If you have been gripped by Last Choir Standing and think you may want
to join in the fun, come along and sing a cappella with Crystal chords
women's harmony group (based in Manchester) on Thursday 4th September.
More details are at www.crystalchords.org.uk

Look forward to meeting you!

Kathy

Hey there,
If you live in or around the Coventry area and have sung before then
look no further than The Belles, a 50 strong ladies group aged 18-65.
www.thebelles.org.uk

We will shortly be competing in Harrogate at the British
Championships
where we are aiming for a top 6 finish. Since our New Musical
Director
joined us in January this year, we have added close to 20 new members
to our ranks and each rehearsal is a fantastic experience.

We rehearse every Wednesday evening from 7:15pm at:
Stoke United Reformed Church
Coventry,CV2 4BT

A warm welcome awaits any visitors, whether you wish to come and just
listen to some awesome singing or are thinking of joining....
See you there.....

For further information contact me: timmbarkworth@...
and check out our new website:      www.thebelles.org.uk

What do some early music lovers, Shirley Collins and American punk rockers have in common?

Answer: a love of American Sacred Harp music

As heard in the Civil War epic "Cold Mountain" and more recently featured on BBC4 TV's "White Gospel", or in this trailer from a full-length documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHUfHNEZDPc

Gregorian chant meets Bluegrass. Come and experience this thrilling and vibrant American "folk psalmody", from 18th century English psalm tunes, to early American fuguing tunes, from stunning, pentatonic folk hymns drawing on the traditional repertoire of America's earliest settlers, to the rousing spirituals of the "Camp Meeting" music that was a major forerunner of the Southern Gospel music of the US … all in weird, haunting, beautiful, a capella, four-part harmonies. You have to sing it to believe it.

Singing from Sacred Harp, 1991 edition – Loaners available!

Can't sight-read music? Not to worry: YOU WILL (START TO) LEARN IT HERE! The "shape notes" in which this music is written are a device for teaching the uninitiated to read music and sing in four parts.

For further information or to make sure there is space available, e-mail
mischawa AT yahoo.co.uk

FINANCIAL TIMES:

The long search is over. A brave volunteer has stepped up for the most
unwanted job in Whitehall. Gordon Brown has a new speechwriter.

His name is Tim Kiddell and his expertise, fortunately, is in “work
and wellbeing”*. This may come in handy as he ducks flying objects and
learns to cope with his clean prose being defaced by a thick marker
pen. We wish him well.

He certainly adds to the pool of unusual talents at No 10. He is a
former Kings College choral scholar who is still an active tenor. You
can read a review of one of his solos here. The piece? Mozart’s Requiem.

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2008/09/meet-gordon-browns-new-songbird/

Vasari Singers 11th November, St Martin in the Fields, London 7.30pm

Requiem for Remembrance

Allegri: Miserere
Tavener: Song for Athene
Jackson: Requiem – WORLD PREMIERE
Scarlatti: Stabat Mater

Vasari Singers, regarded as "One of the Worlds finest choirs"
(Musicweb International) will line up at St Martin in the Fields on
11th November for a night of the finest choral music on Remembrance
Day.  The highlight of the concert is the World Premiere of a
fantastic new choral Requiem, commissioned by the choir, by leading
British composer Gabriel Jackson.

Vasari's Music Director Jeremy Backhouse: "Gabriel Jackson is one of
the outstanding composers working in Britain today. He is becoming
increasingly well known for his sacred choral music which has
incredible depth and intensity. We are delighted to be able to work
with Gabriel on this major new choral work."

The whole programme presents a moving combination of accompanying
works, including the atmospheric Miserere by Allegri (famous for its
repeated top soprano Cs), John Tavener's Song for Athene (sung at
Princess Diana's funeral), Herbert Howells's Take him, earth, for
cherishing, (written for the memory of President JF Kennedy), and
Scarlatti's masterwork Stabat Mater.

The concert starts at 7.30pm, tickets priced from just Ł8-18 with
concessions, available from the box office www.smitf.org or by
telephone 020 7766 1100. Tickets are available now so don't miss out.

