It is already some months since we competed at the annual BABS Convention in Llandudno. Gaining a very creditable 7th place, The Telfordaires, under the inspirational leadership of Music Director, Dale Kynaston, continue to build upon their reputation to entertain.

Following our highly successful recruitment, 'Learn to sing' campaign in 2010, membership continues to consolidate and to grow. With around 50 members currently, we regularly have around 30 chorus members turn out for performances.

Since the convention in Llandudno last spring, there have been a number of successful performances which have included the annual Eisteddfod at Llangollen, the Biddulph Music Festival and the Ironbridge World Heritage Festival. A smaller chorus also provided the entertainment at a wedding in Madeley.

Having become a registered charity in recent months, we are keen to support a range of events. We recently performed at the highly successful Gala Ball at RAF Cosford as well as the launch of the Telford & Wrekin Mayoral Fund Appeal. Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Smith, has nominated the Diabetes UK (Telford) as beneficiary.

Plans are already in place for the 2012 convention and a number of the chorus will be performing at the SABS convention on the Costa del Sol in March 2012.

Following the highly successful 2010 Autumn Gold Show at the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury we will be hosting a follow up event on the 15th September 2012. Together with the Telfordaires, the line up includes the gold medal winning male Cotton Town Chorus from Bolton with the ladies silver medal winners, Cheshire Chord. The Dutch chorus Dubbel-Zes (Double Six) will be travelling over to join us as well as the highly acclaimed quartet, the Great British Barbershop Boys. The evening will be compared by the Midlands based, Doug Parker.

The Telfordaires didn't give themselves a simple life at this year's convention. On the contrary, for a quarter of the chorus, this was their first-ever convention, a real challenge.

Following last year's extremely successful Learn-to-Sing course which attracted over 15 new members to the chorus, 13 new Telfordaires members attended the chorus competition in Llandudno, bringing the total complement on the convention stage to 51. It was only a handful of years ago when the chorus was awarded the Jim Carter Trophy for the highest placed small chorus, but this year the Telfordaires was one of the largest choruses competing. Consequently it was fitting that the Telfordaires were awarded the Membership Award for the greatest increase in members competing at convention.

In characteristic style they performed "Give me the Simple Life" with an entertaining array of costumes designed to portray the "simple life". However, and more importantly, the singing retained a high standard with the chorus gaining seventh place overall.

Dale Kynaston, MD said "To think that in the last 6 months we have had such a huge intake of new members who, in the main, have not done anything like this before, I am delighted with the result to say the least."

And what did some of the new members have to say about their first-ever convention?
"I was really tired afterwards, but I really enjoyed it"
"I was massively impressed by the quartet singing that I heard on the Friday, and I have already booked next year for the full package"
"Fantastic and inspirational, I have learned a tremendous amount, particularly the aspirations of what we could achieve in the future"
"The competition performance was a thrill; it was all over in a tremendous rush"
"It was great to hear the different performances, from both the choruses and the quartets. The standard was really high."
"It was a bit nerve-racking at first, but once we were on the stage it went really fast"

And what would they say to someone thinking of joining a chorus? "Just do it!" "Get in there!"