Competition heats up in Christmas choir contest (From Bucks Free Press)

Competition heats up in Christmas choir contest

9:31pm Thursday 20th November 2008 in Local Video News By Katie Pilbeam

CHOIRS from across the county battled it out tonight in the hope of being crowned the Eden Christmas Choir champions.

In the second round of the festive contest five groups took to the stage to showcase their musical talents.

Tonight's heat featured choirs from Amersham, Marlow, Gerrards Cross and West London, but only three could go through to the live final, being held next month.

High Wycombe's Eden Shopping Centre has teamed up with the Bucks Free Press and Mix 107 to look for the region's best amateur choir, giving schools, churches and the community a chance to show off their vocal chords.

The winning choir will scoop £2,000 with runners up receiving £500 and £250 to spend on their group.

The three choirs that went through to the final round tonight were all-female group Amersham A Capella, the Vocal Performance Academy from Gerrards Cross and Capital Chorus, a barbershop group from West London.

Each choir sang two songs to the panel of judges and live audience, one Christmas tune and another of their choice.

Amersham A Capella, gave a wonderful performance with their rendition of Sang Flying Melody and Jingle Bells, and sailed through to the next round.

Vocal Performance Academy, which is made up of men and women aged from eight to 80, performed Carol of the Bells and Over the Rainbow. The judges were impressed by their diversity and group dynamics.

The final choir to be put through to the next round was Capital Chorus, who got the crowds toe tapping along to Beatles track When I’m sixty-Four and Christmas classic Winter Wonderland.

Runners up in the battle of voices were The Descant Housewives, an award-winning ladies choir from Marlow, and the The Great Marlow Voices - who only formed seven weeks ago and had their first ever-public performance tonight.

Phil Stocks, Mix 107 presenter and compere for the evening, said: “What a fun evening, all the choirs were of a high standard with ability and experience. Tonight was just a lovely family occasion and I’m really looking forward to the final heat next week.”