Saturday 16 February 2013
Press Officer, Tim O'Hagan sends this report about the Majestic Male Voice Choir Competition at Torquay........
For the third time in some 5 years, Bridgend Male Choir took up the challenge to sing in a choral competition organised by the Majestic Tours in Torquay. Unlike previous years, the 2013 event was purely for male choirs. So the Choir was spared from being compared with barbershop companies and gospel choirs, whether mixed or single-sex.
The competing choirs were: Maesteg Gleemen, Risca Male Choir, Shifnal & District Male Choir, Warrington Male Voice Choir, and Bridgend MC. The standard proved to be particularly high and the judges certainly earned their corn. The variety of style of music was especially striking and included classic numbers such as Lisa Lân and Unwaith Eto’n Nghymru Anwyl, as well as popsongs like Fat Bottomed Girls, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
In what proved to be the winning performance, Risca Male Choir sang five items in five different languages. Their rendering of What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor was impressive and they definitely earned the first prize. Bridgend Male Choir came a very close second and were praised for their well constructed and balanced programme. The adjudicators also thought that the choir sang with great sensitivity and vitality, the performance being full of really excellent moments.
Bridgend's Musical Director, Rhiannon Williams-Hale was thrilled with the result as she was always aware that Risca, Warrington & the local Gleemen choir in particular were of a very high standard. “This was a very encouraging result given the first class standard of the competing choirs. I am thrilled not only by our 'runner up' position but also the disciplined way the choristers and our evening’s excellent accompanist, Stephanie Bailey, approached all aspects of the performance, deportment, audience engagement and above all a superb standard of singing in all five pieces. It was really well done after only 10 months with a new music team.”
Rhiannon & Stephanie deserve huge plaudits and all associated with the Choir look forward to many other exciting years together.