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Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers
www.labbs.org.uk
Summer 2020 £4 What’s inside
LABBSi Getting together... virtually
See the full story, page 18
LABBS members have
been remembering,
and making masks,
as well as finding creative
ways to relax.
LABBS2021 - Looking forward to Harrogate
Web: www.labbs.org.uk Facebook: singLABBS Twitter: @singlabbs YouTube: singLABBS
Notes from Nancy Philbin Long Service Awards
The other fantastic event going on at the moment is The
Collective virtual choir which has attracted more than
1500 singers from 28 countries and I have spotted many
familiar LABBS faces in there as well as friends from
other barbershop organisations around the world. I hope
you are enjoying it all as much as me and I cannot wait
to hear the result.
Thanks to the wonders of technology we were able to
hold a ‘virtual’ AGM and Council Meeting in March, both
of which were well received. Through modifying our
normal process, we were able to successfully appoint
Jill Cook from Spinnaker chorus to the position of
Membership Director and Sam Wallace from GEM
Connection to the position of Events Director. On behalf
of the Association I would like to welcome them both to
the LABBS Board and we look forward to working with
them. We said goodbye to Gail Grainger and to Deborah
Lamble who completed their terms on the Board, and
we send our thanks to them for their commitment to
LABBS over the last several years.
Who could ever have predicted how 2020 would
turn out and that we would be forced to abandon I apologise for signing off with sad words but the Board
our rehearsals as we know them and not be able to was sorry to learn of the passing of Marilyn Penketh,
hold our Convention, the highlight of our barbershop who was LABBS Chairman from 1987 to 1989, and we
calendar? As you now know, the LABBS Board took the send our love and sympathy to John, Karen and
sad decision to cancel Convention in Bournemouth to Toni-Ann at this difficult time.
protect the health and wellbeing of our members and we
do appreciate your understanding and support in these In harmony
difficult times. Nancy Congratulations to Kathy
Moore from Winchester
It is more important than ever that we stay in touch and
Acapella for 25 years of long
there has been a surge of online activity amongst our
choruses and quartets and it is a joy to see everyone
service, which was presented
connecting with each other and so many happy by her by Deborah Lamble.
smiling faces in virtual rehearsals. Last month saw the
first session of LABBS Interactive, a brilliant and fun
online initiative to keep everyone in touch with their
extended barbershop family, with a Zoom room and a
live stream on Facebook. The plan is that LABBSi will
continue every 2-3 weeks for as long as it is needed, and
I encourage you all to take part. We have plans for other
online events and activities which will be announced on
our social media pages so please keep an eye on those.
As we were not able to take a real-life
Ladies Association of photo, we took a screenshot of the new
British Barbershop Singers LABBS Board:
Board of Trustees Top row left to right:
Alison Zdzylowski – Education Director
Chair and WHC Representative:
Rita Hulands – Marketing &
Nancy Philbin
Communications Director
chair@labbs.org.uk
Caroline Poole – Secretary
Vice-Chair:
Natalie Feddon Middle row left to right:
vicechair@labbs.org.uk Jill Cook – Membership Director
Secretary: Nancy Philbin – Chair
Caroline Poole Alys Galloway – Finance Director
secretary@labbs.org.uk
Finance Director: Bottom row left to right:
Alys Galloway Natalie Feddon – Vice Chair
financedirector@labbs.org.uk Sam Wallace – Events Director
Marketing and Communications
Director:
Rita Hulands
It is wonderful to hear so many stories of optimism coming in from the choruses across Update from your Editor
marketing@labbs.org.uk the UK in these challenging times. We expected to have very little news from LABBS
members for this digital edition, but instead we have been overwhelmed at the creativity of
Membership Director: the members, and proof once again that our barbershop family is an important part of all of
Jill Cook our lives.
membership@labbs.org.uk
Education Director: So many have been Zooming through rehearsals, having fun, playing games, dressing
Alison Zdzylowski up – and even practising performance. Many of us have been enjoying other virtual choirs,
eandjchair@labbs.org.uk connecting with friends old and new, learning new songs and enjoying a slightly different
way to keep singing in lockdown.
Events Director:
Sam Wallace
events@labbs.org.uk Whether your chorus or quartet has been active or just taking it easy, take comfort in and be
inspired by the friendship and harmony of our barbershop community.
Immediate Past Chair:
Deborah Lamble Stay safe,
pastchair@labbs.org.uk
Yvette
Deadline for next issue
Friday 31st July 2020
Please supply approx 350 words accompanied by photographs in the highest resolution possible, in colour, as separate jpeg files to
voiceboxeditor@labbs.org.uk. Photographs should be at least 1MB in size – anything less is too low resolution and will not be suitable
for printing. Photographs taken on phones are usually fine, but please send direct from the photo gallery on the phone
via email for maximum resolution.
Champs Corner
Adapting to the new normal
What strange times we’re living in. For many of We have ‘Chair’s chat’ every evening on Facebook On a more serious note, Soozi, a former Chair of our
us, Zoom was previously a ’70s rocket-shaped ice lolly ... Live, which provides us all with an update and gives chorus and a renowned psychotherapist, has introduced
now it’s the basis of all our rehearsals. everyone a chance to natter online. Our wonderful ‘Mid-week musings’. She helps us to understand and
cake-maker Tina has introduced ‘Teatime with Tina’ - in cope with the ‘new normal’ from a psychological
Before the lockdown, Amersham A Cappella’s focus which she shares her recipes and shows us step-by-step perspective, reminding us that we’re not alone in how
was on preparing excitedly for our much anticipated how to make her fabulous creations. If nothing else, we’re feeling and offering us effective coping strategies
performances at BinG and BABS. Despite being we’ll be a tabernacle of fabulous bakers when normal and support.
