A Singing Extravaganza with Go Vocal and Off the Record!
Fascinating Rhythm enjoyed sharing a concert with the local Gloucestershire mixed voice singing group Go Vocal and local barbershop quartet Off The Record on 18th February 2023 at Mangotsfield School.
The variation in styles and songs gave the audience a feast of sound and entertainment. Fascinating Rhythm performed a selection of 10 a cappella songs, including show tunes like “We Go Together” from Grease, pop songs such as “Titanium” and the crowd-pleasing jazz number “Feeling Good”, as well as our current barbershop competition package.
Fascinating Rhythm held its most recent “Love to Sing” day in January, and delegates worked on “Feeling Good” during the workshop. Excitingly delegates were then offered the opportunity to polish the song over the next three weekly rehearsals with the choir as a further introduction to singing in a choir. The icing on the cake was an invitation for these delegates to perform this song with Fascinating Rhythm on the stage at this concert.
A huge well done to Claire Tring, Sophie Doughty, Cathryn Gazzard, Claire McGine and Sue Mullins, who truly took the song from page to stage. Whilst some might have been out of their comfort zone, it didn’t show, and their performances were fantastic and received rousing applause from the audience.
“I really enjoyed the Love to Sing workshop, so I jumped at the chance to join FR for a few rehearsals and to perform Feeling Good with them on stage. They are a brilliantly talented group of women, so it was quite nerve-wracking to stand and sing beside them before an audience – but everyone in the group is so friendly and supportive… and that makes all the difference. After the first few bars, I managed to relax, sing out and enjoy it! I’m so glad I did it as it has reawakened my love of singing – I hadn’t sung with a choir since I left school 40 years ago, and it’s given me the kick I needed to start again. The best part about the evening was watching FR’s amazing performances and seeing how much singing as a group meant to everyone involved. Thank you for the opportunity – definitely an experience I’d recommend to anyone who wants to give it a go….”
Claire McGine said afterwards,
We were also delighted to welcome our newest member, Fionnuala Costello, to the stage for her debut performance.
Go Vocal, led by Linda Corcoran, gave an outstanding and equally varied performance of show and pop songs arranged for male and female voices, differentiated from FR by their inclusion of backing tracks. They also gave the audience a wonderfully atmospheric rendition of Adiemus by Karl Jenkins. Local guest barbershop quartet Off The Record, made up of Tom Adams, Paul Richmond, Hayden Cole and Hugh Parker, rounded out the concert with their own individual style. The quartet performed two short sets, including their current competition package, which has taken them through to the national semi-finals of this year’s BABS quartet national championships. We wish them the very best for the next round and also thank Paul Richmond for his fantastic and funny MC slots during the show!
‘It was such a pleasure to share the stage with Go Vocal and Off The Record. After the last few difficult years, it was amazing to be able to perform in a fantastic show which promoted the amazing singing talent we have locally. I was also delighted that we were able to bring on to the stage some wonderful ladies who had learnt the song Feeling Good in just three weeks. As musical director, it was wonderful to watch their development and confidence; I was very proud to be with them on stage”.
Fascinating Rhythm’s musical director Jo Thorn said of the concert;
We look forward to future performances and collaborations with these wonderful groups.
