Decibellas Does the Double Double!

April 23rd saw Decibellas performing at the Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts held at Kings School in the city. 

Festivals aim to encourage people to develop their talent and provide a forum for them to perform and receive feedback and adjudication from an experienced adjudicator, hence Katie Ryan, the choir's MD felt that this year, would see the choir enter 3 categories in order to make the most of the experience.

Decibellas entered the Women's Open singing Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre and The Skye Boat Song arr. Bob Chilcott.  Decibellissime (created last year for this very competition) entered the Small Ensemble Category, with an arrangement of Wordsworth's Daffodils by John Purifoy and an A Capella blues piece with body percussion, Bring Me Little Water Silvy arr. Moira Smiley. Finally, the newly created madrigal group BelleAyres entered the Madrigal Class performing Now is the Month of Maying, (Morley) and Come Again! Sweet Love Doth Now Invite (Dowland).

The comments from adjudicator Angela Rowley were very encouraging, "fantastic concert choir", "a very pleasing sound", "you look charming on the platform" as well as some informative comments to help us improve... "more contrast", "be careful of saw I".

Decibellas and Decibellissime improved on their scores from the previous year, both attaining a Distinction and BelleAyres received a Highly Commended for their first competition together.

The choir came away with four cups, as Decibellas also won best choir of the day. That's a lot of polishing!