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2008
8/4/2008 - Hallmark Welcomes New Members
Tony Foster - Chairman - recently welcomed Keith Rixham and James 'Big Jim' Goldsmith to the chorus and presented them with their certificates from B.A.B.S.
23/2/2008 - Hazel Grove Music Festival
A Great Win for Hallmark of Harmony!
On Saturday 23rd February 2008, Hallmark of Harmony travelled to Hazel Grove, Stockport, Greater Manchester to take part in the Hazel Grove Music Festival (part of the British and International federation of festivals).
Our own Sheffield barbershop quartet, Doghouse, sang first in the barbershop quartet class and entertained us well. Being the only quartet to enter this class, they took first place and the quartet winners trophy. The adjudicator (David King) commented on how well the quartet sang, and particularly on the resonance of the bass sound. He also gave the quartet some good advice about improving their singing for the convention competition in May.
Hallmark entered class 404 (Barbershop group) along with the Crystal Chords ladies Barbershop chorus from Stockport, and the Liberty Belles ladies Barbershop chorus (also from Stockport). All three choruses sang three songs and entertained the (small, but enthusiastic) audience at the Methodist church.
The adjudicator spoke for some time after the contest and praised the choruses on their performance, and again gave advice on improvement. The results were announced, and in third place were the Liberty Belles, in second place were the Crystal Chords, and the winners of the class were Hallmark of Harmony. The marks could not be closer, with only one point separating the three choruses. Hallmark of Harmony scored 87, which put us in the distinction class. Our prize was the Hazel Grove Barbershop Chorus trophy, and a cheque for £100.
2007
7/12/2007 - Harmony Gold
Hallmark of Harmony performed to a sold-out crowd at Harmony Gold, Dronfield.
16/03/2007 - Don Valley Music Festival
Following several recent sucessful joint sing-outs, members of the Sheffield Ladies Chorus and "Hallmark of Harmony" combined to form a mixed voice choir to compete at the Don Valley Music Festival. The venue was in the Linley Suite of the High Melton campus of the Doncaster College.
Joint rehearsals had been previously held to 'polish' the two songs - an 8-part arrangement of "Misty" and a 4-part, SATB arrangement of "The Best Things In Life Are Free".
After our performance to an audience of just seven people, the adjudicator commented that, "so often the best performances at music festivals were in front of the smallest audiences."
As the sole entry in our particular class in the competition, "Sheffield Hallmark of Harmony Choir" was declared the class winner and director, Andy Petch, accepted the trophy!
03/03/2007 - Hazel Grove Music Festival
On Saturday 3rd March a representative number of chorus members travelled to Stockport to compete in the Barbershop Chorus Class of the Hazel Grove Music Festival. Work and other commitments meant that the chorus was not at full strength, but those that did make the trip determined to proudly fly the “Hallmark” flag in this part of Lancashire.
Four choruses competed in the class, with “Harmony Revival” (Stockport men), “Cottontown Chorus” (Bolton men) and “Crystal Chords” (Greater Manchester ladies) taking the stage before “Hallmark of Harmony”. “Hallmark’s” set, under the direction of Andy Petch, comprised “Nice Work If You Can Get It”, “Over The Rainbow” and a rousing “Barbara Ann”.
The adjudicator, Mr. Dave King, placed “Cottontown Chorus” and “Crystal Chords” in joint first place with “Hallmark” taking third place commenting particularly on our “engagement with the audience”, especially in “Barbara Ann”.
The trip was a very worthwhile exercise and gave two of our newer young members, Peter and Simon, their first taste of competitive barbershop singing!
17/2/2007 - "Love 2B In Sheffield" - Saturday
Following on from the Valentine's Day performance by the quartet, "Bless 'Em All", The Sheffield Barbershop Harmony Club chorus, "Hallmark of Harmony" gathered again in the Sheffield Winter Gardens on Saturday to add it's contribution to the "Love 2B In Sheffield" musical celebrations. Under the direction of Barry Clinton, the chorus performed a range of repertoire songs in these lovely acoustic surroundings to another large and appreciative audience
Making his debut public performance with the chorus on this occasion was our newest young member, Peter, pictured front row right. Peter joined the chorus following the recent 'Learn To Sing In Four-part Harmony' course held last autumn and passed his chorus audition just a couple of weeks ago. Well done, Peter!
The quartet, "Bless 'Em All" also sang a couple of spots during the 'Hallmark' show.
17/2/2007 - "Love 2B in Sheffield" - St. Valentine's Day
2006 BABS Seniors Champion Quartet, "Bless 'Em All" were pleased to be invited to represent the Sheffield Barbershop Harmony Club for a lunchtime performance in the Sheffield Winter Gardens on St. Valentine's Day.
The quartet (Bill Ward - tenor, Tony Landown - Lead, Bruce Turner - Baritone, all from Sheffield BHC and Brian Exley - Bass, from East Midlands BHC) responded to an invitation to be part of the "Love 2B In Sheffield" music celebrations. We had agreed to perform a one hour programme of "love songs" during the lunch time period from 12.30 - 1.30pm.
The quartet had some concerns about such a small group performing in such a large space, but fears were unfounded as many passing shoppers and workers on their lunch breaks stopped to listen and show their appreciation of our efforts. In between songs the quartet handed out single roses to some of the ladies in our audience.
The sounds of a team of riggers erecting a large sound stage in the area immediately adjacent to where we were singing proved something of a distraction. Apparently a popular local group were to perform some time after our performance. However, in true 'showbiz' style and determined not to be 'upstaged', we carried on undaunted. In the end we had added greatly to our experience, had a lot of fun and pleased our audience and the event organiser.