We were delighted to have another weekend coaching session with the inspirational and enthusiastic (and very funny) Sally McLean during September.

Another 2 day session where Fascinating Rhythm were well and truly put through our emotional ringers as well as technically enhancing our Convention package. We so enjoy our visits from Sally and look forward to them almost as soon as she has left the building…. despite being exhausted. Our MD, Jo, also grows with advice given to her and her treatment of the chorus (although the big stick did not come out during this visit!)

We very much look forward to seeing and hearing Sally’s chorus (The White Rosettes) amongst all other competitors at Convention in Bournemouth at the end of October. It is sure to be a great European Convention this year!

One Thursday evening in August we were able to secure a session from a new coach – Doug Harrington!

He helped us with our convention songs and we really enjoyed this first coaching session with him. It is surprising how, as women, we reacted to a man!! We obviously have a female MD and we realise that our coaches are usually women too so it really was a refreshing and exciting change for us as a chorus. The evening went at lightening speed of course!

It was a fun and energetic evening and we do hope that we will be able to have Doug come to see us again in the future – thank you Doug

On 15^th June 2017, 3 members (Barbara Colfer, Irene Lees and Linda Holden) of Fascinating Rhythm were delighted and honoured to be part of the BBC Music Day in Southmead Hospital.

This was to celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of BBC Points West.

There were 60 choirs from all over the South West, members of the Bristol Youth Choir and the UWE ReVoice Choir, a community choir for people affected by aphasia.  We were also joined by YolanDa.

It was a very exciting day with the TV crew and recordings being made which showcased the theme of the power of music for good health and wellbeing.  This was broadcast on BBC Radio and TV.

The performance took place in the Brunel building of Southmead Hospital which was an awe-inspiring backdrop.  A great day was had by all.

Yet again our very own Junior FR put on an outstanding performance but this time it was Roald Dahl’s “Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf”
Two performances took place on 23rd July in the Memorial Hall, Rangeworthy. This version was a humorous, contemporary spin on this well-know fairy tale with there being an unexpected surprise for the wolf!
The performers worked hard and learnt a different set of skills, incorporating acting and dancing. The music score was also improved (in our barbershop world) by adding harmony lines into two and even four parts.

JFR were delighted to recently receive £100 from the TAF and Eisteddfod Committees after taking part again in the Thornbury Eisteddfod. They were recognised as “great kids with a very enthusiastic support group” and “Junior FR are very inclusive and have a diverse age range, being an external chorus, all of the kids want to be there…”

Special mention must go to the JFR adult team, their continued help and support means so much to the girls and us in Fascinating Rhythm.

We all had such a good night at our charity concert on Saturday, 8th July in Bridgwater to raise funds for Ups and Downs South West.  The theatre was an amazing space to be in and the staff, especially technical team, were second to none.  Ticket sales, along with a spiffing raffle and some very generous match funding from Barclays Bank gathered over £1,000 into the coffers of this excellent cause.
We were thrilled with the debut performance of ‘Titanium’ quartet who sang Billy Joel’s ‘Lullaby’, and a Spice Girls medley.  Our ‘in-house’ quartet ‘Free Range’  also did a fantastic job with four songs in each half.
Mixed voiced a cappella group Planet 24 enjoyed the experience though with a touch of sadness as it was the last gig for their amazing beat boxer Henry; this master of timing will be greatly missed.
Fascinating Rhythm closed the first half with the very emotive song ‘Fix You’ and an inspiration DVD about the work of the charity playing images on the screen behind – not a dry in the house, including some on stage!

All groups combined to close the show with ‘Happy Together’ with the six gentlemen taking part getting nice and cosy right in the middle of 50 women – brave lads.  Our truly professional MC John Shipley, who is a Trustee for Ups & Downs, was supported effortlessly by new FR member Erica Smith as Stage Manager – her first time in the job (with all of two weeks notice).
Some comments from the audience: “so professional, a real pleasure to see”; “really impressed by the focus of Fascinating Rhythm on the MD and just how animated they all were – they looked like they were really enjoying every minute of it”.

Our lovely Emma Richardson who sings Bass with FR plighted her troth on Saturday, 24th June to Mr Steve Beale at the Hare and Hounds in the stunning location of Westonbirt. Fascinating Rhythm were invited to the wedding en masse and sang a set of five songs at the reception – the first being ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You’ that Emma dedicated to Steve. Steve then stepped up to join her and Mr & Mrs Beale delighted everyone by singing to each other. It was a truly lovely day, and we all wish them the very best for a long and … no apologies … harmonious life together.

We were delighted to be able to present our charity for 2016 – local RDA group Patchwork – with a cheque for £890 recently to help this very worthwhile, dedicated group who do such a wonderful job with the youngsters.

We had a great time at our joint concert with the Mendip Male Voice Choir on Saturday 20^th January, raising funds for the beautiful venue we sang in – Christ the Servant Church in Stockwood, Bristol.  Lovely feedback from the MD and PRO of MMVC re our two sessions …

‘Great concert, wonderful evening. I thought the ladies were outstanding, and particularly enjoyed FR’s renditions of “Pie Jesu,” “Pachelbel’s Canon” and “And so it Goes” – absolutely brilliant. Please convey my thanks to the ladies for coming. I will inform you of the amount made for the Church as soon as I have the final figure.
We must get together again sometime in the near future.  Thanks again, Terry (PRO).’

‘May I echo Terry’s compliments for a great concert and, considering both choirs were down on numbers, I think the Church were very grateful for what we did to raise very important funds for their use.  The Men were asking me to dig out “And So It Goes” from our music library to sing again – it is such a wonderful piece!  Best wishes, Jamie Knights (MD).’

The venue acoustics were excellent (always a help!), the gentlemen looked very smart in spotless white shirts with red silk ties and, to bring everything to a blissful conclusion, we were treated to a wonderful selection of home-made cakes.

Our much anticipated first coaching session of the year with Sally McLean in April was the usual mixture of mayhem and brain scrabbling hard work when our embryonic convention songs were tossed about like so much chaff in a hurricane, then slowly nursed back to some semblance of life, followed by a long, long list of how to care for the patient.  As ever, we were encouraged to go beyond what we think of as ‘our limit’ in the best possible way – much laughter, much encouragement, a bit of stern and quite a lot of cake.  Both our MD Jo Dean and Sally were in fine fettle bouncing ideas around and we just about kept up with their quick wit and energy.  Always exhilarating, we look forward to our next session in July.