SABS Harmony College
Cabo Cervera Hotel, La Mata, Torrevieja, Alicante

Friday 15 – Sunday 17 November 2013

with UK Mixed Quartet Champions ‘Double Trouble’

Special rate for SABS members 45€ per person
plus the accommodation, if required.
Non SABS members 65€ per person
plus the accommodation, if required.
2 nights’ Full Board Accommodation: 90€ per person

Andy Funnell – Andy is married to Monica and between them they have too many quartet medals to count! Andy is currently a member of the 2010 British male quartet champions ‘Steel’. ‘AndyFun’ as he is known (to avoid confusion) is well known for his coaching and presentation skills and is a qualified presentation judge.
Monica Funnell - Monica is the Chorus director of the ladies barbershop chorus ‘Crystal Chords’. Mon is also a qualified judge in the singing category and travels both at home and abroad coaching quartets and choruses.
Andy Foster – Andy’s fiance is Jacqui. Andy is also currently a member of the 2010 British male quartet champions ‘Steel’. ‘AndFoz’, along with ‘AndyFun’ was in the 2003 champion quartet ‘Soundcrew’ and a member of the Telford based mens chorus ‘The Telfordaires’.
Jacqui Foetu – Jacqui is also a quartet medalist singing with Monica in the ladies quartet ‘Fizz’. A former chorus assistant director, Jacqui now sings with the UK national champion chorus ‘Cheshire chord Company’ who also won in Telford in 2012, what a weekend that was!

Further details of the weekend will be posted here soon

Congratulations to our new quartet gold medal champions, Fourmidables, silver medallists, Hanfris, and bronze medallists, Cleftomania on their fantastic performances in our national quartet contest. Well done to Fénix for attaining the highest ladies’ quartet score and Hullabaloo on winning the Senior Quartet trophy.

Huge congratulations to Spangles Ladies’ Harmony Chorus for winning gold for the second time, to The Barbees on their silver medal and Southern Sound on their second bronze medal.

Full contest results can be downloaded here: Quartet & Chorus Contest Results

Estamos francamente orgullosos de dar la bienvenida de la vuelta a casa desde Veldhoven en Holanda a los muy nuestros héroes: Fourmidables y Hanfris, quienes obtuvieron respectivamente la 5ª y la 6ª plaza en el concurso Europeo de Cuartetos, y Barberidad por haber conseguido el 8º puesto en el concurso Europeo de Coros. Fueron muy aplaudidos por nuestra presidenta, Gail Grainger, por Cath Hunter nuestra Convention Manager y por Jill Chorley y Anne Phillis, miembros de SABS. Deseamos ver a nuestros héroes en En Armonía en Benalmádena del 11 al 14 de Abril. Hasta pronto!

We are extremely proud to welcome home from Veldhoven in the Netherlands our very own heroes: Fourmidables and Hanfris, who were placed 5th and 6th respectively in the European Quartet Contest, and Barberidad for achieving 8th position in the European Chorus Contest. They were all cheered on by our President, Gail Grainger, Convention Manager, Cath Hunter and SABS members Jill Chorley and Anne Phillips. We look forward to seeing our heroes at En Armonía in Benalmádena 11-14 April. Bring it on!

SPANISH

En un día muy ventoso, diez damas desafiaron los elementos y asistieron al curso de SABS ‘Harmony Sing in a Day ” en Camposol. Algunas no habían cantado antes y otras no lo habían hecho desde escuela, pero todas estaban deseosas por aprender. Hubo algunas dudas sobre la posibilidad de cantar de manera solvente frente a un público de familiares y amigos por la noche, pero el trabajo duro y la determinación que se veía a través de ellas recibió un caluroso aplauso después de su primera actuación en público.

Todo el mundo estaba dispuesto a comenzar con un coro de Barbershop nuevo en Camposol y vamos a ayudarles en esto. Hemos recibido algunos comentarios muy positivos de las señoras acerca de lo bien organizado y gestionado que estaba el evento, lo amable y serviciales que fueron Viva y Chardonnay durante la etapa de aprendizaje y lo mucho que habían disfrutado de la experiencia. Se trata de una nueva iniciativa para SABS para animar a más gente a practicar Barbershop en España y estamos muy ocupados planeando el siguiente plan en la Costa Blanca, a finales de este año.

