I sing in this chorus (that’s me, at the end of the third riser). It’s the reason I enjoy whatever level of sanity I manage to cling to. We’re called Amersham A Cappella, and we have just won the Gold Medal at the annual convention of the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers. And however far you may choose to position yourself from the wonderful world of Ladies’ Barbershop, believe me, it won’t be as far away as James, whose text to me before we went on stage was this
and whose text after we came off stage was this
For me, the story starts just over ten years ago. The Musical Director and the Chair of a lovely Ladies’ Barbershop chorus were at the Amersham Carnival when they saw a pregnant woman sitting on the grass playing with a baby and chatting to the nice man beside her. Something benevolent moved in the universe and prompted them to go and give that pregnant woman a leaflet about their chorus, because they loved their chorus and thought that she might love it too.
And that woman, who was already juggling a toddler, an unexpectedly enormous building project and an equally enormous baby bump, felt the thrilling fibrillation that comes when the universe does a good thing, and told the nice man she was with that she was going to audition.
But you’re pregnant/ the back of the house into which we have just moved is falling down/ what about the baby? Both babies?
She auditioned, and once a week (you mean this choir thing is every week?), she put the babies (both babies) to the back of her mind and went and sang. For three hours, she exercised her diaphragm and her lungs and her once-active mind. She chatted to other people – not about lead piping and new gas meters and structural timber and pureed cauliflower and blood pressure and breastpumps, but about songs and notes and the illuminating power of the right choreographed move in the right place. When other babies came along – when a bulldozer inadvertently sliced through the gas main serving her house – when her husband became terribly, terribly ill and her life became a nightmare whirlwind of appointments and consultants and ghastly drugs with names that sounded like the more obscure planets in Star Wars than anything that could cure anyone of anything – her chorus was still there. And the power of the right choreographed move in the right place still illuminated the music.
Year upon year, this chorus sang at the annual convention of the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers. But nothing could shake the dominance of two other choruses, which between them took the coveted gold medal in alternate years. The White Rosettes and the Cheshire Chord Company are both brilliant choruses, entwined into the very DNA of the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers, and the status quo seemed set in stone. Year upon year, Amersham A Cappella sang on that convention stage. And year upon year, they came home with nothing, or bronze, or silver. Why no gold? people asked. Should they change their song choices? Their character? Their frocks? Were certain people missing too many rehearsals? Oh the frustration. But Amersham A Cappella’s amazing MD had a bigger goal than the elusive gold. Her aim was simply that her chorus should get better. Improve their scores. Develop their technique without compromising their style; sing what they loved singing, and sing it as well as in them lay. Bronze? Never mind. The marks went up. Disappointed with that silver? Not at all – the marks went up. And again (silver). And again (silver).
And then, finally, this year, it happened. The years of steady, committed improvement paid off, and the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers has a new champion chorus. Contestant number 28, under the direction of Helen Lappert – Amersham A Cappella.
My chorus, and our inspirational, supportive and truly talented MD.
This medal did not happen because everyone in chorus made chorus their life. This medal happened because everyone in chorus has a life. Because, through bereavement and divorce, and marriages and breakups and house moves and redundancies and professional triumphs and births and exams and birthdays and crises and chemotherapy and major surgery and dreams coming true and dreams falling shattered to the ground, we sing. Once a week, we exercise our diaphragms and our lungs and our active minds. Once a week, we turn off the demands of our lives and we sing. Not for gold, but for the sheer joy of a talent well used.
(And James – the sausages take twenty five minutes in the roasting oven. I love you, and I’m off to chorus.)
What a wonderful article Antonia. After 32+ years singing barbershop I still feel the same about our incredible hobby and the friends I have made. Your win on Saturday was so popular and so well-deserved (not to take anything away from The Cheshire Chord Company, they were awesome too).
I hope you continue to sing with the marvellous Amersham A’Cappella for many more years to come – and teach that “nice man” of your’s to cook when you have a spare moment or two!
Thank you so much, Jacqui – for this and for everything you have done, and continue to do, for LABBS x
I was competing at Harrogate with Affinity this weekend and thought your chorus did a cracking job and deserved this big win. The above piece could fit my chorus as we too are right there for each other as you say sickness, good times, bad times, god awful times, marriages, divorces, babies being born, death you name it we have had it but it is that wee bit easier to bear knowing there is a wonderful group of ladies right behind you cheerin and cajoling you on when life throws a curve ball at you! The joys of Barbeshopping!
That’s really kind – thank you – and so glad to share this brilliant hobby with you, Affinity and all the amazing choruses who make it what it is x
Swap all of those identifying nouns; Amersham and LABBS. Swap genders. And you’re left with everything I felt when Bolton BHC first climbed high enough to reach top spot. Of course, I couldn’t possibly have done the written adaptation anywhere near the way you have done and my wife knows the recipe for sausages.
Well done to all at Amersham a capella. Your singing and look was absolutely top notch.
Thank you! Aren’t we lucky to have such a fabulous and sustaining hobby? Antonia x
So, 20 minutes for the sausages at what temperature? 😆
Lovely read, especially this one “Medal happened because everyone in chorus has a life.”
Congratulations to Amersham A Cappella for winning gold!
220 degrees. And thank you so much!
