I have had the most fantastic afternoon watching the Choir of the Year Auditions at Warwick Arts Centre. The lady in the beautiful Jaegar jacket and posh accent next to me asked why I was taking copious notes and at that point it occurred to me that it might be interesting to blog them.
When you are on your own at a concert listening to other peoples conversations before the show starts is very entertaining. Ten hours later I'm still wondering what "has Chris done it on your relationship time?" might mean.
The presenter, Greg Beardsell, was tall, dark stubbly, enthusiastic, energetic and a brilliant singing workshop leader. I was stunned to hear that there are 7 rounds of auditions and the judges will have listened to over 5000 songs. At the end of each session the judges award choir of the day and recordings of those are then judged to choose finalists hat go through to the next round on the 6th October and the winners of that compete in the grand final on the 28th October. This grand final will be broadcast on BBC4, which according to the presenter is the thinking man's channel. Calling out names of the choirs left the Plume as winners of the loudest cheer and the presenter winked at them and said, "like your waistcoats." Mass warm ups included writing your name in the air with your tongue and rolling your R's like a Spanish native. Obviously, I joined in with these - any excuse to stick my tongue out!
Hereford Cathedral School Senior Choir
MD David Evans Accomp Andrew Semple
The Bluebird CV Stanford
Unaccompanied song. Beautiful blend. Bell-like quality to the female voices.
O Scrum Convivium I
Unaccompanied in Latin. Really spooky sound very atmospheric - quite long though
O Danny Boy
Bob Chilcott knows how to arrange a tune but I found this a bit boring - perfect can be dull.
Country Gardens
Unaccompanied. Really tight with fantastic whistling. Delightful. Very in tune. They need to have more fun though. It looks like they might be beaten for any mistakes.
Judges Feedback
"A wonderful start from a technically advanced group. Wonderful blendage especially from the basses. You make a wonderful sound, well done basses. In the Bluebird I would have liked more dynamics and for you to take more risks with your vocal colours. Think about moving, take risks with your body language and your faces." The judges asked them to smile and it was noticable that this was an unfamiliar act for them.
"I have to tell you that your programme was too long and so the final two pieces will be unmarked."
"We're not allowed to talk about Country Garden but it was a delight."
Oh dear, their MD has seriously let them down - what a shame no marks for their best piece.
Chamber Choir of Burntwood School
MD Debbie Lemmin Accomp Tom Coffman
Adoramus Te Christe
Beautiful church sound in Latin. Very short. Technically perfect.
Coplitas De La Montana
Unaccompanied. Wind sounds. Great sound - sounds African but it's in Spanish - confused. Standing too still want movement. They have good facial expression and excellent dynamic. Actually, this is beautiful
Fly Me to the Moon
Oh still no movement. How can you not sway just a little bit? What a shame. Dynamics fantastic. Was it my imagination or was there one slight intonation issue. No couldn't be - another perfect choir. Oh the standard is amazingly high. Huge audience clap they are really popular (or have lots of supporters)
Judges Feedback
"A warm wall of harmony. It was beautiful. If I have a criticism it is that you were too far away from the audience. You could move forward a bit. Your legato lines were bright with great swells. Great singing. You gave us a program with amazing variety, in a very short space of time. The Argentinean piece was incredibly moody. Thank you for setting such a high standard."
Northampton School For Boys Jazz Vocal Group
MD: Barrie Johnston
Ooo. Singing without a conductor - brave. Or maybe the conductor is scared. I couldn't do it. The pressure must be immense.
Viva La Vida.
At Christmas I argued with a friend that choirs shouldn't sing Coldplay because the tune was boring and it just relied on Chris Martin's wonderful voice. This was an absolutely brilliant arrangement and they had soloists with brilliant voices so it worked. Complicated jazzy backing with soloists. Soloist cracked top note (shame) Love him more for it though. Is it too reliant on solos. The Soloists had one hand in their pocket. I think this was on purpose but it looked a bit scruffy. At least there is some movement and good movement.
