Choir finalists announced for music festival

Finalists for a Midlands choir competition have been announced with groups from Wolverhampton and Staffordshire getting to the last round.

Competitors for Midlands Choir of the Year will battle for the title at Lichfield Cathedral as part of Lichfield Festival on 12 July.

The finalists are Friday Voices from Anslow, Burton-on-Trent, Inspire Choir from Lichfield, RWT Singers from the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Six Town Sound from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Show Choir and Cantare from Derby.

"Each time we hear our choirs live, we're blown away by their commitment and the incredibly high level of their musicality and stagecraft," organiser and festival director Damian Thantrey said.

From the initial entries, 11 choirs were invited to The Hub at St Mary's in Lichfield for the semi-final on Sunday where they performed before the competition jury.

"On Sunday, we were treated to 11 incredible performances and selecting a final six was the most difficult it has been, given the technical accomplishment, emotional intensity and sheer joy each group brought to the stage," Thantrey added.

Two female-voice groups and four mixed-voice groups have made it to the final, covering barbershop, music theatre and 'traditional' choral music, organisers said.

Winners receive a cash prize of £1,000 and an invitation to sing at the following year's Lichfield Festival.

An additional £500 prize is awarded by the audience to the choir of their choice.

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