One of my goals for 2011 is to start singing again. I sung in a choir back at university and last year, I sang live with my workmates as band members at the company Christmas party. The latter was a reminder of how I love singing and that motivated me to practice it again.

So I went on about looking for a group to join. I didn’t think in one bit to go about it on my own. So I started searching for choirs and group who were looking for new members. London being an entertainment capital, it didn’t take me long. I discovered that the London Symphony Chorus was looking for altos, which is my range. This was great because this choir performs (at times) with the likes of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall! That would be something. But then I’ve ‘done’ the classical repertoire. I wanted more contemporary but still a cappella. And then I discovered the world of barbershop.

Image credit: Dapper Dans by Randall Sheppard via Flickr

Barbershop is a style of unaccompanied singing sung in four-part harmony – lead, tenor, baritone and bass. The detailed characteristics of this style of music include “consonant four-part chords”. Unfortunately, it is far too musically technical for me so here’s an explanation from the British Association of Barbershop Singers.

So I went to look for a group to join and as luck would have it, the London City Singers – an all-women barbershop chorus – were looking for women who can reach really low notes. In a usual choir, I sing alto so in a barbershop group, I am either a baritone or bass. Since the London City Singers were quite short of basses, I decided to join that part. The chorus has a fun repertoire. We sing some ‘classic’ barbershop as well as pop songs arranged in barbershop style (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Fame, etc.) London City Singers is also a chartered chorus of an international organisation called Sweet Adelines International. There is annual convention where choruses and quartets compete and where members also get to participate in educational programs in music and vocal development. For 2011, Region 31 of Sweet Adelines International (covering England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Netherlands) will have its convention on 06-08 May at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

We have been focusing a lot on making our contest numbers perfect for the months leading up to convention. But the preparations are not only on the singing but also on the image. I have sung in front of people before where I had to be made-up but this barbershop business is something so much more! But I shall tell you about that later.

In the meantime, here’s a video of a Sweet Adelines International chorus to give you an idea of what I’ve put myself into. This is Nottingham-based Lace City Chorus, the Region 31 2010 champion.

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