In March, 2013, the Hedge End New Music Makers participated in the Southampton Festival Of Music & Drama in the “Songs From The Shows” section. There was a high standard of competition, which made it all the more exhilarating when we were announced as having taken FIRST PLACE, with a ‘Distinction’.

Below is a copy of the certificate we were presented with, along with the adjudicator’s comments on the reverse (also typed out, for ease of reading).

Comments:

 

Singin’ in the Rain

This had energy in bucketloads, with comittment, visual and vocal. The parts were balanced well, phrasing effective in its musicality, and there was a continuous change of dynamic. The accent was a little ‘English’ (t, d, for instance) and this encouraged a slightly ‘English’ style.

Bring Him Home

When this broke into harmony, second phrase, the effect was pure magic; the ‘internal’ details of parts moving, for instance, was also most effective. There was, rightly, a completely different tone and connection to the text in the middle, where the Englishness was quite appropriate. There was a tiny little drop of pitch in the penultimate bar. A beautiful ending.

A choir with excellent musicianship and a very expressive personality.