Blackbird/ I Will
Not technically perfect but I like this group a lot. There is a girl in the front row who looks like she's about to dive into a swimming pool. Relax it's fine you are doing a brilliant job.
Feedback
"The bar is set very high this afternoon. I admire your courage of singing without a conductor. As musical directors we all put in the hard work and dream of a day when you can just go up and do it all on your own. The blending of the male and female voices was beautiful. I would have likes to have heard more dynamic variation in the first piece but then in the second piece you gave it. It was all performed from memory. A super blended performance. Two difficult acappella arrangements. I want more of a soft sound. I would like you to think about whether piano means quiet or soft. I could listen to a whole hour of you, maybe more."
How are they going to choose just one choir of the day?
Highgate School Chorale
MD Emma Price
All in black. Lots of blond hair. They look like pints of Guiness. Very glam conductor - I'd love her waist.
Lux Aurumque
Unaccompanied Latin. Church sound. Good blending and dynamics.
My Soul, There is a Country
Unaccompanied. Church sound again - is this a Christmas Carol? Stood still perfectly boring. I know I'm a pleb but I'm desperate for someone to make a mistake now.
Feedback
"Some wonderful singing. Mature rounded sound with depth. There was a question of tempo in the last piece. I would like to see you take some risks and sopranos need to take care not to lose pitch in the low chest voice. The last piece was also a bit fast. I understand why though, it's hard to sustain long lines in a theatre setting. You could be even quieter in the piano passages. You are singing at a very high level."
Warwickshire County Girls Choir
MD Nicola Atkins and Alisa Cochrane Acc David King
Local school. Wearing black with matching purple scarves. A few people have glittering gold bowler hats.
A Choral Flourish
Great diction. Complicated clapping. One girl can't clap in time. At last something I'm enjoying. Really nice.
Psalm
A different conductor.
One
I love this Marvin Hamlish song. They are passing the gold hats down the line. Very brave. Excellent choreography. Shame the sparkling hats show how much they are shaking. This is fun well balanced. the audience love it. Huge clap.
Feedback
"Some lovely sounds and a varied program. You made a lovely soft sound in the second piece. In the third piece I don't think you really believed in what you were doing. You need to go for it and have fun. Incredible control of sound. Now you need to get energy and self belief. You smiled when it was over. I'd like to see that in the performance."
Beauregard Youth Choir
MDVicki Bauregard Acc Susan Honeywill
Love the pink polo shirts. The kids have their names on the back. Some are wearing very short black skirts. I'm not sure about naming a choir after yourself though. All girl choir.
The Rose
Soloist starts. They sound nervous. Good dynamics.
Shosholoza
Unaccompanied South African song. The conductor is moving more than the choir. Nice choreography of the different sections but one group seemed to stay still until the very end. I couldn't stop watching them to see when they would start to move. Big audience clap. These pieces seem simpler than other choirs sang.
Feedback
"The high standard continues. Have you heard Africans do that second song? No? Well you do it very well. Authentic chest voices. You began to rush in the middle but brought it back just in time. You found the ground and attached yourselves to it in the choreography so important for a piece like this. You didn't believe in The Rose. You had a lovely harmony and even blend. You need to take some of the African sound into your first piece. I wonder if nerves played a part? Lovely solo. Remember to centre yourselves when you breathe"
Cheltenham Youth Choir
MD Rachel Bowen Acc Jo Greaves
The Seal Lullaby
Beautiful soft singing. It sounds effortless. I love the smallest girl standing on one leg itching her other leg. Woolly tights can be irritating. Small boys in the front having a great time. This is what a choir should be about.
Yellow Bird
They are moving and having fun. Nicely blended. No older boys voices. Lovely falling ending. Big claps.
