Saturday 21st November YMCA staff choir at the YMCA theatre – 4 songs
Quite an exciting event for the small staff choir of 15 singers set up by choir member Louise. We were to sing 2 songs in each half of a cabaret performance by local tap dancing and singing children’s and adult groups. It was all very slick with a “runner” calling us a couple of items before ours were due on so we could line up side of stage ready to be on!
Our first 2 songs were Gaudeamus – Nataliegh Sleeth – meaning “Celebrate Today”. The choir sang this really confidently in 3 parts conveying the joy and fun of the occasion and meaning of the words. All a capella too.
Then we sang “So Strong” with a backing track. Usually I would NOT use backing tracks but brought this in as initially the choir were due to do another event which I could not be present at. The choir kind of liked the track so we kept it in. It worked a treat ( I hate to say he he) The choir went on a bit of a journey with this song as there were worries about people remembering harmonies/ words and even where to come in correctly in the lead up. It was performed superbly with 2 lots of duos singing out loud and strong and Dave- ad libbing beautifully. So proud!! The second half went smoothly too – with my unaccompanied arrangement of “Only You” and the groups version of the “Sloop John B” accompanied by Dave on the guitar.
Fun was had by all at the finale when we had to be on stage with the rest of the nights’ performers to discover that no one could see us behind all the high heeled women – leading to much subdued giggles from us all and even a couple realizing they might as well leave the stage (it was getting on for 10 pm by then) – but then to be suddenly announced as “A big thank you to the YMCA choir lead by Laura Bradshaw” at which point the whole lot of performers In front of us crouched down to reveal our tear stained faces (from the laughter) and a couple of the choir members walking across the middle of the stage with guitar and amp!! Woops – caught in the act! Someone said it was like something from Morcomb and Wise! Massive apologies if you happened to be in the audience! I think we would have been much more responsible if we’d known that we were to be thanked at the end – and would have been prepared to be “seen”. I haven’t laughed so much for a long long time though – great singing and great fun!