St Hilda’s hit the right note at national choir competition

Members of St Hilda’s Church of England School Chamber Choir have hit the right note at a national choir competition.

The choir has made it through to the national selection phase of the prestigious Choir of the Year event, which is the UK’s biggest amateur choral competition.

Held in St David’s Hall in Cardiff, St Hilda’s were up against some of the best choirs in the South West, but held their own with two powerful performances. Accompanied by choir director Fiona Linforth and accompanist Kirsty Ligertwood, the choir members impressed the judges with songs including ‘This Little Babe’ and ‘With or Without You’, which was arranged by Year 11 pupil Eve Machin.

The choir received fantastic feedback from both adjudicators achieving an impressive 26.5/30 for technical achievement and 27/30 for musicality. Pupil Eve also received a special mention from the adjudicator and musician Stuart Barr for her ‘masterful arrangement’.

Head of Music and choir director Fiona Linforth, says: ‘I am immensely proud of this choir and all they have achieved. Their hard work and dedication has indeed paid off.

“If we get through to the Semi Finals I shall look forward to our weekly rehearsals despite being on maternity leave! I shall bring the little one with me and start her conducting early!’

More than 170 choirs from around the UK are taking part in the competition. Following the auditions, the best choirs go forward to the Finals and national acclaim, with many past winners enjoying exciting performance, broadcast and recording opportunities as result of their win.

The choir must now wait until July to hear if they have done enough to compete in the semi-finals in Birmingham, ahead of the grand final in December. Best of luck!