Aquí están algunos recuerdos del día (por favor haga clic en las imágenes para verlas más grandes):

ENGLISH

On a very windswept day, ten ladies braved the elements and arrived for the SABS ‘Sing Harmony in a Day’ course in Camposol. Some had not sung before and some hadn’t sung since they were at school, but all were keen to learn. There was some trepidation about their ability to sing competently to an audience of friends and family in the evening, but hard work and determination saw them through and they received rapturous applause after their first public performance.

Everyone was keen to start a new barbershop chorus in Camposol and we will help them see this through. We received some great comments from the ladies about how well organised and professionally run the event was, how friendly and helpful Viva and Chardonnay were during the learning stage and how much they had enjoyed the experience. This is a new initiative for SABS to encourage more people to take up barbershop in Spain and we are busily planning the next one on the Costa Blanca later this year.

Here are some memories of the day (please click on an image to enlarge it):

Estamos encantados de anunciar que los ganadores de Medalla Affinity Show Choir, Tone-Acity Quartet y BABS 2012 Champions, iQ quartet se unirán a nosotros en En Armonía 2013 en Benalmádena.

We’re delighted to announce that medal winners Affinity Show Choir, Tone-Acity Quartet and BABS 2012 Champions, iQ quartet, will be joining us at En Armonía 2013 in Benalmádena.

Affinity Mostrar Coro es un coro de armonía damas especialista en emocionantes espectáculo basados en Stockport. Todo comenzó en junio de 2010 cuando, tras el éxito de su empresa anterior, Lesley Carson (directora musical con experiencia de más de catorce años, fundadora y co-fundadora del coro Cheshire) decidió crear un nuevo y emocionante club de espectáculo, canto, coro y danza en Stockport . Su objetivo era introducir las señoras en el maravilloso mundo de cantar y la actuación en público. Lesley llevó a cabo una serie de talleres de canto y Affinity nació.

Affinity Show Choir is an exciting ladies harmony show choir based in Stockport. It all began in June 2010 when, after the success of her previous venture, Lesley Carson (experienced musical director of over fourteen years, founder and co-founder of two Cheshire choirs) decided to create an exciting new singing and dancing show choir in Stockport. Her aim was to introduce ladies into the wonderful world of harmony singing and performance. Lesley held a series of singing workshops and Affinity was born.

Tone-Acity es un conjunto a cuatro voces de damas. Se trata de un galardonado conjunto y han estado cantando juntas desde hace más de diez años. Sus cuatro voces están perfectamente adaptadas para cantar armonías maravillosas, escalofriantes y tienen un variado repertorio con arreglos interesantes. Cantan arreglos de Jazz coral, pop y los estilos musicales más diversos, que abarcan muchas épocas desde Nat King Cole a la princesa del pop Rhiana, todo a capella.

Tone-Acity is a four part harmony ladies’ quartet. They are an award winning ensemble and have been singing together for over ten years. Their four voices are perfectly matched to make wonderful, spine chilling harmonies and have a varied repertoire with interesting arrangements. They sing arrangements in choral, Jazz, pop and many more musical styles, covering many eras from Nat King Cole to pop princess Rhiana, all a cappella.

iQ están encantados de haber sido invitados a asistir en Armonía como cuarteto invitado. Esta será su primera visita a España como un cuarteto, pero todos han disfrutado de muchas visitas al país en su vidas individua en el barbershopping. En abril de 2013 han acabado como cuarteto campeón BABS y ganar ese concurso ha pasado a los anales de la historia del barbershop.

