In May 2023, Lace City Chorus won gold at the women’s barbershop championships earning us the title of the UK and Netherlands champions. The medal also means that they will represent the UK at the international contest in America next year.
As well as coming first they also won the ‘most improved’ award having built on their score from last year, which was the first time they had competed since lockdown. They also brought home four additional trophies for scoring the highest in every judging category!
This is the seventh time Lace City Chorus has been crowned UK champions and their first gold medal under Ellie Blackeby who took over directing the chorus during lockdown in 2020.
Ellie said: “I am exceptionally proud to lead this phenomenal group of women. We are all normal people, some are wives, mums, paramedics, nurses, farmers and hairdressers. Together we share a passion for music and performing and when we sing together it’s euphoric. This gold medal represents a huge amount of hard work and commitment. We aren’t professional musicians, just a group of normal women who come together to make extraordinary things happen.”
Ellie joined the chorus aged 14 when it was first set up by founding director and Arnold Hill Comprehensive school teacher Glenn Chaney in 1992. Since then, the chorus has earned a reputation as one of the best in the UK having represented the UK six times on the international stage.
As well as competing nationally and internationally, Lace City Chorus love to perform locally. As well as more classic barbershop songs, they sing a wide range of more contemporary material and are already booked for a number of local summer, Christmas and other events.
Details of how to book them for your event, visit a rehearsal or find out about joining them yourself can be found on their website: www.lacecitychorus.org. You can also view their winning performance there.