Feedback
"Such an age and size range. Created a wonderful atmosphere. Your sound is very appealing. Delicate small and very attractive. Yellow bird: Get into the groove. There was one young man in the front who was in the groove." (He demonstrates - audience laughs) "Yes, now you all need to do that. The blend of the boys and older girls voices creates a magical resonance."
Sutton Coldfield Youth Voices.
MD Liz Birch & Richard Jeffries Acc Matt Walker
Wearing black with felt flowers for the girls and greeny yellow ties for the boys.
The Lord is My Shepherd
Vicar of Dibley.
Beautiful solo start. Proper boy chorister voice. Good blend and dynamics. Popular with audience.
Make You Feel My Love
A different conductor. I wish Adele hadn't done this song - everyone tries to copy her and because they don't have the power they always sing slightly nasally. Beautiful harmony sound. Great sound. Easy song though.
Feel Good
They are smiling and moving - trying to take on other comments. Lots of unison singing.
Feedback
"A dream treble soloist and you made an even sweeter sound at the end of the piece. Great balance and pleasant sounds of chords. The last piece had great choreography but I would have liked more energy in the singing. A sensitive interpretation of the Bob Dylan. What movie is the last piece from? No, I don't know either we'll have to Google it but I think they go wild in it. That's your next step. Show us even more that you are having fun while singing. "
St Cecilia Singers
MD: Hilary Meyer Acc Gillian Hope
Gary's Pier
Unaccompanied. The shhh takes over a little bit.
Really, really beautiful sound. great dynamics. Very atmospheric. Wow what control!
Hamba Lulu
Fantastic African sound. What a contrast. Accompanied by Djembe drum. That woman has my full admiration - I hope she doesn't have bruised fingers. Choreography brilliant. I want to do this. Wow Wow Wow. These have to be the winners.
Feedback
"This just goes to show what the human voice can do. I admire the Maxwell Davies (1st piece) so much it's a tricky piece and the way you tackled it was great. You kept your cool and made it your own. FANTASTIC. I don't know how long it took you to learn it but it was great. I don't know if I should talk about the Hamba Lulu with the arranger sitting next to me. Great African sound. very exciting. Maybe a bit too busy with actions." ( NO it was perfect) " It took away slightly from the energised vocal you have. Thank you for a delightful program. Well done. The first piece was of unbelievable difficulty and you couldn't tell it was difficult."
Mike Brewer thanked them for performing his piece. It must have been nerve wracking to find that the composer of one of your pieces was a judge. Sometimes it would just make them more critical.
Plume School Choir
MD Sally Thomson Acc Fiona Hill
Hallelujah
A really quiet start. Beautiful sound from the basses. No Essex accents, so proud. This is bringing tears to my eyes (in my notes I wrote ears but I'm sure I meant eyes!)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Brilliant. So brave to go out and perform comedically in front of all these stuffy choirs. I love them. Have I said that? The audience really enjoyed this performance.
Feedback
"We keep having the same thing happening. The choir sings beautifully in the first song and then the second song zooms into the stratosphere. That second song - congratulations. The choreography was wonderful. Here's a tip for other choirs - doing the craziest bit when not singing meant that the lovely harmony, character, blend and drama made comedy. Hallelujah started in a delicate and beautiful way. I've not heard it done like that before." (Have you heard any popular music in the last 20 years?) "I think you need to re-visit it and put some energy in it. The word Hallelujah is joyful." (Oh dear, missed point of lyrics surely this version is ironic?) "A beautiful sound when the lads opened Hallelujah but I think you stepped back a bit too much when the girls joined in. You did very well in the harmony. It was absolutely gorgeous."
That was the end of the Youth Choir Category.
Chorus Amici
MD Chris Mallinson.
Wearing black with colourful scarves or ties. Red Green Yellow Blue - primary colours. I find I am distracted by the fact they couldn't decide how to wear their scarves. The pregnant lady has it wrapped around her bump (God, I hope she is pregnant!)
They Can't Take That Away from Me.
