Athlone A Cappella made a triumphant return to Athlone in recent times following their silver medal success at the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS ) convention.
Established in 2012 by David Farmer, Athlone A Cappella had just four singers during its infant stages, but owing to the group’s ongoing popularity, the figure has now increased to 42 persons.
Athlone A Cappella is a close harmony barbershop group. In the barber shop tradition, the emphasis is on close, carefully arranged harmony. Phrases are often repeated for echo effect, and musical arrangements are usually in the ragtime or other nostalgic song styles. A Cappella music is a performance by a singer or choir without instrumental accompaniment.
Within the AAC choir, the harmony comprises four parts – bass is the lowest voice part followed closely by the baritones, the leads usually having the main melody and song lyrics.
This is then followed by the highest singing group of all, the tenors. The tenors have been described as the icing sugar on the top and currently, there are four tenors in Athlone A Cappella.
Athlone A Cappella had previously won a gold medal at IABS convention in 2019 under the tutelage of David Farmer, who had brought great success to the group over the years.
However, with the arrival of Covid-19, like many other choirs, Athlone A Cappella was forced to take a break for two years prior to the group reconvening.
Now, under the directorship of Hilary Roche, who was a former member of the lead section, Athlone A Cappella has returned to its harmonious ways. Hilary is a music teacher in her own right and it is thanks to her that Athlone A Cappella has made great progress in the last year building upon the groundwork established by David Farmer.
In the last few years the IABS convention has been held in Killarney and prior to that it had been held in Cork, Waterford and Ennis. The competition attracts national Irish choirs and quartets as well as international choirs and quartets from such places as the UK, Sweden and The Netherlands.
This year the competitive band in which Athlone A Cappella competed had widened with further competition from male and mixed choirs.
Athlone A Cappella performed a ballad from Moulin Rouge, ‘Come What May’ and an up tempo number, ‘The Lady is a Tramp’, their competition contributions recognised with the silver medal award.
The IABS convention is an excellent showcase of Barbershop A Cappella singing and is a very enjoyable experience for all the singers involved.
Athlone A Cappella will next perform at the annual Samaritans Christmas concert which will take place in the Friary Church in Athlone on Wednesday, December 6.
Come along and support this very worthy cause and enjoy what is sure to be a very entertaining evening.
At the moment Athlone A Cappella is seeking new singers. If you are interested in joining the choir, practice takes place every Wednesday night in the Bower school in Athlone from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Athlone A Cappella would be interested in taking on new members with an interest and aptitude for singing, so please contact [email protected] or send a message directly on the Athlone A Cappella Facebook page.
