|
Surrey Harmony History
Jenny Lawson had always loved singing and playing the piano. One day,
in 1982, she saw an advertisement in her local newspaper asking, 'do you
sing over the dishes in your sink?'
"I actually did, so I responded to the ad which was an invitation to
join a local group of female barbershop singers. The first time I heard
them tune-up, I thought, 'that's for me'."
In March 1990, Jenny launched the Surrey Harmony Women's Barbershop
Chorus. Much to her surprise, just four years later it beat all other
choruses taking part in the UK championships organised by US-based Sweet
Adelines International.
Since then, Surrey Harmony has gone from strength to strength. Under
Jenny's skilful directorship, it has been described as 'a breath of
fresh air', grown in size from 14 to 76 members, ranging in age from 12
to 72, and won the Sweet Adelines UK championship not just once but five
times and been runners-up three times.
What's more, the chorus has also represented the UK on several
occasions in the Sweet Adelines world championships and will do so again
in October of this year in Las Vegas, Nevada, as reigning UK Sweet
Adelines champions.
'Barbershop' is a type of unaccompanied four-part harmony singing
that originated in America at the turn of the 20th century. Once a
male-only form of singing, barbershop is now enjoyed by tens of
thousands of men and women all over the world.
"Barbershop used to be regarded as a somewhat lowly, almost poor
man's, type of music," explained Jenny. "Now, however, it is highly
regarded internationally. Even members of formal choirs tend to take
their hats off to barbershop singers. Formal choirs sing one way and
barbershop choruses sing another. There is mutual respect."
In 1992 Surrey Harmony joined Sweet Adelines — a non-profit making
organisation with a global membership of more than 30,000 individuals in
600 choruses in 11 countries.
There is also a separate organisation called the Ladies Association
of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS) that is not affiliated to Sweet
Adelines.
Surrey Harmony draws its members from all over the county, as well as
from Sussex, Kent and London. "Anyone can join as long as they can sing
and are prepared to devote the necessary time and energy," said
publicity officer Sheena Kaighin, who lives in Knaphill.
Surrey Harmony
director Jenny Lawson (at the piano) with publicity officer
Sheena Kaighin (middle) and assistant director Judith Hunt |
"Most people probably think you need to be able
to read music to join any sort of choral organisation. That's
not the case, however, with barbershop singing.
As a result,
many women who previously thought they couldn't join a choir are
joining barbershop choruses instead. It's brilliant."
Any girl or woman with a good, tuneful voice can join Surrey
Harmony.
After attending a rehearsal to see what barbershop
singing entails, a prospective new member is given a pack of
information and invited to attend an audition before Jenny the
following week. |
If the person's voice is good enough, she is invited to join. "At
present, we have a dire shortage of good bass singers, because not a lot
of women can sing as low as is required by barbershop choruses," said
assistant director and bass section leader Judith Hunt of Hooley.
"Some women who do have deep voices may well think they wouldn't fit
in," said Sheena. But they would. If there are any female bass singers
reading this article, we would love to hear from them."
"We would love more people in their 20s to
join us. Globally, barbershop is a very young, sexy sort of
thing!" |
Surrey Harmony is keen to dispel the myth that
barbershop singing is primarily for middle-aged or elderly
people.
"We cater for people of all ages and social classes.
Most of our members are probably in their 40s, although we
have some singers who are much younger and some who are much
older.
"Some choruses have a lot of young women and that's
fantastic." |
One Surrey Harmony member was determined not to miss a single
rehearsal, despite being heavily pregnant. "The following Wednesday she
turned up with her new-born baby in her arms!" said Jenny.
Barbershop involves a lot more than just singing. Participants move
their arms, walk about on stage and sometimes wave pom-poms and flags in
cheer-leader fashion. Everything is carefully choreographed by Jackie
Driscoll. "She is absolutely superb," said Sheena.
|
Sheena says that barbershop singing is good for
relieving stress. "After a busy day at work, especially in
mid-winter, often the last thing I want to do is to attend a
rehearsal.
But by ten o'clock, I am absolutely buzzing and have
forgotten all the day's problems.
I'm sure many members feel that way. "In any large
organisation, you are going to have people with various problems
- health, financial and such like. Singing helps you forget such
problems for a little while. It's a great stress-buster."
Surrey Harmony is currently hard at work perfecting the songs
and routines it will perform at the Sweet Adelines world
championships in Las Vegas.
The chorus that wins the UK championships automatically
represents the country at the world championships the following
year.
We will be competing against more than 30 other choruses
from all over the world.Our aim is simply to represent the UK to the best of our ability and
to do better, in terms of placing and points, than we did when we last
competed in the world championships, in 2003. |
"At the UK Sweet Adelines championships in May
2005, we not only won first place for the fifth time but also a
separate competition for best choreography, and that was all
down to Jackie. She comes up with some amazing routines."
|
Surrey Harmony will perform two numbers together lasting six minutes.
One is a ballad and the other is more a more upbeat number with lots of
choreography," Sheena revealed. "We are already practicing very hard. We've
been drawn very late in the order of appearance, so by the time
we get on stage there will be almost 10,000 people in the
audience.
The judges award points for music, sound,
expression and showmanship.
|
It will be an incredible experience. I am tingling now
just at the thought of it. You go all that way for just six
minutes, but it's certainly worth it."
Also performing with Surrey Harmony in Las Vegas will be
eight singers from other UK choruses known as 'ooters' (out of
towners). "Inviting a small number of people from other choruses is
well-established practice in the USA, but it's the first time it's been
done by a UK chorus, so we are breaking new ground." |
"Many UK choruses have some excellent singers within their ranks who
will never get the chance to compete in the world championships.
Hopefully these eight singers, who've had to undergo a rigorous
audition, will return to the UK to enthuse members of their own
choruses. It's our way of giving something back to the UK."
Surrey Harmony boasts an extensive repertoire of songs from the 20s
to the present day – timeless standards from musicals to chart-topping
classics like the theme from the Titanic movie.
One song in particular is very dear to members' hearts, for it was
penned and arranged by Jenny herself. Entitled A Quartet of Nations,
it's the official song for the UK - Region 31 in Sweet Adelines
parlance.
"The quartet refers to the four nations comprising the UK," said
Sheena. "We sing it every year at the UK championships, after which
there is much hugging!"
Performing in the presence of HRH
Princess Anne at St James' Palace. |
|
Surrey Harmony can be booked to perform for all
kinds of functions, including weddings, anniversary parties and
charitable events and entertainment evenings.
One of its most recent high profile engagements was singing
at a pre-Christmas show for The 'Not Forgotten' Association at
St James' Palace in the presence of HRH Princess Anne.
"Because
we have quartets within the chorus, we can do small, intimate
events as well as large, concert-hall type ones," said Sheena. Surrey Harmony, which has raised thousands for charity, is currently
seeking sponsorship to help defray its travelling and other costs.
|
"I'm sure we have a lot to offer the right company, given our high
profile as current UK champions," she added.
Said Jenny: "I could never have imagined that Surrey Harmony would
develop into such a good chorus from such small beginnings 16 years ago.
That's not just down to me but also as a result of the hard work and
commitment of all members, both past and present. But we can and will
improve further. Who knows, perhaps one day we will be good enough to be
the best and become world champions?"
This article originally appeared in
the February 2006 edition of the Surrey Monocle.
For more information about Surrey Harmony
please also see the following pages:
|