Fue una tarde soleada de Mayo al “estilo español” en Southport, que destaca por ser cálido y soleado en mayo, donde iQ tuvieron la suerte de ser presentados como campeones BABS en 2012. Nos dieron un aplauso generoso desede la audiencia, iQ subió al escenario – con los ojos llorosos – a coger de los campeones salientes sus medallas de oro de cuarteto de primero, segundo, tercero al quinto. El registro de cinco medallas de oro de Brian es un registro en BABS. Él y Sir Steve Redgrave tienen mucho en común.

iQ (que se pronuncia “eye-cola”, que rima con “me gustas”, y no “ick” para rimar con “enfermo”) se formó en el verano de 2011, reúne a viejos amigos que han disfrutado cantando Babershop durante muchas décadas. Estamos un tanto lejos como un cuarteto. Nos hubiera gustado vivir más cerca – pero al menos en los viajes al ensayo les da tiempo para ponerse al día en las canciones a ensayar.

Pete Bari (“Nooj”) es posible que conocemos como el sabio del Barbershop Chorus virtual, o un director de coros de mujer. Lo quiero mucho, pero a veces me desesperan sus intentos de hacer sonar el tono adecuado para la canción adecuada. Bass-man Mike es la persona a quien usted puede dirigir sus gracias o quejas con respecto a estas palabras de ingenio y sabiduría.

Esperamos impacientes a ver a muchos de nuestros viejos amigos, y hacer un montón de amistades nuevas, cuando visitemos España en la primavera

iQ is thrilled to be invited to attend En Armonía as guest quartet. This will be our first visit to Spain as a quartet but we have all enjoyed many visits to the country in our individual barbershopping lives. As April 2013 approaches we will be nearing the end of our year as BABS champion quartet and winning that contest will soon be fading into the annals of barbershop history.

It was a “Spanish style” hot sunny May afternoon in Southport, notable for being hot and sunny in May, where iQ were fortunate enough to be announced as BABS champs for 2012. Greeted by generous applause from the warm (in fact jolly well-baked) audience, iQ went on stage – teary-eyed – to collect from the outgoing champions their first, second, third or fifth quartet gold medals. Lead Brian’s five golds is a record in BABS. He and Sir Steve Redgrave have much in common. Apart from the rowing bit.

iQ (pronounced “eye-queue”, to rhyme with “I like you”, rather than “ick” to rhyme with “sick”) formed in the summer of 2011, bringing together old friends who have enjoyed singing barbershop for many decades. We are somewhat far flung as a quartet. Tenor Mike’s distance to the rest of us “as the crow flies” would make any crow think twice. These days he’s an honorary Scot, living near Aberdeen. We wished we lived closer together – but at least the journeys to rehearsal give you time to catch up on the teach tracks.

Bari Pete (“Nooj”) you may know as the clever chap behind the Virtual Barbershop Choruses, or an able director of ladies’ choruses. We love him dearly but occasionally despair at his attempts to blow the right pitch for the right song. And Bass-man Mike is the one to whom you may address your thanks or complaints regarding these words of wit and wisdom.

We can’t wait to see many of our old friends, and make lots of new ones, when we visit España in the spring.

Title: International Barbershop Meeting Festival (BOF)
Location: the inner city of ‘s‑Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
Link out: Click here
Description:
On 27 and 28 September 2013, the inner city of ‘s Hertogenbosch will for the 8th time be the scene of the International Barbershop Meeting Festival.

What makes our BOF festival so special?
It is the largest international open-air barbershop festival in Europe where barbershoppers will be singing without any competitive element or the stress that comes with it. We all just want to surprise our public and let them enjoy our seventh chords.
The enthusiastic performances in the streets, on the squares, the stages, and the boats on the Binnendieze river, and of course the Mega-sing on the spacious Parade square in front of St John’s Cathedral.
Isn’t it a logical conclusion that no chorus or quartet should miss this great happening?

Choruses and quartets may register by sending in the registration form to registration@barbershopfestival.nl. The registration form can be found on www.barbershopfestival.nl. Registration closes on 1 February 2013.
More or less regularly, newsletters with information on the festival progress will be published at:

www.barbershopfestival.nl

The website will be updated soon and be equipped with all necessary information.

Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2013-09-27
End Time: 23:00

Click here for Convention Information & Registration Form/Haga clic aquí para información sobre convención y Registro:

HOTELS/HOTELES

Click here for Torrequebrada Hotel Information & Booking Form/Haga clic aquí para información sobre el hotel Torrequebrada y Reservas: Torrequebrada Hotel

Click here for Sunset Beach Club Hotel Information & Booking Form/Haga clic aquí para información sobre el hotel Sunset Beach Club y Reservas: Sunset Beach Club

Click here for travel information from Malaga airport: Travel Options from Malaga Airport

Moonlight Lounge

Congratulations to our 2012 gold medallist quartet, Hanfris, for promoting the art of barbershop singing on Spanish television. Click on this link to see what a splendid job they have done:

Our Finance Manager, Tony Colgrave, will be stepping down from the role in April 2013 and we are keen to find a replacement from within SABS. Click on this link SABS FINANCE MANAGER VACANCY for a full job description and Email: Tony Colgrave

Nuestro Gestor Financiero, Tony Colgrave, se retirará de la función en abril de 2013 y tenemos muchas ganas de encontrar un sustituto dentro de SABS. Haga clic en este enlace VACANTE GESTOR FINANCIERO para una descripción completa del trabajo y enviar un correo electrónico a: Tony Colgrave

Some 600 barbershop aficionados took Benalmádena by storm when they arrived for their fourth annual convention last weekend. This is the first time that the Spanish Association of Barbershop Singers (SABS) has based its event on the Costa del Sol. “Our delegates come from all over Europe, and we are keen to establish convention venues with excellent travel connections and accommodation.” said SABS Vice President, Lyn Baines. “This is the first time that we have hosted this international event in Benalmádena and we are very pleased with the results”.

Talk Radio Europe’s Mark Curry interviewed ‘Cleftomania’, a SABS mixed quartet from the Algarve in Portugal, on his show ‘Curry for Breakfast’ to introduce the event to audiences and he was very impressed with the high standard of performances when he attended the SABS Saturday show.

Delegates were based in the Sunset Beach Club Hotel and the Torrequebrada Hotel, with shows and contests taking place in the Sala Fortuna at the Torrequebrada Hotel, where SABS also held its first-ever international quartet and chorus contests. Local choruses and quartets attended: Spangles chorus, Viva and Fénix quartets from Los Alcázares, and Torrevieja Harmonisers, FourMidables and The Velvetones from Torrevieja. Spangles was performing as outgoing champions and will compete again in 2013 in Alicante, but they are delighted that their Fénix quartet won a bronze medal against stiff competition, with FourMidables men’s quartet winning silver for the second year running in the SABS national contest.

The international contest attracted choruses and quartets from England, Ireland and Holland and the chorus contest was a closely fought event, with two English ladies’ choruses, Heartbeat from Stockport and Cheshire Chord Company from Warrington, just 3 points apart; Heartbeat were crowned the new SABS International champions, with the silver medal going to Cheshire Chord Company and the bronze to Mixed-Q from Holland.

Photos by Vincent de Vries Photography

The international quartet contest saw some phenomenal performances for what is essentially an amateur hobby, with Echo quartet from Manchester becoming SABS International champions, closely followed by Miss-Demeanour with silver and The Mix winning bronze on their first outing as a quartet.

It was a bumper harvest for SABS members from Madrid, with ‘Barberidad’ men’s chorus scooping the SABS Chorus champion title and ‘Investigators’ men’s quartet winning the SABS Quartet champion title for the second time since 2010. ‘Bella A Cappella’, mixed chorus from Portugal, won the silver medal and ‘Southern Sound’, mixed chorus from Fuengirola, won the bronze medal.

The next SABS annual convention is scheduled for Alicante from 11-14 April 2013 and the national and international contests will be held in the prestigious new Auditorio de la Diputación. If you are interested in attending this event or would like to know more about SABS, you can find information on the SABS website: www.sabs.es or contact by email: lyn@sabs.es or gail@sabs.es