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17th November 2007
Gosport Music Festival Success
The weekend of the 16th/17th November was a busy one for the
chorus. Friday evening was spent entertaining a highly
appreciative audience in Winchester at a private function and on
Saturday evening the chorus travelled to Gosport to take part in
their Annual Competitive Music festival.
In good spirits (and voice) after an enjoyable Friday evening, the
chorus took part in 3 classes – ‘Barbershop chorus’, ‘A capella
choirs’ and ‘Songs from the shows’.
Remarks from the adjudicator included phrases such as “…an
effective and entertaining performance with lots of musical detail
and technical accomplishment…”, “…a lovely blend of sound…” ,
“…there was so much to enjoy…”.
Overall the chorus gained 2 honours marks (90% or over) plus one
distinction with a mark of 89% and came home with two trophies
including a huge shield to add to the two trophies won earlier in
the year at Portsmouth Music Festival.
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This picture
shows some of the chorus on the Monday after the festival
plus their two new trophies! |
31st October 2007 – Tudor Roses
enter top 10 ladies barbershop choruses in the Country
Winchester-based Ladies Barbershop Chorus, the ‘Tudor Roses’ are
delighted to have moved into the top 10 Ladies Barbershop choruses
in the country.
34 of the 40 strong chorus have just returned from a fun-filled
weekend of song in Bournemouth where the National Competition of
the Ladies Association of British Barbershop singers (LABBS) was
held.
Performing on the stage of the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC),
where International stars can regularly be seen, the chorus
sparkled - not just because they were wearing their brand new
stage costumes (see photo gallery
for photo), but also with enthusiasm and excitement.
The whole chorus was delighted to be awarded 10th place in a
highly competitive field. They sung two contrasting songs - one a
beautiful ballad called ‘Once Upon a time’ and the other, a song
made famous by the likes of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra
(Swinging on a Star).
Barbershop singing is not just about singing a song (though the
chorus gained 8th place for their singing), it is also about
entertainment - and conveying the story and emotion of the song
through movement and facial expressions. The song ‘Swinging on a
Star’ gave the chorus plenty of chance to demonstrate this with
some ‘monkeying around’ to entertain the audience. In the ballad,
one of the judges was even moved to tears by the sensitive and
convincing performance of this beautiful song.
The chorus has been running for over 12 years and has gone from
strength to strength under the Director of their Musical Director,
Di Crosfield.
Musical Director, Di Crosfield, who had led the chorus to success
commented:
“I am absolutely delighted with our result. I knew that we
could become one of the top 10 Choruses. It just needed the
singers to have confidence in their own ability. As singing is the
most important to me, I was even more pleased that we came eighth
in this particular category. I am really proud of my ‘gals’ and
feel that with this extra confidence we can now go from strength
to strength.’
Newest (and youngest) member, Helena was ‘buzzing’ after the
competition. When asked if she’d enjoyed it, she said:
‘I just loved every minute. I’d heard so much about the
competition, but nobody had told me quite how exciting it would
be….…absolutely brilliant!’
As would be expected, the chorus made the most of the opportunity
to celebrate and sing during the weekend. On Friday evening they
really entered into the spirit of the ‘Think Pink’ theme as part
of Breast Cancer Awareness month…in fact a crocodile of pink
ladies could be seen all the way from their hotel to the BIC. See
our photo gallery for a photo of just 5 of us…imagine the effect
of more than 30 of us!
7th July – Tudor
Roses sing live at ‘The Palace’
One of the rare sunny evenings in July found the Tudor Roses
entertaining audiences at the Bishop’s Palace in Winchester (which
one were you thinking of?).
The entertainment was all part of a fund-raising event organised
by Winchester Citizen’s Advice Bureau with the theme ‘ Music at
the Palace.’
Audiences were invited to sit or stroll in the gardens whilst
being entertained by a Jazz Band, Saxaphone band …and, of course,
‘The Tudor Roses’.
