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The adjudicator, Colin Touchin, was extremely good with a natural talent for giving just the right amount of praise to choirs, but at the same time providing a detailed and instructive list of suggestions where each choir could improve.
We were excited to start the day by winning the opening class with two contemporary songs, Daemon Irrepit Callidus and Into Thy Hands. The adjudicator praised our choice of songs as a "commendable programme" and commented overall: "an impressive ensemble and performance".
"you capture much of the rhythmic fervour and make a good dynamic structure: the energy is well set and maintained". [Daemon]
For the folk song class we sang an arrangement of She moved thro' the Fair, arranged for the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir by Gwyn Arch. Our second song was the cheeky tale of The Tailor and the Mouse. Again, the adjudicator commented that our programme choice was "successful and attractive". This stunning arrangement was extremely atmospheric and well received with the following comments:
Beautifully judged phrasing and dynamic shaping. Good solo soprano. Lovely tenor/bass lines. Very good crescs and a fairly ringing climax.
The spiritual class was our next success. We sang a lovely arrangement of the traditional spiritual My Lord what a Morning and a new contemporary spiritual Nothin' gonna stumble my feet. "Great programme and great singing" was the adjudicator's closing comment.
Sensitive placement of every note and word - excellent corporate thinking/feeling/singing. [My Lord what a Morning]
Really good! This is rhythmic and vital singing: very good singing, accents, poise, syncopation. [Nothin' Gonna Stumble]
Our final class was the light music/songs from the musicals class. We sang two contrasting songs, The Continental and Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
One of the trickiest and most exposed openings in the "pink book" - bravely managed with delicate articulation and mostly tidy dynamic shaping and balance; Many lyrical passages against the punctuated texture - there is great awareness and success in this well-controlled arrangement. Love the ending! [The Continental]
We were very happy to receive second place for this class. Signature A Cappella Singers gave a stunning performance of their Choir of the Year pieces, which we all admired.
Although we had an exceptionally early start (5.30am), we all had a fantastic day. The competition was extremely successful and enjoyable, but also we had a great day at the seaside with the opportunity to have lunch in a quiet pub and have walks along the beautiful sandy beach in the hot sunshine. Bournemouth, we shall definitely visit again!
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