Just Pipped at the Post for Second Place! News

“When we decided to enter the International Bournemouth Choral competition in the Poole Lighthouse Arts Centre, we knew we would be up against strong field of 9 competitors from across the UK. However, though we only had 12 competition minutes to perform our three songs we were determined to do well, and there’s no doubt we did! After singing our first public performance of Walking arranged by Mark Sirett, then two choir favourites, the amusingly choreographed What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor and the powerful Bui Doi from Miss Saigon, the competition judges awarded us a very creditable third place, £250 and our second-ever competition trophy. Yes, we were pipped at the post for second place by just one point, but the Gentlemen Songsters, who so narrowly beat us, were great contestants and a great choir as was the overall winner, the Imperial Male Voice Choir.

We definitely did ourselves proud, and along with the first and second place choirs, our other reward was to showcase our talents in front of a 1000 strong audience at the Gala Charity Choral Concert held at the Lighthouse that evening. Each Choir was asked to perform its competition pieces again, however since Bui Doi had been part of the Gentlemen Songsters competition entry, RMVC was forced to make a last-minute song substitution, choosing Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.

All 10 Choirs massed for 6 numbers spread throughout the evening and together ended the Concert with American Trilogy and Gwahoddiad.

It was a long day for us all, but the adrenalin flowed, we kept up the pace and felt good about what we had achieved. So very well done to our wonderful MD Marion, our equally wonderful accompanist Brian and to all our great choir members. Onward and upward to success at our next competition in Cornwall.”

The next day Marion Maxey emailed her thoughts saying “I was so proud of the choir for performing as well as they have. We showed the judges just what we can do. And 2nd/3rd places were split by the narrowest possible margin so I’m just proud to be the Musical Director of Romsey MVC.

And we’re proud to have you Marion.