hugely upset that the door has swung shut on both of life resumes - and yes that apparently is the collective
these opportunities this year, we’ve embraced Zoom noun for bakers! Then there’s our marvellous MD Helen. We were all
rehearsals enthusiastically and we’ve tried to put a excited when LABBS asked if Helen would host LABBS
positive spin on everything we do. In Amersham-speak, We’ve also had Jenny taking us on regular ‘wanders Interactive, regular Zoom sessions focusing on Polecats,
‘lockdown’ has been renamed ‘housesafe’ and we’ve through the woodland’; motivational comedy videos to bring a shared sense of fun to all LABBS members.
instigated several initiatives to help us feel connected, from Flash and the Performance team; ‘sewing studio’
even when we can’t physically sing together. with Donna showing us how to make hair scrunchies Aside from all this, we’ve been reaching out to other
and face masks and our very own soap opera choruses - not just in LABBS but overseas - through
‘CluckEnders’, starring Justine’s chickens who are our social media efforts. We laid down a challenge
locked up in CluckAtraz or languishing in Cluckingham for choruses to create anagrams from their names.
Palace depending on the day! Our initial video (which highlighted that the letters
of ‘Amersham A Cappella’ can be rearranged to create
‘Mama she crap paella’) has had over 2,000 views
and, heart-warmingly, has generated responses from
choruses as far away as the USA and Australia. It’s not
too late to take part yourself at: https://www.facebook.
com/amershamacappella/videos/233060787843426.
Let’s hope we’ll soon have an opportunity to sing in
harmony together again face-to-face. Until then, we
send everyone virtual hugs and a sincere wish for you
all to stay safe and well.
Amanda Dawson
PRO, Amersham A Cappella
Quartet Corner
Avalon Album - Bring Me Sunshine
Avalon is hugely grateful to all the people who some ambient microphones for the room and some We’re now in the process of post-production work with
supported our Bring Me Sunshine album fundraiser central quartet microphones. It meant we had to be as David, reviewing the recordings he has been editing
that we launched in 2019. The money raised was due to disciplined as we could with consistency and pitch, to for us and checking the minutiae. We hope it won’t be
go towards our amazing trip to the BHS Convention in make sure our engineer had an easier post-production long until we can present you with the finished product,
Los Angeles this summer, but current circumstances job of putting together our “best bits”. and although we can’t see you all at the May and June
have sadly caused most 2020 barbershop events to be barbershop events as planned, please do get in touch
cancelled, BHS included. Have no fear - your financial on social media or by email (avalonquartetuk@gmail.
support will help towards some exciting future plans! com) if you’d like to purchase a CD from us. If you’re
Luckily, our album recording occurred before the interested in a similar project and talking with our
pandemic took hold, and we wanted to share our engineer, we can put you in touch.
experience with you.
Love you all. Stay safe, stay well - and see you soon!
On a Saturday in February, we four headed to Dulwich
in south London for our album recording. Sophie is a Boo, Helen, Karen and Sophie
teacher and her school very kindly allowed us to use Avalon
their upper hall, a former church with high vaulted
ceilings which was perfect for some natural reverb and
plenty of space.
We admit that recording 11 songs in one day was an
ambitious project, for both us and David. As we’re a
distance quartet and all busy bees, it made sense for us
to try and have one very efficient day, and we learned
some lessons as we went. We started the day super
picky about how we were singing tiny snippets and
individual consonants, and the first three songs took
ages. After that, we decided some of our quirks and
“imperfections” were actually what made us sound like
us, and also we learned to trust David’s knowledge and
post-production magic.
We highly recommend recognising when both your
Our recording setup was a little different from what brains and your voices need a break, and having a
many quartets might be used to, though choruses constant supply of snacks! There may be hang ups
might recognise it. We know that after years of drilling from which you need to move on and return later, and
ourselves as a cohesive unit, we wanted to record some things that might sound wrong to you and right
together as an ensemble and not one voice part at a time to everyone else (just like in a normal rehearsal!) If you
- we also thought it would help us sound more naturally trust your fellow singers and your incredibly musically-
like us, and not too autotuned. David, our sound engineer minded sound engineer, you’ll have an
(Sonus Audio), had us all with our own spot microphone, easier time.
Update from the Board
LABBS 2020 succumbs to coronavirus
Understandably convention is not going Convention 2020 FAQs
ahead this year. In what has proven to be a difficult
decision (and upsetting) for the Board as they “hoped to will be done. The contest cycle for 2021 will begin in
provide a special respite to members” following these 1. Will there be any events taking place over the January 2021.
difficult times. Nancy’s words follow but rest assured Convention weekend instead?
the team is working on providing best alternatives! 4. Will the LABBS Raffle take place?
#WatchThisSpace LABBS are looking at what can be done over the
Convention weekend – more information will be The decision has been made that this will not take
provided as ideas are developed so watch this space. place in 2020.
2. What about the 2020 Early Bird registrations 5. How will the Katy Phillips Young Barbershopper of
purchased at Convention 2019? the Year be awarded?
The main contact on each Early Bird booking will Nominations for this award will be open in the same
be contacted directly. The Board has planned for the way as usual and the recipient will be announced
registrations to roll forward to Convention 2021 being using social media channels.
held in Harrogate (29-31 October), all names currently
provided for the booking will be wiped and the 6. How will The Jen Mills Award be made?
process will start again with names being required
“Last weekend the LABBS Board met to discuss our by end of February 2021 (information will be sent out Applications for this award will be invited in the
2020 Convention due to take place in Bournemouth in early 2021 detailing how this will be done). If at same way as last year and the recipient will be
at the end of October. We wanted you to know as soon that point, you are unable to use the purchased Early announced using social media channels.
as possible, that after much discussion, we sadly Bird registration a full refund will be available. Please
concluded that Convention will not go ahead this year note there will be no new sales of 2021 Early Bird 7. Will we return to Bournemouth for Convention?
in the light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A registrations.
full announcement and list of FAQs has been issued on LABBS Convention will take place in Bournemouth in
email which you will receive via your club contact. 3. What about the chorus and quartet contest fees 2022 (28-30 October).
which have paid?
