Nelson Arion

The Nelson Arion Male Voice Choir is an integral part of the musical landscape of East Lancashire. The choir was formed in 1887. Although Joe Ingham was the first of many famous names to have the honour of conducting the Arion Choir, it was not until he handed the baton to Isaac Thompson in 1890 that the choir ventured into the competitive arena. In was in 1910 that Lawson Berry (pictured on right) took the Arion to compete at Caergwile (Wales) where they took first prize and Bardic Chair. This was the first time a Chair was ever brought out of Wales.Over many, many years the unique sound from the Arion Choir has been widely recognised by people like Sir Thomas Armstrong, who for many years was a most respected adjudicator of Choral Music. It could be said that the choir hit one of its peaks during and after the 1980’s. The choir won many Festivals and Competitions, which included the Llangollen International Eisteddfod (a record 5 times), the BBC Radio Wales Choir of the Year Competition, The Elgar Trophy and many more.The choir has also appeared at the Royal Albert Hall and the Festival Hall in London. They have also visited Germany, Vancouver, Budapest and Ireland and have made very recent appearances (and continue to do so in 2012) at the prestigious Bridgewater Hall – Manchester.