"Through the window pressed the sound of the fishermen's choir, their
voices strong and silty. It was one of the sweetest sounds I ever heard"

So begins a lovely recent article in the Guardian by Laura Burton on
the Staithes Fishermen Choir. She also laments - "We don't sing
together like we used to. Oh, we chant in the football ground, we join
along with the chorus at the stadium show, we roar along drunk as we
wend our way home. But mostly we sing alone, as we hoover the living
room, wait for the kettle, drive to work. And it makes me a little sad
to think of how we have lost each other's voices, drifted too far now
from those communities sewn together by song, where music is the
thread that runs from generation to generation and from each to each,
joining neighbour to neighbour, sacred to secular, land to sea."

Laura needs to hear about all the great harmony groups in England...

Read the article here:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/12/popandrock.laurabarton


----------------
John Neal

They would probably look like this....
International Silver Medallists 2008  CROSSROADS
British Gold Medallists 2008  MONKEY MAGIC
National Barbershop Youth Chorus
The Ivy League
The Grand Central Chorus

At Loughborough Town Hall, Saturday 18th October 2008, at 7.30pm
Tickets, priced Ł15,  from the theatre box office on 01509 231914

A great evening of close harmony a cappella singing, followed by a
great after-glow (that's more singing plus alcohol)
Visit www.grandcentralchorus.com for more information...

THIS IS LONDON:

A loved-up man proposed to his girlfriend using an a capella choir in
the middle of Sainsbury’s Clapham yesterday. Neil Chandler, 36,
surprised Kaajal Barot, 28, in the fruit and veg section by bursting
into “It Must Be Love” by Madness.

Miss Barot watched in astonishment as choir members posing as shoppers
joined in while Mr Chandler popped the question.

He said: “Kaajal said to me that she wanted me to surprise her and I
thought if I flew her to somewhere dramatic or if I took her to a
fancy restaurant she would know and it would be heavy on the pocket
book. “So I decided instead to spring it on her in Sainsbury’s, where
we come every Sunday.”

Mr Chandler, of Sandmere Road, Clapham has been secretly practising
for weeks with Kitsch In Sync, a volunteer choir based in London
Bridge. He said he had been nervous on his way to the Clapham High
Street store, but but luckily she said “yes” and accepted the diamond
ring.

Choir member Kate Kimber, 25, from St Albans said afterwards: “It was
brilliant, I burst into tears. It was just really beautiful. I didn’t
think it would go as well as it did. He had been to a few rehearsals
with us and we weren’t entirely sure how it was going to work. But it
went perfectly.”

Kitsch in Sync
www.kitschinsync.co.uk

Read more
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/whereilive/southlondon/wandsworthnews/3795659\
.Clapham_man_makes_tuneful_supermarket_proposal_to_Streatham_lover/

LIVERPOOL ECHO

Sally Johnson is one of five members of singing group The Gala
Ensemble, which has signed the lucrative contract with SonyBMG.

The talented quintet are now set to release their first record – a
tribute to legendary comic opera composers Gilbert & Sullivan – next
month.

They join stars including AC/DC, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen and Leona
Lewis on SonyBMG's roster.

Whiston-born Sally, whose family come from Prescot, said: "We have all
sung with each other before, but The Gala Ensemble is a very recent
thing. We got together in August and it has been like a whirlwind.

"The Ł1.25m is how much money Sony is putting into the project."

The five professional teachers, who also hail from Leeds,
Stoke-on-Trent, Bournemouth and Lichfield, will release The Best Of
Gilbert & Sullivan on November 24.

SongBMG said the singers' previous experience in opera and theatre
productions made them the perfect choice to front the label's
high-profile promotion of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, the first
time it has been attempted in 25 years.

Richard Hinkley, of SonyBMG, said: "The quality of singing required
for Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire meant we needed performers with
great technical ability, versatility and personality. Teaching singing
requires all of these skills, so it was to teachers we turned."

Sally, 30, who studied at the Royal Northern in Manchester and has
taught singing for 12 years, said: "The idea with this is to bring
light opera to people, although Gilbert & Sullivan has never really
gone away. It has a huge following all over the world."