I know that this is hugely disappointing news, and I If you have any further questions please do not
am so sorry that it has come to this, but I know you will These will be refunded, with the chorus and quartet hesitate to contact Sam Wallace, LABBS Events
understand that the LABBS Board have a duty of care to being contacted directly with details on how this Director (events@labbs.org.uk).
all of you with regards to your safety and wellbeing and
we just could not continue to plan for Convention this
year. I do hope that you will continue to sing together
and look forward to seeing you again in the future.”
Nancy
LABBS Chair
Club Updates
Shining with Cheshire Chord Company
Cheshire Chord Company had a cracking start use and has been busy making nursing related items Alison Linfield has been involved with the British
to 2020. January saw us invite 26 new faces to our usual for NHS staff and the local community. With funding choirmaster, composer and TV presenter Gareth
Thursday night rehearsals for a Learn-to-Sing course. support from chorus members, she has turned her Malone’s online ‘at home’ digital choir. Alison is one of
Over the six weeks, our fantastic music team provided sewing room into a small factory with a conveyor belt of about 20,000 participants who have been rehearsing
a range of different sessions, focusing on aspects of items being produced each day. every night.
barbershop singing, whilst learning Take That’s Shine.
Another of our members and lead
The course culminated in a show section leader, Heather, has been
for friends and family members entertaining the smaller people
where the learn to singers sang in households across the country
their hearts out! It really was with her Wriggles and Rhyme
their moment to shine and that Time YouTube channel. If you’re
they did! Since the Learn-to-Sing interested in this, hop over to our
course, many of the delegates social media accounts for a link.
decided to continue through the
audition process with 15 of these During this unsettling time, one
being successful. thing has remained consistent
and that is the positivity and
In March, a coach full of members encouragement from our Musical
travelled across the Pennines Director Jo Braham. Every day,
to perform on the Spirit of without fail, she entertains us
Harmony’s show, Ashville with a joke. This certainly lifts
Acapella. As well as performing our spirits and morale so here’s
our ‘circus’ set, we entertained one for you:
members with our six-part
version of That Man and of “I said to the librarian, ‘Have you
course, our Whitney medley! As got any books about grass?’
well as the Spirit of Harmony, we
were joined by the Chamber Choir She gave me Fifty grades of Hay.”
of Ripon Grammar School. The
climax of the evening was when Julie Phillips
all three of us joined forces to PRO, Cheshire Chord Company
sing an arrangement of Misty.
The end of March was one of the last times we were
together as a chorus. We were lucky to be joined by Two other members have been taking part in some
the amazing David Wright. It was a real honour to be online singing projects. Gill Clare has been involved in
coached by the arranger of one of the songs we had been Simon Lubkowski’s ‘The Collective’ project, singing The
preparing to take to SABS, which was sadly cancelled. White Cliffs of Dover. Gill said, ‘it was lovely to see a few
familiar faces and was a distraction from the current
During the last month, one of our members, Lynn Day, situation’.
has been putting her amazing sewing skills to good
Club Updates
Chorus Iceni - a good start to 2020
Before all this lockdown business Chorus Iceni
managed to bag a couple of NewBee leads, Emma, Chris
and Christine! Both passed their auditions with flying
colours and are coming along nicely.
And once we were social distancing, we all enjoyed
some fun Zoom rehearsals!
Mandy Miller
PRO, Chorus Iceni
Quartet Corner
Birthday and baking with In House
Back in January 2020, In House quartet came Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to meet online
together for its very first committee meeting to discuss and we hope you all keep safe and well. If you get bored
the year ahead. It’s obviously panning out a little during this pandemic, you could always pop over to our
differently to how we’d expected! shiny, new website and find out some more about us!
February saw us celebrating our first birthday and we Take care and stay safe!
spent the evening together singing and eating cake - the
best way to spend birthdays! https://inhousequartet.wixsite.com/inhouse
On a cold Sunday in February we became ‘In House Julie Phillips
Catering’ where we fed our Cheshire Chord buddies PRO, In House Quartet
some delicious, warming soup during a cold Sunday
rehearsal. We thank them all for supporting us with
raising money for our quartet funds.
Unfortunately for us, like everyone across the country, We’ve celebrated National Barbershop Quartet Day with
we have not been able to get together to rehearse for the some Mary Poppins selfies, taken part in the ‘This Is Us’
last few months. SABS may have been postponed but challenge (thanks Bakewell Tarts for the nomination!)
we haven’t let that dampen our spirits! We’ve still been where we shared our love of soup making whilst
meeting online for some singing themed chats, cross modelling our new pinnys!
stitch lessons and online competitions.
Club Updates
Havant Pitchpipers moving on
The Havant Pitchpipers were able to celebrate After 20 years in the same rehearsal venue we said
new members, long-service awards and their traditional goodbye to our hall as it was now showing its age and
pancake day before saying goodbye to its rehearsal no longer a suitable venue. So we had an enjoyable last
venue and moving on to pastures new. meeting, with a pancake day warm up and a prize to the
best pancake tosser.
The Pitchpipers congratulated the commitment to
four of our long standing members. Congratulations Louise Berry
ladies! Linda Elliott, Pam Smith and Annie Clair who all PRO, Havant Pitchpipers
celebrated 10 years with the chorus, and Rosamunde
Pope who celebrated her 15 years.
The Pitchpipers ran a four-week Sing into Spring
singing course and as a result we were delighted to
welcome up four new members.
Club Updates
Spinnakerettes carrying on regardless!
