News » Choir compete at the MACC
Choir compete at the MACC
On Sunday 21st November the ULMS Choir, under Amelia Phillips competed at the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition. This took place at the Royal Northern College of Music and featured choirs from across the country.
The Choir had to get up at a ridiculously early time in the morning, in order to make it to the venue in time for the start – most of the members of the choir made it on time. Once everyone had arrived, two coaches took the eighty strong choir to Manchester to practice going on stage. There was a lot of hanging around but Josh and Ed kept spirits up with their rendition of Ghost Busters, but their merriment was soon crushed by Amelia.
As well as singing in the competition, the Choir was given the opportunity to sing in St Ann’s Square amidst the Christmas market stalls. They sang a few Christmas songs such as Silent Night, Ding Dong Merrily on High and Coventry Carol. This was widely appreciated by the passing shoppers who stopped to listen. There was a little free time in which everyone used to look round the Christmas market, do a bit of shopping, or for the uncultured people, visit McDonalds.
The choir then headed back to the RNCM to sing to the panel of judges. There was a large audience in the RNCM’s Concert Hall, but they were also surprised at the size of the ULMS Choir, the largest in the competition. They sang Oh Bla Di, with a solo from Rafael Oyelade followed by Michael Tippett’s Deep River, featuring soloists, Suzy Wimbourne, Emma Bates, Richard Osborne and Simon Gower. The choir performed really well, with conductor Amelia Phillips leaving the stage very happy.
The choir then listened to the other choirs performing, before heading off for a meal at Giorgio’s. Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time and thanks must go to Amelia for bullying the choir and getting great things from them, and to Laura Coverley who wonderfully organised the trip, and despite having eighty people to control, didn’t lose any...but did gain some bread, although that’s another story.
