Blokes Who Sing is one of Plymouth's most welcoming and inclusive male voice choirs. Founded at the end of 2020 by musical directors Ryan Jenkins and David Walters, the choir began during the Covid-19 lockdown when six men gathered in each other's gardens to stay connected through the power of singing. What started as a simple way to support one another's mental health and wellbeing has grown into a thriving community choir with members travelling from across Plymouth and the surrounding area.

The choir performs an eclectic repertoire spanning folk, contemporary music, musical theatre, swing and popular classics, offering something for every audience while providing an enjoyable challenge for singers of all abilities. At its heart, Blokes Who Sing remains committed to creating a safe, supportive and friendly environment where every man is welcome, regardless of previous musical experience. The choir's positive impact has even led to it being recommended by local health professionals as a social prescribing activity, recognising the benefits of singing for mental health, wellbeing and social connection.

In 2026, Blokes Who Sing reached a major milestone when they performed alongside the Welsh National Opera in Blaze of Glory at Theatre Royal Plymouth. The collaboration saw the choir perform the iconic Welsh hymn Gwahoddiad in four-part harmony and included an invitation to observe rehearsals at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

The choir has also collaborated with some of the South West's most respected music industry professionals. In 2025, Blokes Who Sing joined acclaimed producers Caitlin Grey and Neil Harvey of the Harvey Grey Collective, lending their vocals to the chart-topping single A New Tomorrow. The recording also featured soul vocalist Dave Goodridge and Blokes Who Sing co-founder Ryan Jenkins.

Today, Blokes Who Sing continues to flourish as a vibrant musical community where friendship, laughter and outstanding music-making go hand in hand. Whether performing in theatres, concert halls or local community events, the choir remains dedicated to inspiring audiences while proving that singing has the power to transform lives.

Meet our Musical Directors

Ryan Jenkins

Connecting people, communities, and emotions through music.

Singer, composer, choral director, and educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the music industry.

Before transitioning into education, Ryan worked as a singer/songwriter, performing on stages including the Liverpool Echo Arena (M&S Bank Arena), Southport Theatre, Riviera International Centre, Palace Theatre, Theatre Royal, and several festival stages. In recent months, he has returned to his performing and recording roots, collaborating with other artists to release several recordings.

Presently, Ryan works as a choral director alongside respected musical director, David Walters, creating one of the largest community choirs in the Southwest, as well as championing men's mental health, founding 'Blokes Who Sing', a male voice choir promoting the wellbeing of men through singing.

Additionally, with the desire to share his knowledge and passion for singing and music, he recently qualified as a certified voice teacher and vocal coach, working with singers across the UK, the US, and Europe.

As a songwriter and composer, Ryan is passionate about creating music that evokes emotions and tells a story. Throughout his career as a songwriter, he has had the privilege of working with talented musicians and performers to bring compositions to life as well as co-writing with other songwriters to bring life to their songs with compositions known for their unique blend of nostalgic and contemporary influences, creating a sound that is both familiar and fresh.

Encouraging the next generation of musicians is his biggest passion. As an educator, he has the desire to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to access high-quality music education. In recent years, Ryan has developed a music curriculum inspired by the teachings of Zoltan Kodaly, allowing all pupils, regardless of their social or economic influences, to learn and develop their musical artistry in a way that is structured and progressive - with incremental, transferable skills at the core of building our musicians of the future.

David Walters

Proud Cornishman living abroad in the fabulous county of Devon!

In a past life, David has been a music and drama teacher, musical director, producer, performer and choreographer, with a profound interest and experience in musical theatre.

David’s attention to creative detail has earned him respect across the county and beyond as a musical director and champion of young, developing performers with many of David’s ex-students now enjoying a life of success in the arts.

In the 1980s, David worked as MD for the Carmenians Operatic Society with credits including, Hello Dolly, Call Me Madam and Brigadoon. This led to supporting a children’s theatre company, The Personalities, where he was musical director for productions of Oliver and Half A Sixpence.

As a performer, David’s credits include, Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel and The Merry Widow. He last performed on stage in 1984 as Carlos in the world premiere of the wild, rock musical, Mafioso for Serenade Arts.

Unfortunately in 1995 aged 36, David was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and due to the severity of the illness was forced to retire from teaching and his work in theatre.

However, the most devastating effect of the illness was that David lost his sense of pitch. David describes this in that his brain had become completely scrambled, melodies dimmed and melted away into nothing.

In October 2016 David saw an advert for the start of a new community choir with the keywords in the advert being, 'non-auditioned and inclusive', and on the advice of his doctor, he decided to have a go at singing again. He found it difficult to sing again but persevered and over time the music part of his brain began to work.

In 2018 with the departure of the founding MD of the North Prospect Community Choir, David teamed up with Ry Jenkins as the new MDs of the choir.

More recently, David is delighted to have worked collaboratively with Ry in creating their new venture, Blokes Who Sing. During the Covid pandemic, they recorded a series of podcasts, Jenkins & Walters: Chatting About Choir, discussing their choral experiences and the benefits of singing in a choir. A new series is due to start in 2023.

Guest Musical Director

Stuart Penman

Singing available and accesible to all.

Stuart has been part of music in education since 2005, gaining a Bachelor's degree (Hons) in Education from the University of Worcester in 2010. Stuart is a passionate children's choir leader, starting in mainstream primary and since 2010, in special education as the music lead. Stuart's is committed to ensuring that music is accessible and available to all.

In recent years, Stuart founded and successfully runs an annual music festival, which sees musical talent from across the city coming together to showcase their music-making abilities.

Stuart is the leader of Plymouth's first and only, special voices choir, a choir that enables children with additional needs and disabilities to engage in choral singing. Additionally, he has established a disabilities Open Orchestra, using music technology and real instruments to compose and perform.

In 2016, Stuart successfully became one of the first students to gain the Certificate of Music Educators qualification from Trinity College of Music in London and is currently studying to become a song therapist.

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