As the world as we know it has changed, Spinnaker members have been keeping We also held Wendy’s Wicked Wager organised by fundraising Spinnakerette, Wendy
in touch via social media groups, emails, messenger groups and experimenting with Ranft, where members were invited to buy a numbered ball for £5 and a Facebook live
chat rooms and Zooming too. draw took place for three fabulous cash prizes. There was a ball spinning machine, to
randomly select the winning balls and Wendy decorated her ‘live set’ with a glittering
Our tech wizards Tracey Buckley and Kathryn Bowes have been busying away backdrop to add to the excitement.
researching the best platforms for meeting as a whole group. All of which have their
merits but none, as yet, provide the ideal rehearsal experience and nothing can John Palmer, our genius MD, has overcome his Facebook tech fears and successfully
replace the social enjoyment we have when physically together. There is frustration carried out numerous ‘live’ appearances, keeping us all entertained with guitar and
at not being able to easily sing as a whole group using the chat rooms, but we’ve been songs and his vision for future performances including song plans. We’ve had virtual
encouraging home practice and we’ve our new ballad to learn and concentrate on. sing-a-longs and our warm-up team has done a grand job keeping us physically and
vocally engaged while Chairman Jill Cook has kept us amused and informed with her
So at Team Spinnaker we’ve had to adapt and investigate different ways to engage motivational ‘live’ pop ups too.
our members. We’ve had great fun with an Easter Egg decorating competition where
we judged some very imaginative creations and the choccy 1st prize was won by the We’ve held front row auditions involving video applications and we continue learning
wonderful crafting talents of Alison Sausman (Lead). new songs which our Music Team are assessing via individually submitted vocal
recordings.
We look forward to seeing you at the next convention – what a grand celebration that
will be.
Tracy Daniel
PRO, Spinnaker Chorus
“We’ve held front row
auditions involving
video applications”Lockdown postpones two Spinnakerette weddings
see us marry. The florist couldn’t source our flowers, so “We had saved for two years and wanted our day to be
Two of our Spinnakerettes had weddings booked for I bought artificial flowers for the wedding party. I also special. Our guest list included a lot of vulnerable people
April and May and both have sadly now been postponed had to pick just one of my four bridesmaids who would so the current virus situation was very worrying. We
to 2021. Such huge disappointment for them as they actually be at the ceremony! Then 12 days prior to the were booked with Skylark Golf and Country Club who
were literally just weeks away from their special days day we were told the wedding could not happen at all, don’t have a licence to officiate marriages so our legal
when lockdown occurred. Numerous months/years of and we set about contacting all of our guests yet again. ceremony was going to be at a registry office on the
planning, preparation and saving, all on hold. Thursday before, with my Mum and sister and George’s
“Thankfully we were able to postpone our wedding to Mum and Dad.
Liz King (Bari Section Leader and Pitch blower May 2021 and have lost very little money as everything
extraordinaire) whose wedding was planned for has just been transferred to that new date. We look “We still held onto our date in the hope that restrictions
Saturday 4th April, said: forward to a bigger celebration with everyone then. might be lifted in time but we weren’t that hopeful.
Our wedding celebration day at Skylark was ultimately
“We have been so touched by the love and kindness cancelled. We were sent alternative dates for this year,
friends and family have shown us. We spent Saturday post June, which we didn’t accept as they weren’t
4th April talking to lots of people on video chat, painting Saturdays but also due to uncertainties about how long
the kitchen and receiving lots of deliveries of flowers, the restrictions would remain in place.
chocolates and the like. Instead of a wedding breakfast
we had a lovely takeaway and a very chilled Saturday.” “Later we were offered 2nd May 2021 which we jumped
at as it’s our chosen date just next year, which is lucky.
The hotel is now reserved for next year, hair and makeup
tbc and my dress will be picked up when things, reopen
with any alterations done eight weeks before the new
wedding date. My flowers will be kept safe as they are
silk and the cake, photography and celebrant are being
arranged by family friends who are helping us through.”
“Numerous months/years of planning,
preparation and saving, all on hold.”
“Tom and I have been engaged for 2 years. We were very
excited Spinnaker would be singing after the wedding
breakfast. Just under three weeks off the wedding, we
were told initially we could go ahead with the ceremony
with only two guests and two witnesses. Tom, my Mum
and I had to contact the guests to tell people about Bethany Restarick (Lead and LABBS Young
the scaled down arrangements, but at least we would Barbershopper of the Year 2019) was due to marry
be married on the date we chose. We then planned George (son of Spinnaker Bass Kay Sumpner) on May
around that - preparing a video link and Facebook live 2nd, said:
streaming so those not allowed to attend could at leastClub Updates
Beating the lockdown… just in time
We were very fortunate at Crystal Chords to sneak Each week in the run up to the show was a diverse mix
in a huge amount of singing in the early part of 2020 as of old and new songs as well as spending time polishing
part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations. off the moves to some. It’s always a source of fascination
to us that muscle memory kicks in and 10 years later
you can sing a song and see your hands move almost
of their own accord! Some of the moves we resurrected
with glee… others not so much and we quickly binned
them to the ‘archive’ of moves never to be repeated!
a special thank you is due to our committee member
Kristina Mair who coordinated this army with apparent
Reaching our ruby milestone was always going to be ease – we are quite sure that whilst it looked like she
a special event for the chorus and we took a year to was gliding calmly at all times, there will have definitely
plan our gala show that was held at the Royal Northern been some frantic paddling below the surface.
College of Music in Manchester on the 7th March.
Dusting off old repertoire (some of it very old!) we set We will be making a donation from the show to the Katy
ourselves a mammoth task after Christmas to make sure Phillips bursary, thank you again to everyone who came
we had a full complement of two sets worth of songs In the end it all came together perfectly. We were and enabled us to do this.
that would show our chorus at its best. joined on stage by our good friends in the north west,
Cottontown Chorus from Bolton and as multi gold
medallist BABS champions they added an extra layer of
sparkle to our show. Our two chorus medallist winning
quartets Pzazz and Barberlicious each had a spot. We
also showcased a newer quartet, Hat-Trick, in our final
number and a small group earlier in the evening. The
event was a huge success, we were so thankful for
the compliments we received, and we were especially
grateful to our LABBS Vice Chairman Natalie who came Like many choruses we are finding the absence of
to the show and presented some of our members with weekly face to face gatherings difficult, but we know that
their long service awards. when we get together it will be an all-mighty celebration.
