The concert at the Plaza venue in July 2026 was a memorable evening of music, community and great atmosphere, featuring two choirs: The established Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir and Men United in Song which had been formed only ten weeks ago as a project to encourage men to sing and and to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. From the concert opening the capacity audience was engaged and enthusiastic, creating a warm atmosphere that continued throughout the evening.
The first half offered a varied and enjoyable programme. Leigh Orpheus opened with Gwahoddiad and followed it with the powerful You Raise Me Up and the uplifting Love Shine a Light. Men United in Song then performed Anthem, The Rose and Let the River Run, bringing their own energy and style to the concert. Leigh Orpheus returned with Back to the 60s, which was particularly entertaining and brought a lively feel to the evening.
One of the highlights was the joint Gospel Medley, which involved both choirs and the audience. This created a wonderful sense of togetherness and showed how music can bring people together. The audience clearly enjoyed joining in, adding to the energy and atmosphere of the performance.
The second half continued with an equally varied programme. Leigh Orpheus performed The Song of the Jolly Roger, Calm is the Sea and Rhythm of Life, while Men United in Song performed Wade in the Water, Some Enchanted Evening, Crossing the Bar and The Wellerman. Leigh Orpheus then returned with The Water of Tyne and the powerful An American Trilogy.
A particularly personal and meaningful moment came when a member of Men United in Song shared their own experience of prostate cancer. This added an emotional and personal dimension to the concert and made the performance even more memorable.
The concert concluded with both choirs joining together once again for a reprise of Let the River Run. This was a fitting and uplifting finale to an evening that had showcased the talent of both choirs while also celebrating the joy of singing together.
The concert finished with a standing ovation. The varied programme, talented performers, enthusiastic audience and wonderful atmosphere made it a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening. The combination of individual choir performances and joint numbers created a strong sense of community, making the concert feel like a shared experience for both the performers and everyone in the audience.
To date the project has raised at least £23,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.