We've been saying to each other how glad we are that CKC is not competing this year, but gosh it's still hard work being an audience. We watched all 27 quartets compete today.
Ah, but first I have to tell you about our STAR chorus rehearsal this morning with Lea Baker. It was a pleasure to sing with 110 women who all seem to have learned the music before they turned up to the first rehearsal ... there was maybe only one point where Lea had to remind us of notes and words. CKC, we can do this too! Lea was great to work with - very clear on what she wanted us to do, and then she praised us when we did it. Mostly we duetted this morning, in Sections, and then tomorrow we add dynamics and choreo. The sound was awesome to be part of.
Okay, quartet comp. We started with a YWIH chorus from MLC (Methodist Ladies College) singing Tuxedo Junction and A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square. Were we ever that young and gorgeous? Then there were presentations to seveal people who had achieved 20 years membership, and then the Quiet Achiever awards. This year there was no Regional winner, just recognition of all the individual chorus winners.
The first quartet came on stage at 12:41 pm. I won't give you a song by song description, just the highlights (although I dutifully recorded all the costumes and all the songs in my UBdeJudge booklet).
The second quartet was Petit Fours, who were four of the MLC girls. They had lots of energy and passion and confidence (and the highest heels I've ever seen on a quartet). They sang Baby Face and Smile, Darn you, Smile and won the Novice Quartet Award. There was also a second MLC quartet called Young and Foolish with some cute choreo.
Costumes were interesting and ranged from serious sequins to fairly casual outfits complete with crumpled fabric. I think Verve had the best costume - colourful, sophisticated and flattering without being over the top.
Andiamo is the quartet that Lea Baker and Jill Harris sing in. They were placed fourth with 579 points. They sang (I don't know the right names for these songs) I love you 'til I'll die and One Step From Dixie Land.
Verve were on 11th and I think it was the best performance of their package I've seen them do. They put all Karen Breidert's coaching into practice and Betty was just gorgeous - she has such an expressive face and puts so much emotion into what she's singing. Verve came in 8th with 488 points and were very pleased to be in the top 10.
Harmony Capers (from Melbourne Chorus) scored 554 and came fifth - they also won Most Improved with a whopping great improvement of 129 points. They sang There Goes My Heart and Swanee. Their voices blended beautifully and they had lots of dynamic contrast.
BlackJaQ (from Perth Harmony Chorus) sang It's a Sin To Tell a Lie and Sweet Adeline and we knew they were going to be hard to beat. They placed first and scored 600 points.
Accolade scored 585 points and were placed third. They were great, as always, but I don't think it was their best performance.
iCapella, which included Lindsey Dyer singing Bass,did a beautiful interpretation of Somewhere Ove the Rainbow and were placed second with 589 points - just 4 points ahead of Accolade, too close to call.
The standard of the quartets this year was higher than ever, so CKC can be very proud to have both our quartets in the top ten.
The quartet competition finished at 5:30 pm and then the quartet chorus sang while the results were being collated. While BlackJaq were singing I was texting James with the scores.
We hung about in the Foyer for Afterglow drinks, waiting for the score sheets to be given to the quartets, and then Inese and I went off to dinner at a nearby Asian restaurant. We had an invitation to party with Verve but decided we wanted a quiet night.
Jdo you remember Julia, our German barbershopper who visited CKC several times? Since she left us Julia has been working her way around Australia and is here for Convention. This morning she showed us some of her photos of her travels - she's covered a lot of territory and done lots of different jobs. Chris Kemp is here, too, on a last minute impulse.
We shopped at Harmony Bazaar this morning. Steph and I each bought a copy of Endeavour's Music Theory course, in case Doris finds it useful. The most interesting thing I found (but didn't buy) was plastic vases that fold flat. There was some local craft work and the usual Sweet Adelines stalls.
I think it's time to go to bed ... our bodies are still on Sydney time and it's 11:30 pm back home.
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