We still have chorus founder members who sing with Alison Liddell
Crystal Chords and seeing them receive their 40-year PRO, Crystal Chords
Our ever committed MD Monica had a job at hand to pins made us all very proud and privileged to be part
not only help us unlearn and relearn some of our older of something they had started so long ago. Events like
songs with a better quality (‘less Manchester’) but we this always take an army of people to put on and we had
also threw in a couple of new songs too. lots of support from friends and family
of the chorus butClub Updates
Barbershop podcaster’s Scottish roadtrip
On a whistle stop tour of Scotland, seasoned
barbershop singer and podcaster John Beesley came all
the way from London to Peterculter to visit and record
Albacappella for his Harmony UK podcast.
Arriving in Culter on a dark February evening, John,
who lives on the outskirts of London, was a little
dismayed by the dark country road that took him down
to St Peter’s Heritage Hall. However, when the first
singer arrived, he was warmly greeted and soon got
talking to the ladies which form Aberdeenshire’s own
ladies’ barbershop chorus.
John, who sings with Capital Chorus in Ealing, west
London, has been singing for ten years, and has produced
his podcast since 2015. He has travelled the length of
Britain listening to different choruses but had never been
as far north as Aberdeen, so was delighted to come to the
north-east after visiting two choruses in Edinburgh.
Luckily, John was able to visit Scotland before the
coronavirus pandemic, and so was able to record us
singing various Scottish songs including The Skye Boat
Song and Loch Lomond and talked to everyone about
how the emotion of the songs links us to Scotland and childhood memories. The Skye Boat Song, meant a great deal when performed by the Albacappella singers.
As a chorus with many different nationalities, John also interviewed members from “Singing together provides so many other benefits too, including exercise and relief
Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Bulgaria who sing with Albacappella from the stresses of the day. So it’s always a real tonic, as I travel around, to share in
having been welcomed into the Scottish community. the happiness which comes from these beautiful harmonies, sung by people, young
and old, and from so many different backgrounds.”
“John interviewed members from Germany, Croatia,
Slovakia, the Netherlands and Bulgaria” Listening to John’s podcast brings a smile to all of our faces – have a listen on
https://soundcloud.com/harmony-uk-podcast/harmony-uk-podcast-edition-22-
John said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Scotland, and it was a joy to receive such scotland-special
a warm welcome from so many talented singers. Every barbershop chorus is different,
but something we all share are the bonds of friendship and camaraderie which Yvette Rayner
develop from singing together, and these were especially evident with the ladies of PRO, Albacappella
Albacappella. I was also impressed by the way ladies’ and men’s choruses in Scotland
are drawing on the country’s wealth of traditional and modern songs to produce a
style which is uniquely their own. It was clear that these songs, and especiallyClub Updates
Celebration, commemoration and cheer in Coventry
In February, the Belles of Three Spires was of their Amazing Women culture conversation to mark
visited by Kayleigh from The Brain Tumour Charity International Women’s Day.
(BTC). We nominated BTC as our charity for 2020
following the passing of our beloved chorus member Sadly, because of lockdown, other plans have had to be
and advocate for all things barbershop, Helen Ring. cancelled, or postponed including our annual dinner,
singing engagements and our trip to the USA. We had
Kayleigh gave a splendid presentation and we look planned to sing this June at Disneyland, Los Angeles
forward to donating to the BTC in due course. We had and then attend the BHS International Convention 2020.
planned a fundraiser, Ring in the Spring, in May. It was
due to be a packed programme in Helen’s honour, but However, during lockdown we have been keeping
was sadly cancelled because of the pandemic. We plan ourselves busy and cheerful with video tours around
to reschedule this in the future once life has returned to our gardens, sewing scrubs for the NHS, decorating tips,
normal. baking and crochet and knitting. And of course lots of
singing!
In 1962, Coventry children, including our own Norma
Ward, were asked to donate their pocket money to help Eileen Askew
finance a window in the new Coventry Cathedral, and in PRO, The Belles of Three Spires
March we were proud to be part of the commemoration.
We also sang at the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry as part
Zooming to rehearsals
The White Rosettes were looking forward to We may not be singing together as the delay on Zoom already, I can hear you say!), but we are reassured that
Spring 2020, with the March ABCD (Association of is both awful and hilarious, but our rehearsals at the there is always a friendly chorus or quartet buddy at the
British Choral Directors) education day and April was moment are still there. They are there for those who other end of a Facebook message, an email, or even a
going to see The White Rosettes singing at Harlow Carr can make them, to have a chat and feel the sense of beautifully scribed letter.
Gardens (Royal Horticultural Society) as a fundraiser for community, but there is no pressure for those who
mental health charities. However, COVID-19 came and simply can’t. For now, we are lucky to be able to Keep talking, Keep singing.
very real, bigger concerns took their place. reconnect virtually until the time comes when we can
all meet and sing live again. Holly Parker
But barbershoppers will not be stopped! Choruses across PRO, The White Rosettes
the country are banding together, using the technology
we are surrounded by to keep each other company and “The delay on Zoom is both
offer support wherever we can. We are loving the Zoom awful and hilarious”
screenshots that choruses across the world are sharing,
and those using Acapella and other apps as a way to
experience harmony however we can. But we are the The barbershop community has shown itself to be
lucky ones. Some of us are busier than ever, facing daily about more than just harmony (as if we
worries (and much more). didn’t know thatClub Updates
Junction 14 in lock down
Junction 14 started off lockdown just after the families, friends and pets. The outpouring of love and
high of winning the Milton Keynes Festival of the Arts support for each other has been heartfelt and profound.
