deep respect for the tradition of male voice singing — but he’s not afraid to challenge it. He knows that for tradition to survive, it has to breathe. It has to make room for new ideas, new people, new voices.

Carlton Male Voice Choir is a living example of what’s possible when a choir is willing to change — and when it has the right leadership in place to guide that journey.

They haven’t just recruited. They’ve built a community. They haven’t just taught notation. They’ve inspired confidence. They haven’t just updated their repertoire. They’ve renewed their sense of purpose.

And the results speak for themselves — not just in concert attendance or membership numbers, but in the feeling you get when you walk into that rehearsal room.

This is what the future of male voice choirs can look like. Carlton is showing us the way.

Let’s follow their lead...