Golden anniversary concert for barbershop singers

Norwich’s male barbershoppers, Fine City Chorus, are celebrating the group’s 50th birthday this year.

Based at Lionwood School in Thorpe Hamlet, Fine City Chorus, also known as Norwich Barbershop Harmony Club, is a vibrant a cappella group specialising in four-part close harmony arrangements.

They perform a diverse repertoire of popular British and American music, ranging from classic hits to contemporary favourites. The chorus actively participates in various events, including concerts, festivals, and charity fundraisers, both locally and further afield.

The chorus has several members from Thorpe St Andrew, including chairman Bob Ledwidge and I, and is always eager to welcome new members. It often hosts ‘Come and Sing’ events to introduce people to the joys of barbershop harmony.

The club started in 1975 as an evening class in Norwich for men who wanted to learn to sing in the barbershop style.

A local music teacher, Rosemary Kimmins, was asked to take it, and, to understand more about this kind of harmony singing, she went to the US airbase at Mildenhall, where the American servicemen organised a sing-out session specially for her. She was inspired, and she quickly grew the Norwich barbershop singers from an initial eight to 25 singers. Jeff Jordan was one of the original group and is still singing with Fine City Chorus.

The name ‘Fine City Chorus’ was chosen by the members in the 1990s, reflecting the group’s connection to Norwich. Over the years, the chorus has seen the formation of several successful quartets.

One notable achievement was in 2005 when Fine City Chorus was ‘Small Chorus Champions’ at the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) annual convention. That’s unlikely to happen again, as membership has grown.

The chorus appointed Carol Logan as their Chorus Director in 2009, a role she continues to fulfil, guiding the chorus to further musical development.

This year Fine City Chorus achieved its highest-ever score from the judges at the BABS Convention in Bournemouth with a total of 67%. There were 27 competing choruses and Fine City Chorus was placed 13th

TOGETHER IN HARMONY: Fine City Chorus on stage this year at the Bournemouth barbershop convention. Fine City received its highest score ever from the judges.

Taking part in barbershop conventions is a way of continuing to improve.

Fine City Chorus will attend next year’s convention in Harrogate and is currently considering going to a barbershop convention in Spain in 2027. To mark the 50th anniversary, Fine City Chorus is staging a special concert at the Assembly House in the city on Sunday, September 28.

Together with our sibling mixed chorus Mosaic and special guests, the concert will celebrate 50 years of popular music in a cappella four-part close harmony.

There will be songs from the Everly Brothers and Beach Boys via Les Misérables, Monty Python, Queen and  Sting to Ed Sheeran and the 21st Century!

All the proceeds will be going to FCC’s charity this year, Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney – Chris Durdin (finecitychorus.org.uk).

FLASHBACK: This photo from 1986 shows then chorus director Doug Clark and the full chorus. Two of the current chorus, Ken Mays and Chris Durdin, are pictured.