Barbershop chorus competition, so it was a shock to the
system to suddenly be separated before we could really
celebrate! Although it does mean that I get to keep the “We are desperately missing the
trophy - for now. squeaking of the risers, the laughter
and the camaraderie.”
At the beginning of lockdown, we shared the
experienced of watching four of our intrepid members
struggling to get back from epic journeys. We watched Sadly we lost one of our much loved former members
messages and photos coming in from Judi and Carolyn who passed away during this time from a long illness.
trapped in a snowstorm in Iceland and Gill and Kamila Chorus members posted photos and shared their
searching for an way home from their trip across Latin wonderful memories of happier times with Carol before
America. We were all very relieved when they finally she fell too ill to be with us, which gave us all some
made it home safe and sound. comfort at a very difficult time.
We should have had our
annual retreat around early
April, which is normally one
of the highlights of our year.
So as a small consolation
for missing this, two of
our members, Bernie and
Serena, did sterling work
and compiled a ‘for one night
only’ (well two actually!)
Variety Show YouTube video
made up of sketches and It is great to still meet virtually every week to chat, sing
performances, sent in by and laugh, with our Junction 14 family, hopefully it will
members, which went down not be too much longer before we can all be physically
a storm! back together but in the meantime the spirit of Junction
14 is very much alive, well and ready to hit the road
I know I speak for everyone running when we all get together again.
in our chorus when I say
that we are all desperately Amanda Martin
missing the squeaking of PRO, Junction 14 Ladies A Cappella.
the risers, the laughter,
The Junction 14 ‘social & pleasure’ WhatsApp group and camaraderie and the cries of Girls, Girls from our
chorus email have been lifelines through these troubling wonderful Sheila keeping us all in line with her
times, enabling people to share their experiences, from beautiful Scottish accent.
funny/poignant videos to recipes and worries aboutClub Updates
A gem of international reminiscences
As we are well into lockdown now, all the GEMs are In our earlier years, we were lucky to visit Germany we received the Silver Medal with our Calamity Jane
really missing meeting with our singing family. Many of and then Holland twice. In 2005 we went to Buffalo in Package. There was lots of celebrating that weekend.
us didn’t realise we were so tech savvy as we found this the USA and in 2014, we had a whirlwind tour of Italy
new way of communication (especially we older ones). visiting Pisa, Tuscany and Perugia.
GEM celebrated its 22nd birthday in May and lockdown
has given us plenty of time to reminisce over our past 20
years, remembering all our international trips and the
fun times we’ve had together.
The GEMs can’t wait to get back to a proper rehearsal
although we know that we have a long while to go before
we can even think about it.
Jenny Smedley
Our most recent European trip took us to Calpe last PRO, GEM Connection
year for the International Spanish Convention, where
Necessity is the mother of all invention of advice and learning
points which we have
mined thoroughly over the
Virtual section meetings are another way to
keep teams together. In their chat our leads
have a mystery object of the week. Some of
last few weeks, So we have the Baris are learning the ukulele and the
… and Zero Degrees chorus has found so looked at alignment, our noble sternum (no Basses seem to pride themselves on finding
many ways to stay in touch, keep singing turtling please), vocal folds and the voice the funniest images and re-invented songs
and share activities; our weekly newsletter quality continuum with the clear and richer with COVID themes.
has never been so diverse and interesting. family of sound. Can you tell these were
some of our geekier members? Our tenors are not giving up on their
Just this last week our virtual rehearsal holidays – this ‘lady in the van’ is imagining
included a lockdown version of the Chicken One other piece of good advice we picked up her campervan trip is still happening… even
Tikka/Mango Chutney and a Pint of Lager in the quartet stream was the importance if she is still parked on the drive.
warm-up, so it has become Strong Plain of team building. For instance Fortuity
‘Flower’, Cod Fish Fingers and a Pack of Loo quartet had chosen wool to crochet slippers Debbie Bramley
Roll – definitely what we ‘knead’ right now! together, while our octet group made Easter PRO, Zero Degrees Chorus
decorations. They are now in a sunflower
Two of our members just managed to sneak growing competition - video conference
under the wire before social isolation and calling is a godsend!
attend the Education day in Coventry in
March. This provided us with a rich seamClub Updates The Red Rosettes reminisce In July, the Red Rosettes will celebrate its 40th anniversary. At the time of writing, plans for marking the occasion are all a bit up in the air – we were registered to compete in Ireland at IABS in October, and the special limited-edition gin is on hold right now, but we keep singing! The chorus is holding regular online rehearsals, chatting via our private Facebook page and generally trying to stay in touch. It’s the perfect time to sit back and reflect upon how far we’ve come, and a wander through the archives has unearthed some wonderful photographs which we would love to share with Voice Box readers. Marvel at the style, the posture, the makeup and the pretty amazing costumes and see how many people you recognise! #RubyRedRosettes Sandra Mangan PRO, Red Rosettes
Club Updates Lockdown Project
Musical fun on the Mersey The Great British Home Chorus -
In these very challenging times,
we’ve all had to be inventive to stay in
some award winning quartet videos. Of
course, we can’t hear one another sing,
Gareth Malone-style!
touch with one another, both within but it is still a lot of fun, and fabulous to During lockdown, Gareth A TV company called Twenty Twenty are
our clubs and the wider community. see each other. Malone organised a weekly YouTube also going to make a documentary about
Thankfully, we live in the technological rehearsal from a shed at the bottom of the chorus and what Gareth is doing.
age and communication is therefore his garden for what he’s calling the Great I’ve said I’d like to be involved but so did
easier to manage. At Mersey Harmony, British Home Chorus (GBHC). about 1,200 others so I don’t know if I will
we have a social WhatsApp group, be contacted.
sharing personal stories and many I’ve decided to get involved as I miss
memes and jokes throughout these singing with Cheshire Chord Company
weeks. The support for one another has (CCC). About 20,000 people joined right at
been tangible. We even had a Ladies’ the beginning, not just from the UK but
Day ‘dress up’ and an Easter Bonnet further afield as well. And lots more have
competition. got involved over the weeks.