What a splendid article. When I read it a tear plopped from my eyes as also happened when I heard the contest result. I formed the Chesham men’s group in 1975 and one of the early members was a man called Ian Stone who started the Amersham ladies chorus called Chiltern Harmony. Look at you now – WOW! So it’s a fact, if I had not started the men’s group in Chesham (CVBS) there would never have been an Amersham A Cappella. That’s why you have a special place in my memory, not only for your special performances. Antonia, you have so eloquently described what I also feel about my life in barbershop.
Oh! And I do know how to cook a sausage.
Brilliant! Isn’t it wonderful how things connect in this way. Thank you so much x
Here, here, spot on, tip-top! What a wonderful piece of writing, so eloquently put – thank you Roomie, for all your help and support. I love my chorus!
me too x thank you, too – no way it would be the same without you (also we would have nowhere to stay and nothing to eat) xxx
Fabulous and captures the reality of chorus life. You so deserved to win and that was obvious from the first note you sang. I was cheering you on as I witnessed you make Labbs history. Many congratulations to you all.
That’s so, so kind, Katie – thank you x
This is soooo wonderful!! I am incredibly delighted for you all; thoroughly deserved and worked hard for.. I met some of your chorus this weekend and we chatted and laughed and talked about penises (?! Justine!!) and I love your spirit and determination – (and Dee xx) genuinely thrilled for you all xxx Jacqui, Cheshire Chord Company xx
Thank you Jacqui – that’s wonderful to read (and I wish I could say I was surprised by the topic of conversation!) so many congratulations to you too – highest score yet x
I am a member of Capital Connection another LABBS chorus and not only is your blog absolutely correct in every way, you were awesome at the weekend and so well deserving of that gold medal. Wear it with pride and keep on singing we love our craft and singing and the support the chorus provides cannot be underestimated I. Any way. Thank you for your story.
And thank YOU for reading, and for such a kind and lovely comment. It’s such a great hobby, and wouldn’t be what it is without ALL the choruses, and amazing people like Debi and Helen (and hey, you and I too!) x
Brilliant piece Antonia, and so true about every lady that sings in a Barbershop chorus I think. That gold medal has been a long time coming, but it was well deserved and what makes it even better I was there to see your triumph 🎶🎶💋💋
Sue Andrew
Red Rosettes
Thank you so much, Sue – wish the timings had allowed us to see you too – but congratulations on the fab score x
What a fantastic thing to read. Those of us involved in Barbershop and seeing this wonderful chorus in Harrogate over the week end cannot but be totally impressed by your enthusiasm and commitment. This was illustrated again on Saturday night at the ‘Afterglow’ when you ll dressed up as punks, clearly loving every minute.
Amersham A Cappella is a JOY to watch. Can’t wait to see you again.
Hurrah! Thank you so much for that – I’ll pass it on – and a huge shout out to all the choruses who make convention what it is x (just between us, I found the punk thing quite scary… I hope we do fairies or fluffy kind things next year!)
This is so true. Very moving and funny!
Thank you.
And very well done to you all.
You were fabulous.
Well deserved first place.
Thank you – that’s so lovely to hear!
Singing regularly helps improve my well-being by 100%, every time. Rehearsals as much as concerts, harmony practise and technique as much as solo glories. The only regretful part is when it always ends.
Too true. Thank you so much for reading x
Beautifully written and you’ve hit the nail right on the head for so many ladies.
Thrilled you finally got the coveted gold but even if you hadn’t, you’d still have your chorus.
So glad you corrected the sausages mistake too, even I knew that was too long and I’ve been a vegetarian for most of my life x
Thank you so much! Yes, that’s exactly it x (and the sausages too!)
What a sensational account of how being in a chorus can be an anchor in a turbulent life. Beautifully written, emotive and uplifting. Thank you.
From a Red Rosette xxx
Thank you Leanne, that’s so kind. I do feel lucky to have found such a sustaining hobby. And congratulations to all of you too – climbing up that scoresheet!
Wonderful, Antonia. Simply wonderful.
Thank you Dionne x
Every chorus singer will recognize this. It’s exactly how it is! Thank you for putting it into words. And a huge congratulations on your win and your amazing score. I love Amersham and their director Helen. Wonderful people all of you!
Thank you so much! I certainly feel very lucky to be part of this surreal and wonderful world x
What a great thing to get down in words, I’m still a newbie at all of this but in the past 18 months I’ve seen all of this too in my own wonderful group of women who gather together for the joy of singing and, in doing so, provide each other with the strength to cope through some awful moments of terrible sadness and share in some terrifically joyful highs. To me it’s like the grown up version of the brownies, titles are left at the door and we all leave our outer world cares behind for a little while. It was wonderful to see so many of the previous Chairs at convention and to thank some of them for what they have created and sustained in LABBS. I love my chorus too, even if I’ve started late compared to others . . . Your fabulous performance on Saturday was absolutely worthy of that Gold pin you’ll now be able to wear proudly every year. As you’ve written, it was a result of making steady improvements and striving to be better each year. I’m so thrilled that you got there and send huge congratulations to you all. Our crowd came home with a Silver pin x and our best score ever too.
So many congratulations to you too! It’s a wonderful thing to have discovered such a sustaining and enjoyable hobby. Thank you so much for reading and for such a lovely comment x
This is a wonderful article and a tribute to the benefits of being part of such a supportive group ……..oh and the singing too 😃. Congratulations to Amersham Acappella for daring to believe you could do it! You really did and you were really good! 🏅🏅🏅🏅
Thank you so much! I’ll pass that on x
I love you Antonia! Suzie M
I love you too xxx and Venus Effect were simply, simply fabulous x