The Cantate Choir performed at the finals of Top Choir Kent in Canterbury last night – 12th April 2014. We had a fantastic time, enjoying the music from all the other wonderful and high quality competitors, and from the guests for the evening – the P&O choir – winners of the BBC programme Sing While you Work. Music ranged from William Byrd to Coldplay, with many different styles and moods in between, and we were impressed by how smoothly the whole event went, providing as it did a great opportunity to raise money for charity.
Our own performances of Gabrieli, Somewhere over the Rainbow and Bobby Shaftoe we felt went well – a ‘demanding’ repertoire was the comment from the judges but, as they said, we were fully up to doing it justice.
Then that heart-stopping moment as they announced we were the winners! We were able to provide the grand finale with one last ringing rendition of Jubilate Deo.
We now will have the opportunity to perform as part of the Canterbury Festival in the Autumn and as part of the BBC Radio Kent Carol service at Rochester Cathedral.
If you weren’t able to make it or if you would like to relive the whole experience you can tune into BBC Radio Kent at 6 on Easter Morning (or follow up on iplayer for the following seven days at a more leisurely time!)
Photos taken at the Final of Top Choir Kent 2014. © Guy Gardener and the Rotary Club of Canterbury (all apart from trophy and certificate photo)