The rehearsals are Mon-Fri 5.30pm - 6pm
after the daily COVID briefing. In half an
hour we do warm up exercises, tongue
twisters (which are very funny when
they go wrong), and then begin learning
a song. The first one was You are My
Sunshine which was poignant for me as
it is part of CCC’s repertoire.
Gareth has produced teach tracks and
Make music! Sing a cappella! Feel great! is working with Decca Records which They have also produced t-shirts for sale,
has built a website where once we have with funds going to help support the NHS.
Angela Stevenson filmed ourselves singing the songs, we
Chair, Mersey Harmony can upload them. The intention is to It has been a different way to sing
amalgamate all the submissions and and learn which has been a welcome
produce complete tracks. Gareth has been distraction during the pandemic.
speaking about GBHC on The One Show
and Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Alison Linfield
Cheshire Chord Company
We are also learning I’m Still Standing
We are meeting weekly at the usual time and Ordinary World, with new songs
over Zoom, which has developed as the being added all the time.
weeks have gone by. Nearly all members
now login and our MD, Luke Freeney, is
incorporating music theory and sharingAt LABBS, we know that amongst our
thousands of members there are many who
work for the NHS front -line, as carers, as
teachers, in transport and across all the
variety of professions which have kept our
country going and our people alive.
Voice Box cannot possibly feature them all,
but here is are just a very small
selection of our LABBS
Chorus Heroes.Spin
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sistants,
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and potato gr urers
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evem h g
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“We need more scrubs!”
The cry did go,
To save our staff
From unseen foe.
Belles stuck at home
Heeded the call
Gave their skills, and
Material.
For PPE
Scrubs, bags and bands.
Created by
Such willing hands.
Thanks to them, and
All who sew to
Keep me. staff safe
Caring for you.
Keep pecker up
And brave hearts stout.
Look forward to
When we’re let out!
Eileen Askew
PRO The Belles of Three Spires
of T Belles
hree
Som Spir
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resp e of ou
ca o nd r B el
sew ll for P ed to th les hav
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and scrubs or the larion
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plan our me banks
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gs.On behalf of all LABBS members, we would like to say THANK YOU
E&J Update
Are you feeling Judged?...well you’re not the only one!
At the Spring Seminar in February, all the judges comprehensive training programme specific to its own
in the performance category had to “recertify” to keep needs, focussing on the technical and artistic aspects of
up standards and to validate that they are in sync with their own criteria. In performance, we are interested in
international barbershop judging standards. This process the entertainment and believability of the performance
happens every three years for each of the three categories. and are really looking out for an authentic and
emotionally moving delivery, as appropriate to the song.
At the same seminar, two trainee performance judges
were being “put through their finals…” a bit like at the end Once qualified, judges continue to keep abreast of and
of a three year degree course. They had to do an hour’s contribute to, the latest international thinking about our
theoretical presentation to their category, coach a quartet craft. (Don’t forget to play your own part by being aware
“under glass”, score a live competition and a videoed mock that the LABBS Contest Rules and Contest and Judging
contest and then finally give a coached mock contest Handbook have been updated for the 2020 contest cycle).
evaluation to a quartet “under glass”. Over the three years Rachel Small, Alison Zdzylowski, Kirsty Williams,
of training, they had also shadow-judged chorus and When you are “in the system” at Convention you Rachael Murphy, Anna Conochie
quartet competitions, contributed to LABBS Education probably don’t have time to spare a thought for
Days and Harmony College and of course attended the the judges who are taking part in a “level setting forget that they have been judged by their peers before
annual Spring and Autumn Judging Seminars with exercise” that they put themselves through before they have the privilege of sitting in the best seats in the
international guest educators. At a final 1:1 session with every competition. They do this by judging videos of auditorium! In the words of a president….
the Category Director, they received feedback about how competitors from previous years to make sure that the
well their shadow-scoring had tracked with the qualified panels are all judging in the same range on the day. “Don’t ask what you can do for the judges, think what
panels as the required deviation from the mean is to be So… when you are feeling under scrutiny by a judging your judges do for you”
within a maximum of five points. panel, don’t underestimate how seriously they take their
role and how hard they train out of respect for the work Alison Zdzylowski
As befits their specialty, each category has a you put into your convention package. Don’t LABBS Education Director
LABBS interactive
Helen Lappert of Amersham Acappella hosted Helen has promised more fun at her future sessions,
the LABBS interactive session covering Bohemian which will include special guests. The first of these
Rhapsody, simultaneously on Zoom and Facebook Live. featured Flash who taught us how to ‘sign’ part of
Participants were encouraged to channel their inner Make Your Own Kind of Music (with a view to making
Freddie or to dress up to look distinctive. The screen a unique video). There will also be regular rounds of
shots show how well this was embraced. Who knew ‘Guess the quartet or chorus’.
LABBS has so many fancy dress fans as members?
The session was a great success and Helen, in her own Amanda Dawson
distinctive style, took us through a physical and vocal PRO, Amersham A Cappella
warm up, coached us through the song and interviewed soundtrack taken from the 2016 Convention. And just for
Heather Lane, a LABBS music judge, who arranged the a moment, it really felt like we were all back there again
Polecat in honour of LABBS’ 40th anniversary in 2016. singing our hearts out together.
We then sang through the song together, against aClub Updates
Making the best of things Membership Zooms for Avon Harmony
with Main Street Avon Harmony returned to
rehearsals in January, to a new rehearsal
space in a primary school. Because we
become a tool for the future, even when we
can all, at last, get together in person.
