UGCY 2011

THE 2011 COMPETITION

The 2011 competition, open to primarily London and South East England Universities saw 20 Universities enter their choirs into the preliminary rounds in February 2011 for a chance to be crowned University Gospel Choir of the Year. Our panel of esteemed and well positioned Gospel music expert judges spent the month of March painstakingly reviewing and deliberating over the entries for the competition to decide who the 8 finalists would be. After a task made very difficult by the high standard of the entries we received, the deserving 8 finalists took to the West End stage (Sadler’s Wells’ Peacock Theatre) on Saturday July 16th 2011 at the very first University Gospel Choir of the Year event – a show described by one choir member as “truly one of the best day of my life”.

Two years of planning, over 300 performers from 8 different Universities in a 1000 seat West End theatre culminated in a truly magnificent show.

THE DAY

It was an early start for the choirs, which meant for a long day but spirits were high – despite the elements being against us. After registration, a thorough briefing and mini meet and greet, sound-checks got underway.
Throughout the day, the team worked tirelessly and by the time our host and judges arrived, it was time for all 300+ participants to gather together along with Ayo and Stephanie (judges) for a specially organized workshop, in preparation for a special performance at the end of the night.
Before we knew it, 6.30pm had arrived and it was doors open, all systems go. Two years and a whole lot of work was about to come to fruition. Pretty soon, the auditorium began filling up and after a small delay, the lights dimmed and the curtains came up to a stunning opening performance courtesy of our host, Rachel Kerr. She literally dazzled the stage, the perfect introduction for what was to come from our 8 finalists.

While the scores were being compiled and the winner determined, it was time for a word from our headline sponsors – UBS Global Investment Bank, the charity raffle courtesy of Lymphoma & Leukaemia Research which raised over £400 and the anticipated finale – the mass choir performance.

This saw all 8 choirs (over 300 performers) take to the stage, lead by Stephanie and accompanied by Ayo on the keys, to perform a rapturous rendition of gospel classic ‘Oh Happy Day’. Bearing in mind that they had only practiced once and on that day, the sound that was produced was nothing short of remarkable, a true spectacle and the real denouement to the months of preparations that had led to the night’s events.

The audience and choir members were truly left inspired and uplifted – which was ultimately our aim! All of our choirs, plus some who weren’t in the final are already itching for next year’s competition, which we will aim to deliver bigger and better! Look out for UGCY 2012!

WELL DONE TO ALL THE 8 FINALISTS WHO TOOK PART!

CONGRATULATIONS

1st Prize Winner – Royal Holloway Gospel Choir

We are excited to announce that the Royal Holloway, UGCY 2011 winners, performed at the annual sell-out event “Christmas Carols with the Stars” at the world famous Royal Albert Hall on 9th December 2011 as their prize.

Sponsored by the TV Times, this much loved, star-studded event, was in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Rearch. We are proud to be associated with such a worthy cause and were thrilled to see Royal Holloway Gospel Choir perform in front of 5000+ people!

2nd & 3rd Runners Up – UWE Gospel Choir and Kings College London Gospel Choir

Courtesy of MVLS Music, UWE Gospel Choir and Kings College London GMS sang alongside the internationally renowned London Community Gospel Choir at the Celebration of Choirs performance on 30th October 2011.

Congratulations to all of our prize winners and finalists!