As we get to the end of October, members of Grand Central can look back on a month where we couldn’t have fitted more in if we tried.
The weekend of the 3-5 October saw about 25 singers plus their wives and partners visit Sligo for the Irish Barbershop Convention where we were placed 4th in a highly talented field. We were all thrilled when Retro, won the bronze medal in the quartet event – all four members being singers with Grand Central. We enjoyed the hospitality (and the Guinness), got wet more than once when it poured on Saturday, and enjoyed the sunshine (and the Guinness) on the seafront on Sunday lunchtime.
The following weekend was the Quartet Prelims with various chorus members involved with their respective quartets.
One week later, 18 October, and it was time for Harmony Junction – the Loughborough Show. Crossroads topped the bill and it was easy to see and hear why this talented quartet won the silver medal at the International Convention in Nashville in the summer. And it just got better…
On Sunday 19 October, following the Saturday show, the chorus had a full day rehearsal coached by Crossroads. Jim Henry took the lead role and we all experienced the teaching skills of this highly talented barbershop educator.
One week later, and a small chorus took to the streets of Long Eaton on Saturday morning to sing and publicise our upcoming Open Evening. The cold wind blew and it tried to rain, but a “good time was had by all” especially when we retired to one of the local pubs to warm up.
And finally we had our open evening when we welcomed several visitors to our regular Wednesday night rehearsal. New faces, and familiar faces who we hadn’t seen for a while, joined us on the risers to learn a tag or two, and we sang some repertoire to entertain our visitors.
If despite all this activity you still haven’t seen us sing, why don’t you watch a video?
(Hopefully there will be a few photos of the above events before too long)