The Gala Ensemble will perform on ITV's The Alan Titchmarsh Show on
November 4

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/10/29/merseyside-s\
inging-teacher-celebrates-1-25m-record-deal-100252-22142704/

THE SCOTSMAN

In Glasgow University's Research Club, a choir is holding its weekly
rehearsal. Its founder and conductor, Janis Fyfe Murray, dispels the
buzz of conversation with a loud rattle on a tambourine and they
embark on lengthy warm-up exercises until, eventually, 40 voices
launch into a spirited rendition of Hey, Good Lookin', in a swingy
choral evocation of the Fifties, music that goes with circle skirts
and Chevies with tail fins.

Choirs are currently enjoying something of a revival in Britain, but
the Parsonage Choir is almost certainly the only one specialising in
country and western. Formed by Murray two– and-a-half years ago, and
named after Gram Parsons, the ill-starred "Grievous Angel" of country
rock, it currently numbers almost 50 members, more than two thirds
women, and has already backed Rod Stewart at Hampden and recorded with
Echo and the Bunnymen. On Saturday they sing in a Hank Williams
tribute concert in Glasgow University Union, while on Wednesday they
are the subject of a BBC Radio Scotland programme, The Choir,
presented by one of its members, journalist Paul English. He's not the
only journalist in the choir, whose mostly Glasgow-based membership,
embraces media folk, software engineers, artists, hairdressers,
teachers and IT specialists.

Read rest of the long article here:-
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/The-Cowboy-chorus.4643025.jp

CROUCH END JOURNAL

The Show must go on for the Crouch End Festival Chorus - and not even
a crushed foot could stop them being rock n' roll stars.

The choir's collaboration with Britpop pioneers Oasis at the Electric
Proms could have hit a bum note after a microphone stand fell on
conductor David Temple during a sound check. He said: "I have been in
and out of hospital all morning having X-rays. A heavy duty stand fell
on my foot but I battled on. I would never have missed it."

The 50-strong group have now hinted the closing performance at the
event on Sunday could just be a taste of things to come. "Musically it
was so fantastic but also such fun. Noel is one of the most charming
people I've ever worked with," he said. "There aren't any firm plans
for future collaborations but we are getting nice vibes.

"We respect each other and the choral music works well with rock
music. I think of ourselves as their Wonderwall."

The Manchester five-piece revealed they wanted to play with the choir
after plans for the pairing to feature on new album Dig Out Your Soul
fell through. Noel Gallagher said on BBC 6 Music: "Out of all the
songs on the album there are two that didn't make it that have got a
50-piece choir. The original idea for this album was to record it with
this choir in Abbey Road and for whatever reason it didn't happen. "So
when we got offered the Proms, we called them up and said 'I know we
let you down but do you fancy doing a few tunes?'"

Mr Temple said they were in talks with the band over the album but it
never happened after the group decided to record the album in America.
He added: "I didn't know much about Oasis when they first came out,
but me and Noel chatted about his family and had a good banter about
football. "They have this reputation but from our collaboration it's
just unrecognisable."

The gig saw the choir play six hits with the group including
Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger at the Camden Roundhouse.

YOUR LOCAL GUARDIAN:


Introduce yourself Nic Doodson director, founder and tenor in The
Magnets. "We're an a cappella band meaning we make all of our music
live including the bass and drums without instruments. We prefer to
call it V'n'B — or Vocals and Beats."

Sound/influences "In our own songs you'd hear something of the 1950's
do-wop groups like The Temptations, The Four Tops or The Persuasions —
take that sound and imagine Mark Ronson/William Orbit has mixed the
original recordings with some funky beats."

When did it all start? "Years ago at UCL when it was a student
activity. We imagined we'd leave it at UCL when we graduated, but then
we got signed to EMI and our hobby became our job!"

Any groupies? "Yes, but groupies are not nearly as glamorous as you'd
imagine. I think you have to be a certain type of person to become a
groupie...."

Where do you play? "All over. This month it's been Berlin, Munich,
London, Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Edinburgh, Gleneagles, Copenhagen,
Canterbury. Lots of AirMiles!"

Best moment "The time we were stuck behind the stage at Edinburgh
Castle with Tom Jones (we were supporting him on tour) because we
couldn't get out of the castle! It was one of the guys birthdays and
Tom helped us polish off a bottle of 30yr old scotch."