The event was great success with feedback form one of the
organising committee that the ‘singing was lovely and I had very
good feed back everybody seemed to enjoy the evening..’
The CAB hoped to have raised nearly £4000 during the evening.
30th June 2007 - Distinction for Tudor Roses
at Bournemouth Music Festival
On Saturday 30th June, the Tudor Roses travelled in the rain to take part in the
Bournemouth Competitive Music Festival for the first time.
The barbershop chorus class had attracted men’s and ladies barbershop choruses
from across the South of England (from Taunton in the West, Bromley in the North
and Windsor in the North).
The afternoon saw Bournemouth’s historic Pavilion Theatre filled with the
colourful costumes of the choruses, with dinner jackets and waistcoats for the
men and lots of sparkle for the ladies. It was a real variety performance – with
a wide range of songs, plus the added extra of movement/choreography, as is
traditional for the barbershop style. The audience had a real treat of colour
and sound – and could easily have forgotten that the performers were all
amateurs and not the professional acts that the Pavilion Theatre is more
familiar with.
At the end of the day, the Tudor Roses were delighted to be awarded a
Distinction by the adjudicator for their skilful and entertaining performance of
two very contrasting songs.
24th June 2007– Chic Rain Hat Company, 'Le Poche Cloche' saves the day!
With so much rain having fallen in June, the Tudor Roses were delighted when
chic rain hat company, Le Poche Cloche (www.LePocheCloche.com
) came to their rescue.
The Tudor Roses, always wanting to look their best when they perform, had been
fighting with the wind and rain to try to get to their performances with their
hairstyles still in place!
The chorus were certainly relieved when Le Poche Cloche company (producers of
chic and funky rain hats) heard about their plight and kindly donated a supply
of their superb rain hats to the chorus, so that they could continue to look
great, despite the weather. In fact the chorus have now become so attached to
their stylish new rain hats, that they even wear them on stage for one of their
songs!
Here we are in our new chic rain hats:
(Photo to follow)
So, ‘thank you’ to Le Poche Cloche’ for ‘saving the day’.
If you just love our rain hats, why not visit
www.LePocheCloche.com …and get one of
your own!
March 2007 -Tudor Roses
win 2 Trophies at Portsmouth Music Festival.
Just
2 days after returning the trophy they had won last year at
Southampton Music Festival, the Tudor Roses Ladies Barbershop
Harmony Chorus replaced it with 2 new trophies won at Portsmouth
Music Festival (one of the largest festivals in the area).
Competing
against a field of barbershop choruses from as far as Brighton,
the chorus were delighted when the adjudicator awarded them first
place in the Female Barbershop Chorus class and presented them
with the Muriel Ellis Memorial Cup.
The
adjudicator praised the “fine voices in the chorus…….very
well balanced and blended …… with exquisite phrasing” and
“absolutely on top…throughout”.
The
chorus had already received recognition from the adjudicator
earlier in the day when they had gained a distinction in the class
of Songs from the Shows highlighting that the chorus were “so
musical” and that the performance was achieved with “great
panache and confidence”.
After
a long day listening to a variety of both male and female
barbershop choruses and quartets, the chorus were ‘over the
moon’ to win another trophy (the Pitchpiper’s Scroll) awarded
to the barbershop group who had made the biggest impression on the
adjudicator.
Musical
Director, Di Crosfield said
:
"I
was absolutely delighted with our result in the Barbershop Section
and with winning the Trophy for the Chorus who most impressed the
Adjudicator within that Class. I appreciated more than anything
the Adjudicator's comments regarding our musicality and can only
thank my "gals" for all their hard work"
In
addition to the two trophies won by the full chorus, one of the
chorus’, quartets, Shirazz also won their class and a trophy
…adding to the trophy previously won by Fortuna (another quartet
from the chorus) at Gosport Music Festival.
The
chorus are now poised for a busy few months of engagements –
with the next public performance being a St Georges Day concert at
the Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford on Sunday 22nd April
when they will join the Band of the Royal Logistics Corp. The
highlight of the charity concert, organised by the Rotary Club of
Chandlers Ford, will be a traditional ‘last night of the
Proms’ finale for all to join in.
