The time is upon us, our bags are packed, our voices are tuned and our husbands have been left with lists of DIY jobs – Surrey Harmony is off to NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE! Yee-haw!
In May of 2008, Surrey Harmony won a wildcard place at the 2009 Sweet Adelines International Championships in Nashville, Tennessee and we have been rehearsing hard ever since.
The final big push came one Sunday in September with a full dress rehearsal in our redesigned costumes, complete with the sparkliest of jewellery and fresh new look make up!
We practiced everything, from walking quickly and efficiently onto stage in neat pairs (not easily done in heals) to smiling graciously and gratefully between the ballad and the up-tune.
And there was of course plenty of time to run through the songs themselves, over and over and over again.
Drivers on the A23 had a bit of a shock as well, as the chorus took advantage of the sunshine and went onto the lawns by Coulsdon Methodist Church for a run through. Drivers on the A23 had a bit of a shock as well, as the chorus took advantage of the sunshine and went onto the lawns by Coulsdon Methodist Church for a run through.
It’s a big old stage in Nashville and nothing beats singing outside if you want to recreate that feeling of singing into an infinite space.
So we’re ready for the off… well almost, there’s just that little issue of fundraising to pay for it all!
Fundraising is a word that frequently sends shivers down the backs of many organisations and when you want to take 70 singers across the Atlantic for a competition, it can seem like an un-climbable mountain.
Most of the flight costs have been paid for by the members themselves via a monthly saving scheme, while the competition registration fee of £150 per singer has been covered by subs.
And under the direction of fundraising co-ordinator Jean Dack, Surrey Harmony have rallied round and raised a whopping £30,000 towards the hotel costs. It’s a record breaking figure and one we have many people to thank for. Firstly we’d like to thank you for supporting Surrey Harmony. Whether you’ve seen one of our performances, Joined Fish, bought something from our eBay page, registered with easyfundraising or told one of your friends about us… it all adds up and we’d like to say a big THANK YOU!
We’d also like to thank our very own Jean Dack for her non-stop effort to boost our coffers. She’s always got an eye out for ways to add to the pennies, however small, and her work with the 400 club has gone a long way towards boosting the total. Thanks also go to Judith for her eBay sales, Daphne for her sweets and parcels, Fiona and Joan for their sales of jewellery, Maris for her work on the Ball in the Fall, Barbara and Sandie for the Pamper Day, Jackie for the medal and bottle straps, Karen for her Pampered Chef evening, and Tricia for her help with the Fashion Show. There are many others, including Julia Marshall, who have helped by silently donating cakes, eggs, pot plants, garden produce and most importantly time. And we’d like to thank them all. Thank you everyone!
Surrey Harmony are on stage in the semi finals shortly after 18:30 Nashville time on Thursday 22nd OctoberSo it’s been a long old journey, but we are finally there: Nashville, Tennessee. Where music is inspired.
Surrey Harmony are on stage in the semi finals shortly after 18:30 Nashville time on Thursday 22nd October… that’s 00:30 UK time on the morning of Friday 23rd. You can watch our competition performance, in front of an audience of nearly 10,000, by checking out the webcast here.
You might also want to check out the following performances by British singers in Nashville. They will also be on the webcast Tone-acity, Region 31 quartet from Cheshire and Derbyshire, appearing onstage approx 01:55 Thursday 22nd (UK time). Lace City, Our sister chorus from Nottingham, onstage approx 19.50 Thursday 22nd (UK time).
Following the semi-finals, the top 11 choruses will go on to take part in the finals which will take place on Saturday 24th October. Full details will be available on the Sweet Adelines website.
Surrey Harmony are staying at the Holiday Inn Select Nashville Vanderbilt. 2613 West End Avenue, NASHVILLE, TN 37203, USA, Tel: 001 615 327 4707.
Husbands who have been left behind and can’t operate the washing machine or switch the oven on should click here.