Any singles/EPs/albums? "Giving It All That; Another Place; Kennington
Sessions; 6 Mics, No Luggage Song you wish you had written "I Wish It
Was Christmas Every Day"...now that's what I call Royalties. Every
year a 6 figure cheque comes through the door! Anything by Marvin Gaye."

If you weren't in The Magnets which band would you want to be in?
"Ozomatli — it looks like soooo much fun."

What's the band's dream? "People like the music. And to play in India.
Don't know why — but would love to."

Fantasy festival line-up "Ozomatli, Coldplay, Athlete, Antonio
Forccione, Lionel Richie (we actually gigged with him in Manchester —
he's so cool!)"

Nightmare line-up

"Slipnot"

Anything else

www.themagnets.com Find us on Facebook

Nic lives in Earlsfield and tours with The Magnets all over the
country, see the website for dates.

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/leisure/3824541.Band_Focus__The_Magnets/

The Magnets invite all fellow a cappella fans to come down to our
favourite London club this Wednesday (12th Nov) for one of our rare
hometown shows. We will be doing a full length show full of favourites
as well as plenty of new tunes developed over a busy recent season of
gigs from Truro to Tenerife!. Tickets are Ł15 in advance, and we'll be
on sometime after 8.30pm.

Details are here: http://www.kitschloungeriot.co.uk/clubnights.htm
or email nic@....

Cheers,

Michael

www.themagnets.com

Hi Alan,

That sounds like a great night. Wish I could be there.

I'm a member of pro a cappella group The Magnets (the ones pictured
top right on this site!) and we would love the opportunity to come
and sing with you at one of these events sometime. You wouldn't even
need to fly us in, as we are London based!

Though not barbershop ourselves, we'd love to get more involved with
some BABS or NBYC events, having had a particularly great time after
being booked to close the LABBS convention last year.

We've got nearly 10 years experience as a professional group, so have
lots to offer, both in performance and workshops. Meanwhile, I am
sure we would also benefit ourselves from learning more about the
Barbershop scene.

Who would be the best people to send some information to?

Best of luck with the big event.

Michael Welton

www.themagnets.com





--- In UK-acappella@yahoogroups.com, "weltonlead" <alangoldsmith@...>
wrote:
>
> They would probably look like this....
> International Silver Medallists 2008  CROSSROADS
> British Gold Medallists 2008  MONKEY MAGIC
> National Barbershop Youth Chorus
> The Ivy League
> The Grand Central Chorus
>
> At Loughborough Town Hall, Saturday 18th October 2008, at 7.30pm
> Tickets, priced Ł15,  from the theatre box office on 01509 231914
>
> A great evening of close harmony a cappella singing, followed by a
> great after-glow (that's more singing plus alcohol)
> Visit www.grandcentralchorus.com for more information...
>

DAILY TELEGRAPH:

It's a doleful afternoon on London's South Bank, with Waterloo Bridge
looming out of the murk-like backdrop to a Jack the Ripper movie, but
it doesn't dampen the enthusiasm of Harry Christophers. Next year will
be the 30th anniversary of his ensemble The Sixteen, and Christophers
can be justifiably proud of his achievements.

We settle onto some squashy coffee-bar furniture and he's off,
outlining The Sixteen's history and performing commitments, and
planning the future with heroic disregard for the ongoing global
turmoil. Like an entrepreneurial actor-manager, Christophers is
perpetually juggling art and commerce, and claims of one of his
projects that "for all I care it could be the 'Victoria's Secret'
Choral Pilgrimage, if they wanted to sponsor it for Ł100,000."

The Sixteen have just finished their 2008 Choral Pilgrimage, an annual
event inaugurated in 2000, and are eagerly anticipating their 150th
performance of Handel's Messiah at the Barbican on December 3. The
Sixteen's new recording of the piece on their own Coro label burnished
it in tingling new colours, but Christophers doesn't believe in a
single definitive version.

"I bumped into [conductor] Paul McCreesh in a bar in Madrid," he
recalls. "He said: 'God Harry, don't you ever get bored with Messiah?'
I said: 'No way!' I'm sure if you asked John Eliot Gardiner if he gets
bored with doing the Bach Magnificat he'd say no. These are great
pieces, and there's something new to find every time."

