We were delighted to welcome 72 new faces as we virtually opened the doors of zoom and hosted an open rehearsal. 

Visitors were given a taste of a virtual Lace City Chorus rehearsal which included an opportunity to explore their voice using a simple exercise. They then chose a voice part and in four break out rooms the Basses, Baritones, Leads and Tenors learnt a section of the Greatest Showman hit, This Is Me. After only 20 minutes everyone came together and sang through the song in four part harmony. 

While the chorus aren’t able to meet in person we are still rehearsing each week. Members dial in from the comfort of their own homes and then it’s business as usual with a check in, physical and vocal warm up and dedicated music development. 

Throughout lockdown the Lace City Chorus held weekly rehearsals via Zoom to help keep the members connected, spirits up, and provide them an opportunity to grow as singers. 

The chorus are unable to hold concerts this year due to Covid-19 restrictions so they have decided to dedicate an online performance and help raise funds for the Nottingham founded charity When You Wish Upon a Star.  Each chorus member has made an audio and video recording and with the expertise of a fellow barbershop singer they have created this virtual choir performance of The Beatles classic ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’. 

Celebrations all round as the chorus celebrate winning gold at the Sweet Adelines Region 31 competition in Newcastle.

Glenn Chaney, Director of Lace City Chorus, is delighted that the chorus will now compete in the world championship in St Louis in Missouri.

He said:  “I couldn't be more proud of the chorus, not only for the championship winning performance but also for the way every singer committed to the preparation. It is a huge privilege to direct this amazing group of fabulous women.”

At the national championship, the women performed ‘I have dreamed’ from hit musical The King and I and jazz hit ‘I Got Rhythm’ composed by George Gershwin which incorporated colourful choreography including director Glenn being dragged across the floor.

On Saturday 11th March we were thrilled to be part of the very first National Signing Choir Competition.

This wasn’t our first experience of signing musicians. Last October we organised a concert with local music groups and one of our guest acts was Radcliffe Community Signing Choir. The finale of the evening was to be Elbow’s One Day Like This and all of our guests would join in. In the weeks leading up to the concert we rehearsed with the choir and learnt the signs for the chorus of One Day Like This. It was more challenging than learning choreography! As we watched the signing choir perform that night we were in awe of the emotion and feeling that went into each song.