Soloist brilliant. Beautiful harmony. Changes of tempo.
Silently iff...
What a sound but I'm not sure I like it.
Venite Gaudete
Sound makes me shiver. Is it too perfect?
Feedback
Thank you for some extraordinary ambitious choices of repetoire. You rose to the most enourmous sound with no pushing of vocal capacities. It was as exciting when loud as when quiet. You are a very accomplished choir with an ambitious program delivered with confidence. We don't see the work that makes it all happen, to make an artistic whole so we lose ourselves in it. We got caught up in the the emotional swirl of it all. Congratulations that was really special."
The Accidentals.
MD Liz Birch Richard Jeffries Acc Chris Hall
There are hundreds of them. They seem to be related to the Sutton Coldfield Youth Voices. It's nice to have your own, noisy fan club.
They are wearing black with pattened scarves. There were only 8 men, with yellow ties.
Morning has Broken.
Simple piece. Beautifully blended sound. Although, it's clearly not in the same league as the set from the last choir it is much easier to listen to.
Mamma Mia
Great simple choreography maybe they aren't all moving at the right time.
Feedback
"A throng of singers. Such joy to see so many people havin g such fun on stage. Very together especially in the unison parts." (embarrassed laughter from choir) "It's a good thing! I love your infectious singing -that's a good thing as well. Morning is Broken had the basses in octaves with the altos but when you get used to it it's really nice. Maybe you could find a piece where you can be real basses. This choir feels like you are just really good friends. Girls you need to go out and find some men. You have a wonderful easy full sound. Thank you for your two delightful performances."
8 in a Bar
MD Mike King
Only 8 of them in various outfits of black and white. Looks as though they haven't thought about how they look.
Blackbird/ I will
Different version from the boys jazz choir. 8 separate amazing voices - blending beautifully. Very strong. Soprano can hit some high notes. They used music - will that go against them?
The Battle of Jericho
Changed places didn't use music. Very nice some exceptional voices and harmony.
Feedback
"Delightful to listen to. Soprano soloist made a tenderly beautiful sound and you responded beautifully. In Jericho the 4 male singers articulation was wonderful it's really hard to maintain that semi-quaver patterm but it was a very exciting performance. Thank you very much. Great legato. Moses Hogan was one of the greatest gospel composers who also did this song in a swing style which you might like to explore as well. He wouldn't have said BaTTle though." (Interuption from choir member: "We watched a video clip he said he wanted the hard T's" - Served, that the kids would say!)
"Blackbird was stunning in every way - a superb end to our day."
The Judging
The judges were Mike Brewer OBE, Gillian Dibden MBE and Stephen Conolly OMG (this was Greg Beardsell's joke I can not claim any responsibility for it) I've been on a course with Gillian Dibden. She's lovely, crazy as a box of frogs, but lovely.
"You made our job very difficult. Thank you for your support for the other choirs. and I hope you take one or two things away that you admired in another choir. The standard was fantastic, a joy to behold. What a great day of singing in so many different sytles. It makes it a delight for all of us. We should thank your parents. The importance of the Choral Director often takes a back seat but they have done all the work to make it possible. The unsung heroes, the accompanists who don't get thanked enough. The workshop leader Greg.
Now to the important bit: (Gillian is too short for the microphone!)
As the youth choirs were of extraordinary standard we are going to put 5 through
Northampton School for Boys
Highgate School
St Cecilia Singers
Hereford Cathedral School
Chamber Choir of Burntwood School"
No surprises there then.
"And for the adult choirs Chorus Amici and 8 in a Bar,"
I think that was a mistake they should have chosen 1 or put all 3 through. The one they didn't chose wouldn't have got through the next round from the recording anyway, so they could have been kind.
It was a fantastic afternoon and I particularly liked the workshop given by Greg, while the judges were deciding. I've got lots of ideas!
The only choir through from this day is Chorus Amici.
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