Christophers began his odyssey into Renaissance and baroque music as a
choral scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became convinced there
must be an alternative to the regimented formality of the Oxbridge
choral tradition, which he once uncharitably likened to a form of
musical castration.

"Oh dear. Obviously I'd retract that a little bit. Naturally you need
order and precision, you don't want consonants flying all over the
place, but ultimately to me that approach is not natural. The Sixteen
feel and breathe the music as one, and I don't have to give this
incredibly rigid beat because they feel the music through me."

Read more:-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/11/13/bmsix113.xml

BBC BERKSHIRE:

As far as charity singles go, Evensong has to rank as one of the most
interesting you'll probably ever come across. And it all started when
an award-winning a cappella group based in Finchampstead called Voces8
performed a concert in London.

The eight piece (as their name, Italian for Eight Voices, suggests)
were approached by two audience members afterwards with an offer of an
exciting project. The two men just so happened to be Ken Howard and
Alan Blakely, who are the first British songwriters to have written a
song for Elvis Presley. The duo wrote I've Lost You for the King, and
are responsible for 40 top 20 hits, including the Miss Marple theme tune.

Voces8 co-founder Barnaby Smith remembers "They came up to us
afterwards and said 'we'd really love to help you". "Ken was looking
to do something again with his Miss Marple theme tune, which had been
a top 20 hit in the past had sold in 60 countries around the world."

The counter tenor and conductor adds: "They decided that they wanted
to write some text for the Miss Marple theme tune and present it as an
a cappella eight-part arrangement for us to record."

The result is Evensong, a remarkable and stunningly beautiful a
cappella allegory.

Read more, watch video here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/11/18/voces8_feature.shtml

A Cappella News
www.acappellanews.com

What do Shirley Collins, Alan Lomax and American punk rockers have in common?

Answer: a love of American Sacred Harp music

As heard in the Civil War epic "Cold Mountain" and more recently featured on BBC4 TV's "White Gospel", or in this trailer for a full-length documentary currently showing on the American PBS network:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHUfHNEZDPc

Gregorian chant meets Bluegrass. Come and experience this thrilling and vibrant American "folk psalmody", from 18th century English psalm tunes, to early American fuguing tunes, from stunning, pentatonic folk hymns drawing on the traditional repertoire of America's earliest settlers, to the rousing spirituals of the "Camp Meeting" music that was a major forerunner of the Southern Gospel music of the US … all in haunting, beautiful, a capella harmonies. You have to sing it to believe it.

Full-Day Sacred Harp Singing in London
Saturday 22nd November 2008

10.00 am – 4.00 pm
St. Mary's Church*, Neasden Lane, Willesden,
London NW10 2TS[/size]

*a 10-minute walk from Neasden Tube Station, Jubilee Line

Singing from Sacred Harp, 1991 edition – Loaners available!

"Pot-luck" bring and share lunch during the noon hour

This event is free to the public, voluntary donations will be gladly accepted

For more information phone Michael Walker on 07770 210067 or write to him at

mischawa AT yahoo.co.uk

Borehanwood Times,:

A barbershop singer from Radlett is preparing to represent Britain in
Europe next year after winning a nationwide competition.

Helen Lappert, 45, and her three fellow singers sang their way to
victory at the Ladies Association of Barbershop Singers national
convention, in Harrogate, last month.

Her quartet, called NoteOrious, claimed the championship in front of
an audience of about 2,000 people, after singing renditions of As Long
as he Needs Me from the musical Oliver!, and Can’t Help Lovin’ That
Man, from Show Boat.

Mrs Lappert, of Craigweil Avenue, said: “We are absolutely thrilled.
We have been together for three-and-a- half years and had been
rehearsing at least once a week with extra vocal coaching and lessons
in the lead up to this competition.

“It has involved a lot of sufferance on behalf of our families, so it
was wonderful it was the first time I had all my family there,
watching me perform.”

Her musical talents also seem to have rubbed off on other family
members. She added: “Both my 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son
are very musical. My daughter has followed in my footsteps by joining
the youth barbershop league. “I have been interested in music
virtually all my life.”

