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Gem Connection, September 2009, ready for Showtime!
Gem Connection Barbershop Chorus was founded in May 1998 by 23 women who were passionate about barbershop singing. Since then the chorus has grown in numbers and has established itself as a dynamic talent.
At our first performance on the competitive stage in 1998 we were awarded the trophy for the Best New Chorus by the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS). The chorus has performed at many different events in the East Midlands, where we are based, as well as taking our music to Germany, Holland and Buffalo, New York in the USA.
Our repertoire is extremely varied ranging from traditional Barbershop standards to songs from the West End shows, classical and pop. We are an enthusiastic team of singers of all ages and from all walks of life, coming together to make the unique sound that is barbershop harmony.
In 2005 we released our first CD, Feel The Love, competed at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen and had the trip of a lifetime to Buffalo, New York, where we sang at Niagara Falls and Buffalo Town Hall, appeared on television and ended the week in a sell out show entitled One Voice.
Since then Gem have continued to work hard to improve their national standing in competition. This gets more difficult each year as other choruses continue to raise their game. However, in 2008, after celebrating our 10th birthday, we were delighted to have our efforts rewarded by winning the silver medal at Harrogate in the annual LABBS competition.
Now the heat is on to keep up this standard by continuing to receive expert coaching and working hard as a team.
Our Chorus Director, Rachael, right, and
Musical Director, Lisa
2009 has been a very busy and exciting year for us. As silver medal winners in 2008, we were invited to compete in the European Convention in March at Veldhoven in Holland, a big thrill for us all and another excuse to travel and sing wherever we went. See pictures of our trip.
In addition we have performed throughout the year in shows, music festivals and a range of charity functions. We continue to enjoy many social occasions and members personal celebrations throughout the year. These include "noughty" birthdays, special wedding anniversaries and this year, very specially, the wedding of our youngest member, Kim, where we entertained the guests. See the pictures in our Gallery.
The chorus proved itself to be a true thoroughbred when we returned from our national competition in 2009 at Cheltenham Racecourse having upped our highest ever score by nearly 2%, earning us 5th place in the competition out of 32 choruses. Find out more in our News and Events section.
Here we are in anticipation of the competition at the racecourse.
See more pictures of the
weekend
Diamond Cut
Diamond Cut, our octet, have been
singing together for several years. When deciding on a name for the group
they wanted their membership of the chorus to be evident; hence the ‘gem
connection’ in the name of Diamond Cut!
Since their formation they have successfully competed in music festivals in the local area and performed at wedding services and private parties where they are always well received. Although you would expect to see eight performers in an octet you may be surprised to see more than this number on occasions. They are a quirky bunch!
Being members of Gem Connection the octet often get to perform in concerts and shows with the chorus. They are also happy to sing at smaller functions where the larger group would not be appropriate or is unable to perform.
Their repertoire is varied with popular songs arranged in the barbershop style from each decade of the twentieth century.
If you would be interested in finding out more about Diamond Cut and their availability to sing at your function please contact:
Maralyn Wilkinson 01332 761394 or Janet Micklewright 0115 9460598.
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