The Open Arts Community Choir took part in the Bangor International Choral Festival last Saturday, 24 April 2010, with choirs competing from Wales, Scotland, Bath, Northern Ireland and the Philippines.
The stars of the evening were the amazing Philippino choir from the University of Santo Tomas; all talented university music students who are doing a 4-month tour of Europe. They came first in almost every category in the Bangor festival with their incredible sound and technically demanding songs. Nevertheless, they were relegated to 2nd place on Saturday night when the Open Arts Community Choir won the Light Entertainment category with “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel, “Stairway to Paradise” by George Gershwin, and a beautiful arrangement of “Danny Boy”! The adjudicators awarded the Open Arts Community Choir the top mark of 90+ (Outstanding), with the comment, “I admire your ability to sing with the lightest of vocal tone and yet maintain dynamic and musical control. This was a stunning performance.”
Well done again Open Arts!!
But it was the Open Arts Community Choir that walked away with first prize
Classes start week beginning 18th January unless otherwise stated and finish week beginning 15th March Crescent Classes Monday 11 a.m. Drama Facilitated by Orla McKeagney Monday 1.30 p.m. Dance Facilitated by Nicola Currie Monday 2 p.m. Drama Facilitated by Orla McKeagney N.B. Creative Writing starts on Tuesday 26th Tuesday 11.a.m Creative Writing Facilitated by Ruth Carr New Class – B.C.C. Creative Legacy Programme Thursday Dance 11-3 Facilitated by Nicola Currie Friday 11a.m. Drama Facilitated by Katie Richardson Friday 11.30 a.m. Drama Facilitated by Kara Smyth New Class – Luminous Soul Programme Friday 2.30 p.m. Continuation Dance Classes facilitated by Sheena Kelly Non Crescent Classes Classes resume week beginning 18th January Morton Community Centre Monday 11.am.-12.30 p.m. Visual Arts Facilitated by Ash and Rachael Divis Community Centre Monday 7.15p.m. – 9.15p.m. Open Arts Choir Facilitated by Bev Dee Street Community Centre Friday 10.30-12.30 Visual Arts Facilitated by Tomas and Claire New Class – B.C.C. Creative Legacy Programme North Belfast Day Centre Gamelan Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Facilitated by Bev Dee Street Community Centre Saturdays 11 a.m-1 p.m Jamdin Music sessions Facilitated by Bev and Una
Open Arts held a concert on 9 December in Carnegie Library, Bangor to celebrate the release of the choir’s first CD.
Open Arts Community Choir – Many Hands… Tracklisting 1 Kwaze (African Gospel) – soloist Margaret Mann 2 I’ll Say a Little Prayer For You – soloists Anne McCambridge, Margaret Mann, Gareth Smyth, Alan Beattie 3 Stay 4 Can You Feel The Love Tonight? – soloist Andrea Hope 5 Babethandaza/Fan Ban (African) 6 Java Jive 7 Moon River 8 Psallite 9 Blue Bird – soloist Andrea Hope 10 Something Inside So Strong – soloists Maria Svabova, Gareth Smyth, Lesle Dickie, Andrea Hope 11 ABBA Medley 12 Freedom – soloist Andrea Hope 13 Be My Baby
Copies of the CD are available for £10 each.
Contact either in person or by post (by post, add £3 P&P): Beverley Whyte Music Director for Open Arts The Crescent Arts Centre 165 Ormeau Road Belfast
The Open Arts choir performing ‘Mama Mia’ on Last Choir Standing. Copyright remains with BBC.
More videos of the choir are available here.
The Open Arts Choir will be performing at the Out To Lunch Arts Festival this coming January.
Venue: The Black Box, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast Time: Wednesday 27 January 1.00 pm Tickets: £5.00 + hot lunch (supplied by La Boca Restaurant and The John Hewitt)
Lunch will be served on entry. Please ensure to arrive no later than 1.00 pm. The Black Box is fully wheelchair accessible. Guide dogs are welcome.