NoteOrious is made up of Mrs Lappert, Astrid Shepherd, Alison Moore
and Rose Hopkinson, who are all also members of Amersham A Cappella, a
40-strong choir which Mrs Lappert is also director of.

Mrs Lappert, the quartet’s bass singer, also runs the Singing Circle
in Radlett, which provides group singing lessons for children and women.

The group are now preparing to travel to Holland in March, to
represent Britain in the European Barbershop Convention 2009.

Amersham A Cappella will take part in a competition to find the best
choir in Buckinghamshire, with the hope of winning ÂŁ2,000 to put
towards the trip to Holland.

For more information about NoteOrious, visit amershamacappella.com/
noteorious

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE:

John Rutter, probably the most oft-performed living composer, has
written some 60 non-Christmas pieces, including the respected Requiem,
but it’s his misfortune or, perhaps, blessing that he is chiefly
associated with carols. Most music heard this month will be credited ‘arr.

John Rutter’ and his Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, written when at Highgate
School, has sold more than one million copies in sheet music alone.
And this charming, friendly man remains philosophical about his
pigeon-holing. ‘Christmas has been the golden thread through my
musical life, but I have gone through periods of rebellion,’ he
admits. ‘I felt it made it harder to be taken seriously as a composer,
but I’ve come out the other side.

The carol is the oldest vernacular form of music and an art form that
British composers have made their own.’ Critics have occasionally
dismissed Mr Rutter’s melodic, touching style of writing and arranging
as ‘too accessible’ or ‘sweet’; many more, however, find it a relief
from self-conscious contemporary works. Again, the contemplative and
courteous Mr Rutter is phlegmatic. ‘I think the same proportion of
current music will endure as before, which is about 10%.

Read more:-
http://www.countrylife.co.uk/culture/article/295715/Interview_John_Rutter.html

Grammy-winning American choral group VocalEsssence performed on
today's "In Tune" program on Radio 3. Directed by Philip Brunelle this
talented a cappella ensemble is about to begin a UK tour.

Listen to program here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gnrt3

Tour dates here:-
http://www.vocalessence.org/

John Neal

THE TIMES:

Ten years old this month, but still flush with the sheer cheek of what
they do, Orlando Gough's ragbag choir have been blowing out the
candles with gusto. They took on a whole week of programming at Kings
Place, capping it with this winningly indulgent night of personal
celebration. The greatest hits tour, you might have called it, were it
not impossible for this group to perform anything with a sense of
reverence: they're far too in the moment.

Perhaps ragbag choir isn't the best way of describing the Shout, but
it does sum up two things they represent: choral singing without the
stuffiness. In place of most choirs' obsession with tweezering the
blend, their members come from multiple places in the musical map,
ranging from pop to soul, music theatre to opera. What they all share
is a brilliant sense of musicianship, combining staggering discipline
(everything is a cappella, everything is memorised, everything is in
tune) with an exhilarating willingness to dart off in unexpected
directions.

This showcase gave us the best of their versatility. One moment the
group were absorbed in the febrile heat of Mike Henry's percussive
Song for a Dark Girl, the next they gathered in a Gaelic threnody,
Grioghal Cridhe, with Rebecca Askew the pure-voiced soloist. Theatre
infuses but never smothers their vocalism: in Galeas, a Greek-Ladino
lament for the enslaved, the group spread out disconsolately,
breathing out the strains of a slave's labour before two singers gave
full cry to the melody. But, just when you think it's all gone a bit
worthy, the Shout gamely bring on a duet sung with the text entirely
back to front: loopy, but oddly compelling.

It's touches such as this that remind you that the Shout isn't just
about sound: when they sing, they do it with an immediacy that almost
lets you touch a song as well hear it. Here's to ten more years

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_rev\
iews/article5553754.ece

---------------------
www.acappellanews.com

BBC News:

Singing group helps dementia:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7873432.stm

---------------
John Neal

There's a new barbershop podcast up at www.youbarbershop.com.  This
week we introduce our new co-host, talk about Greg Clancy's departure,
the upcoming prelims competitions and the Society's involvement with
the Affiliates.

Go to youbarbershop.com and look for the link on the homepage or go to
the YouCast link listed on the left-hand side.