After a disappointing announcement be able to chat and guess what our new had to get used to the new space, it was We have had a lot of laughter as we’ve
for our members who were going to Spain song will be. decided that our annual Love-to-Sing (LTS) all got to grips with the technology, and
we were lucky to have a concert to lift course would be postponed until we were interruptions from pets, children and other
our spirits and enjoy together. We were Everyone at Main Street Sound is excited comfortable in the new venue. family members. In particular, trying to
part of York Community Choir Festival. It that Peter Bryant has taken over as our sing a doo wop version of Happy Birthday
comprised of 28 choirs over seven concerts new Musical Director. We don’t know Accordingly, we had 19 new singers come to one member online, was hilarious!
and we had the privilege of leading the when we will get together again but with along in February, who stayed the whole
audience and the other choirs in You’ll new songs to learn and baking to perfect, six-week course. On what was the last We are also keeping in touch between
Never Walk Alone. Our director was Dean I am guessing our first night back will evening of the course and (we didn’t online rehearsals, and are learning more
Whitehouse and we had a great time. It has be a fabulous welcome night with lots of realise it at the time) our last face-to- about each other’s lives and hobbies. All
been a blast having Dean with us. cake and lots of hugs. face rehearsal before the coronavirus in all, it’s a challenging time for everybody
lockdown, six of the LTS attendees took but we hope to emerge healthy, larger, and
Before social distancing we were We are very proud of all our key workers and passed their auditions. Two more stronger as a chorus in the end.
collecting Easter egg treats for a local in Main Street Sound who are working have since auditioned online, and several
charity, The Wilberforce Trust, to help in many different roles and want to say more, who had not yet taken an audition, All our efforts paid off as we each
with an Easter Egg Hunt for children with Thank You to all of our friends across are now part of our online Zoom sessions individually recorded True Colours at
sight impairment. The Audible Egg hunt LABBS who are in key worker roles. each week. home and took photos and videos of
could not go ahead but the children still our lives at home during coronavirus
received the eggs. Stay safe till we see sing again. We had planned to take part in the Mid lockdown. Mary compiled a composite
Somerset Festival on 14th March, with video and put all our recordings together,
During the isolated time we were able to Lisa Laverick some of the LTS attendees on stage with which was then used to raise funds for
use emails, WhatsApp and Zoom casts to PRO, Main Street Sound us, singing Anthem and Stray Cat Strut, Bristol Mind group. The video went live
the two songs learned during the course. at 8pm on 29th April, and had raised over
However we made a last minute decision £1400 a week later. We are so thrilled with
not to attend, because of health concerns. the early response, and the enjoyment we
We hope it won’t be too long before we can all had working together on the project.
perform on stage together again.
Here is the link for you to enjoy:
The Zoom rehearsals are proving invaluable https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/
for staying connected and getting to know mary-williams14
the new and potential members. Although
it’s not possible to sing together because of Jackie Boffin
the lag, we are able to have coaching from PRO, Avon Harmony
our MD Mary, and our section leaders in
breakout groups. We are concentrating on
our convention package, and
Zoom mayHarmony The online masterclass for
successful relationships.
Ideal for quartets and other partnerships.
We all know that the dynamics of our relationships are as
important as the talent, when it comes to success and longevity.
Harmony is a 2-hour online Masterclass with
Michelle Mills-Porter, PLUS 2 incredibly insightful, personal
analyses for each participant.
Highlighting our most prominent qualities and strengths, we can
also identify the potential clashes and pitfalls that you as a team
may need to traverse.
E-mail mmp@mmp.uk.com
quoting LABBS or call 07748 755360
For a LABBS Lockdown special please visit:
https://www.mmp.uk.com/harmony-labbs-special/
Michelle Mills-Porter is a Master Behaviour Analyst, and creator of the MMP suite of analysesClub Updates
All change for Second City Sound
There’s not much that can take the wind out of
the sails for Second City Sound!
With a brand spanking new logo, a new musical director,
a refreshed committee and a funky new repertoire, it’s
a whole new world for the Birmingham-based chorus
which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The “Pearl Party” set for October 2020 may have to be
postponed, but with rehearsals being held on Zoom,
there’s never a dull moment, especially for those
struggling with the technology!
In fact the new virtual rehearsal style has provided an Our committee includes Louise MacCarthy, who adds to backdrop and reflecting joyfulness and femininity. It was
advantage to Musical Director, Rob Barber, who stepped her role as music librarian by supporting the new Bass unanimously voted for by the committee from an array of
into the role earlier this year. Section leadership with Mandy Gilliland as Section six very different and very beautiful designs. He provided
Leader and Jocelyn Mai Woodcock as Deputy. Jo Wilson all this at a massive discount from his normal rates as
By getting personal recordings from the section steps up to become Acting Assistant MD. Second City Sound is a charity and has promised to extend
leaders of every member, it has fast-tracked his his generosity to any other chorus within LABBS. Choruses
knowledge of each member of the 45-strong chorus. Our Musical Director, Rob Barber, takes over the reins that may need him can contact him directly on luke@
Submitting “homework” via recording, with no musical from Rod Butcher and Michelle Mills-Porter returns as customlogoshop.com or 07762 920421 and mention LABBS.
accompaniment really highlights the strengths of each PRO. Kay Lamb moves onto Section Support lending a
member and the areas that they may need some firmer technical hand to the section leaders and makes way for Michelle Mills-Porter
guidance – according to Rob. Katie She-Ra Danter as Lead Section leader. PRO, Second City Sound
With songs like David Bowie’s Space Medley and Love And finally our new logo was designed by Luke Hall of
Will Keep Us Together, the energy in the chorus in Custom Logoshop, taking the Birmingham
palpable even during lockdown. skyline as aYou can also read
