DIVA’S WANTED:

 Visit an open rehearsal, Wednesdays,

 7.30pm.

JUNE

Open Evening, learn a song with us.

Harmony Inspires at The Royal Spa Centre Leaminton Spa.

APRIL

 2nd place at Regional Barbershop Prelims

MARCH

Training Day with Sally McLean

The Life and Times of The Belles of Three Spires in 2007/8

SUZY – MY FIRST PRELIMS

WHERE DO I BEGIN, to tell the story of my very first prelims? Well I’LL START AT THE VERY BEGINNING (A very good place to start.)It was ONE FINE DAY, early on a Sunday morning when my journey began. I’m glad it was early because if anyone had seen me with all that make up on I’m sure they would have thought I was running away to join the circus. Anyway, the mood on the coach was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. We arrived at the pub where there was time for refreshments and a practice. All too soon it was time to get dressed and leave for the venue. Within minutes we arrived and had time to see a couple of other choruses (of which I can’t remember who they were and what they sang) IT WAS TIME –We all went backstage for the final rehearsal. Waiting in the corridor, behind the stage to go on, you could feel the tension and nerves. THIS WAS IT!! All these thoughts were spinning through my mind. Don’t fall up the steps – remember to smile!! I looked out into the audience and smiled so hard my lips started to quiver and my knees felt like jelly. Timm turned to face us and our performance began. I can’t remember what happened next. All I know is that the room was full of noise, people clapping and cheering. FANTASTIC –WE’D DONE IT!! Never mind IF I RULED THE WORLD – WE WERE ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

It was brilliant to come 2nd but being a part of a team like this was even better. We won’t be ON A SLOW BOAT TO CHINA. We will be on a FAST COACH TO HARROGATE…

NEVERTHELESS, already, I’m in love with the Belles and THERE AINT NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH to keep me away from you. Thank you ladies and Timm for making me so welcome.

P.S. Did I mention WE GOT A MEDAL, MEDAL – WE GOT A MEDAL.           April 2008

PRELIMS FOR BEGINNERS 

My name is Teresa and I was a virgin, a ‘Prelims Virgin’ that is. It began at 6.30am with lengthy preparations involving layers of makeup, swimming Pool Blue eyeshadow and lashings of mascara, before heading to the coach pick up point with eager anticipation. I was greeted by a bevyl of excited Belles discussing the ‘eyeshadow‘, Maureen’s missing T shirt, nail varnish and how we would survive all day in those shoes etc. ‘The Half Crown’ public house saw us drinking coffee and rehearsing. Relief, the words to our two songs were remembered in the right order although the control of saliva in my mouth towards the end of the first song continued to cause me some concern. Hope I don‘t shower the person in front of me! Timm seems to be pleased with our singing so I feel a little less nervous than I did an hour ago.Oh God, it’s time to get on the coach and go to the venue. Keep calm, keep calm, I tell myself. We arrive whilst the warm up chorus is singing. Shhhhh, we are told as our nervous chatter becomes much too loud for the officials to stand. At last we are allowed into the auditorium and I get my first glimpse of the stage on which I must stand and sing in front of what seems like a million people. Help, what am I doing here? Feel better after listening to a couple of chorus’s performing and think ‘hang on a minute, we sound a lot better than them’ At last, after a final warm up it is our turn. We stand in a long line in the corridor waiting for the sign for us to file onto the stage. Carol urges us to remember our posture and to smile - although I think she might have mentioned tits and teeth!!! Oh no, we are nearly there, it seems very dark at the back of the stage, hope I don‘t trip. Suddenly, there I am in my place on the top riser, just left of centre and I am staring out at a sea of faces.  I smile as if my life depends on it, forcing myself to remember Timm’s instructions to take seven deep breaths and wish we could start singing now before I lose my nerve completely. Ah, but now I hear the pitch pipe and I am in the moment, I hear nothing but the song and see nothing but Timm directing us. All too soon we have sung our second song and I experience thunderous applause for the first time in my life and overwhelming emotion. Luckily I manage to control my self and just wish I could relive the last six minutes all over again, because now ,you see, I can no longer say that I am a Prelims Virgin!!!                April 2008

Hello! My name is Nicky, I’m 38 and I’m from York. After completing a degree in Public Health in September 2007, I moved to Coventry to take a job as a Health Visitor. As my father sings with a chorus in Leeds, I have been involved with Barbershop for many years but have never take the steps to sing myself. I didn’t realise what I was missing! I finally took the plunge in January 2008 and joined the Belles of Three Spires. I have since become a fully ‘certified’ member and am thoroughly enjoying singing with the Belles. I have been made to feel so welcome and look forward to rehearsals each week. My biggest regret…. Not doing it years ago!

FEBRUARY

4 New songs introduced.

On the 19th March some of us went to see the show “Gold Rush” at the Y Centre Leicester. Featuring several Gold Medal Quartets from both BABBS and LABBS as well as the Quartet Champion Chorus and Youth Chorus of both organisations. It was compared by Sally McLean of White Rosettes and The Jazz Firm. But we went mostly to see our Director, Timm, sing in the Quartet 'Pitch Invasion'. It was their last performance as the members are moving on to new things.