Tickets can be purchased online at The Out To Lunch website (no booking fee) or at the Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place, Belfast, 028 902466609 (booking fee applies). Other enquiries: CQAF, 028 90232403.
The Open Arts Community Choir (OACC) is a choir for anyone aged 16 or over, regardless of disability, race, gender or past musical experience. It has been running for 9 years now, with 33 members, and an eclectic repertoire; from Gospel to Pop, and World to Cabaret.
They have performed at numerous venues in the UK & Ireland, including the Belfast Waterfront Hall, Odyssey Arena, Liverpool’s DaDa Festival, and the International Eisteddfod in Wales. They made a huge impression on BBC1 last summer when they fought their way into the final 14 UK choirs in the hit TV show Last Choir Standing!
Choir at Cotton Court
Bev and the Audience
Open Arts Community Choir sang to appreciative audiences in Belfast City Centre as part of Belfast’s Culture Night on Friday 25th September. The choir performances began at 6.30 in the atrium of the University of Ulster where an audience of about 40 gathered to listen. Then, helped by a taxi, the choir set off for Cotton Court and sang to a large crowd of 60 or more. There were a few challenges at the start as there was competition from musicians in the tapas bar but once that was sorted out everyone had a ball especially the young ones who sat cross-legged on the hard ground. The audience greatly enjoyed the participatory elements, clapping and singing along. Our African medley attracted an African visitor who joined in with the singing. Then it was time to make for the outside of the Deer’s Head where free roasted peanuts, gluewein and ice cream were a great attraction. We seemed to be the only people there until we started to sing, when again a crowd arrived from nowhere and became the best audience of the evening. We all had a great time, loved the buzz in Belfast and went home at about 9.45, tired but fulfilled. Let’s have another culture night soon!
Open Arts ran a highly successful summer scheme, Smash, in the Ulster Hall in July. The project was funded by children in need and involved 5-9 year olds in playing the gamelan and creating artworks to enhance the performance with which it ended. It was an inclusive scheme, with children with disabilities working alongside non-disabled young people to develop their musical talents; explore new ways of being creative in the arts and have fun. The fun was very obvious, as was the increase in skills and perhaps the most surprising thing was the pleasure with which all the children soaked up the learning. We plan to run the scheme again next year, so keep your eyes open for details.
Open Arts Community Choir wins at Festival!
The OACC came first in the prestigious Bangor International Choral Festival on 2nd May 2009. Up against stiff competition from 3 choirs of International repute, they sang 3 pieces – ‘Psallite’ by Praetorius, ‘Java Jive’ by Ben Oakland, and ‘The Bluebird’ by Stanford which, with its haunting soprano solo (by Andrea Hope) brought half the audience to tears, followed by a standing ovation! The award included the top prize of £1000 and a beautifully engraved crystal vase. The OACC have just recorded a cd which will be available to purchase in November 2009 – just in time for Christmas!
We worked really hard, we had a ball and we achieved fame, for a while, but now the Open Arts Choir has been stood down. We sang out best on Saturday and Sunday but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get us through to the public voting stage. All choir members are enjoying a well-earned rest before they set off for Liverpool where they’ll be singing at the Dada Fest on Saturday 6th September. See you there.
Usually the choir has a break over the Summer. Not this year! Since its success in Last Choir Standing (having made it through to the last 15) the choir has been working flat out as they are determined to be one of the final 6 and take part in the live shows. Thye’ve been rehearsing almost every night this week and a choreographer came over from London to help extract every last ounce of feeling from the new songs they are learning . The next show they appear in will definitely be a winner.
Open Arts festival Choir took part in the Ballymena Music festival on Saturday 1st march. They were the only choir to sing in the Mixed Vocie Choir section, but sang their two songs beautifully, received a very complimentary report from the adjudicator, Elizabeth Bicker, and a wonderful cup. They also came joint first in the Best Choir category, taking home a superb silver trophy to keep for six months and half the bursary of £500 donated by Ballymena Borough Council. It was a great night for everyone as we all were able to see the brand new Braid Arts Centre, which has been built around the refurbished Town Hall. Well done to the Festival Choir!