2006
December 2006
- Tudor Roses Join the Winchester Festive Celebrations and bring
good cheer
The chorus had a
busy period of engagements in the run up to Christmas, and were
delighted to add to the Christmas spirit in Winchester. The
festivities started with the official Christmas Lights
Switch on by the Mayor when the chorus braved the wet and windy
weather to perform on the Win FM stage at the Buttercross. This
was followed by entertaining residents at one of the local Nursing
Homes. The chorus also entertained shoppers and skaters at the
Winchester Christmas market in Cathedral Close. Their final public
appearance was singing around the Christmas Tree at the
Buttercross where, thanks to the generosity of Winchester shoppers
and visitors, the chorus raised over £170 for the Wessex
Cancer Trust. The final festive event of the year was the chorus
Christmas party where the members showed off their wide range of
talents.
Monday 6th November 2006 – “An Evening with the Tudor Roses”.
On Monday 6th November we had an enjoyable evening hosting ladies from local women’s organisations.
The evening started with an introduction to barbershop, demonstrations
of how the four-parts fit together and the opportunity for members
of our audience to join us to sing some rounds in unison and for
some short verses in 4-part harmony.
Despite the fact
that many of the audience had just come to relax and listen and
watch, about two-thirds joined the fun by joining in!
As one guest
remarked 'I have always relied on music, and was amazed that I
could manage without it".
28th October 2006 - Tudor Roses featured in Daily Echo Video News
The Tudor Roses were featured in the brand new Video News section of the Daily Echo. To watch the video
click here.
6-8th October 2006 - Tudor Roses success in International Barbershop Competition in Ireland.
Led by the their Musical Director (MD) Di Crosfield, October saw 35 members of the ‘Tudor Roses’ taking part in their first International Barbershop Competition in Athlone, Ireland .
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The competition included both male and female choruses from England, Wales, Ireland, Sweden and Norway. The level of competition was high as it included previous UK, Nordic and International male and female champion choruses ….and last years winners.
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With such a strong
field of competitors, the Tudor Roses, as complete newcomers to
International competition were absolutely delighted to take 5th
place overall in the International chorus competition and be the
3rd placed female International chorus.
Besides competing in the International competition, the chorus made the most of the tremendous Irish hospitality with plenty of informal singing around the town including the Mayor’s Reception in the Town Hall, the local shopping centre and in local hostelries.
(See local
press coverage in the Hampshire Chronicle and the Daily
Echo.)
23 April 2006 - Tudor Roses in St
Georges Day Charity Concert
A packed audience
were treated to their very own 'last night of the proms' style
celebration when the chorus joined the Band of the Royal Logistics
Corps for a St Georges Day Concert, complete with flag waving,
hooters, whistles and a rousing rendition of 'Land of Hope and
Glory' and 'Rule Britannia'. The programme of music provided by
the band and the Tudor Roses provided a contrasting range of music
for the audience with Tudor Roses joining the band for the grand
finale. The charity concert, organized by the Rotary Club of
Chandlers Ford and Itchen Valley was a great success and enjoyed
by all ...so much so that another concert is planned for 2007.
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March 2006 - Tudor Roses Trophy Winners at Southampton Music
Festival
The Tudor
Roses were delighted to be awarded a trophy as winners of
the barbershop calss at the Southampton Music Festival
held at the Thornden Hall. |
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2005
15th October 2005 - Tudor
Roses win double silverware at Gosport Music Festival
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The Tudor
Roses gained first place in 2 classes (Barbershop and
Songs from the Shows) at Gosport Music Festival and came
away with two trophies . |
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February 2005 - Tudor Roses celebrates 10th
birthday
In February 2005,
the chorus celebrated its 10th birthday with a a big supper party
and concert attended by over 100 family and friends including
friends from other local barbershop choruses. The evening was a
great success and enjoyed by all, finishing with a mass sing-song.
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