The YouCast is available to everyone.

Happy casting!

Mike

Last Friday saw the launch of a new UK vocal event, 'The Voice Festival
UK'. The Festival has been created to celebrate contemporary UK a
cappella, and to provide a platform for singers to come together from a
variety of backgrounds to explore the power and versatility of the
human voice.

The festival kicked off in Cambridge last week, as three university
groups came together in Fitzwilliam Auditorium to compete to go through
to the final round. 'Fitz Barbershop', 'The Oxford Alternotives'
and 'Cadenza' battled it out, adjudicated by judges Suzi Digby, John
Rutter and Joanna Forbes, and the latter two groups were successful in
proceeding to the final round which will be held in London on March
14th - all welcome.

Upcoming events will be held in Oxford on Saturday 28th February, with
an afternoon workshop, focusing amongst other things on vocal
percussion and led by former Swingle Singer and Lead Tutor of the
Beatbox Academy, Jes Sadler. The evening competition will feature four
a cappella groups from Oxford University, two of whom will go through
to the final.

The other regional event will be in St Andrew's on Saturday 7th March
where, once again, four university groups will be competing for two
spots in the London final. Afternoon workshops will be led by two of
the current Swingle Singers, Tobias Hug and Kevin Fox.

The final will be held on Saturday March 14th in Wathen Hall, St Paul's
School, Barnes, London. All are welcome to the workshops during the
afternoon which will be led by Dominic Peckham, Artistic Director of
iSing UK and Associate Conductor of The National Youth Choirs of Great
Britain. Please then join us for the evening competition where the six
groups who have made it through to the final will sing once more, for
six celebrity judges, to win the title of a cappella Champions UK.

More information and tickets from www.thevoicefestival.co.uk

We have a new YouCast available at www.youbarbershop.com.  Mike and
Brian sit down with the 2008 International Silver Medalist Crossroads
and talk about all subjects ranging from CD recording sessions to Mrs
Farrell's cooking.  Crossroads is coming off a spectacular performance
at Mid-Winter and shares with us how and why they sing together. Listen
as they are put on the hot seat with Brian's "Complete Waste Of Time In
Ten Questions Or Less."

Mike and Brian also cover last week's articles from YouBarbershop which
include the Harmony Foundation show and the new comedy quartet from
MAD, Bigtime!

YouCast is a free podcast for all barbershoppers to download and take
up space on your hard drive.

Mike

Richard Salter, who has died aged 65, was a founder member of The
King's Singers, the celebrated a cappella group of choral scholars
which emerged from King's College, Cambridge, in the mid-1960s; within
a few years, however, he had been lost to the German-speaking world,
carving out a reputation for delivering baritone roles in the most
difficult of contemporary operas.

Read Daily Telegraph article here:-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4788792/Richard-Salter.html

---------------------
www.acappellanews.com

With the audio problem resolved, YouBarbershop offers lots of
interesting topics for this week's YouCast which include the release of
Rick Taylor from Old School, CD reviews and an entertaining interview
with the 2008 International Medalists, State Line Grocery.  SLG members
Mark, Drew, Tim and Dylan share stories on the quartet's coaches,
contest preparations and something completely embarrassing that nobody
knew about them...  until now.  If it weren't for the hardline
investigating by the YouBarbershop staff, this information would never
have been leaked to the public.

To download the free podcast go to www.youbarbershop.com.

Cheers!

Mike

This week YouBarbershop chats with uber-coach Cindy Hansen about the upcoming
International competition, the current state of the Presentation program and
other fun barbershop news.  We also cover last weekend's European Barbershop
Convention, MAD Prelim results and YouBarbershop "Pre-Pre-Pre Top Ten Quartets
in Anaheim."

To download the free podcast, go to www.youbarbershop.com

Cheers!

Mike
P.S. Thanks to all who have been coming to the site to visit and download the
podcasts.  Brian and I are overwhelmed by the attention and positive feedback
from our listeners.  We're trying our best to make this an entertaining product
for barbershoppers to enjoy.  A special shout out to barbershoppers in SNOBS and
BABS who have shown a lot of interest in what we do! Why?  We still don't know.