Two Encores for the Downsmen

The best part of the afternoon was being invited back onto the stage at the Ashcroft Theatre for two encores. But how did this come about?

The Downsmen entered the Barbershop section of the Croydon Music Festival on Saturday 2nd April. Our all male chorus performed two unaccompanied numbers, and were awarded the top grade of ‘Outstanding’ from the adjudicator. In his summing up we were told no other chorus had achieved this rating during the rest of the day’s competitive classes.

After hearing that our “stimulating and stylish performance” was “most moving and engaging”, our Musical Director, Lisa Robathan, collected the silverware in the shape of a rose bowl. Lisa, and The Downsmen, also received congratulations from the music master at the Whitgift School. He told us his pupils, competing as a youth barbershop chorus, had learned a lot from our presentation.

Our plan was to celebrate before heading home. However, we were the last act, and the Festival stewards said everyone in the theatre had so enjoyed our singing, and would we mind doing another number. We duly obliged, and were rewarded with cries of “encore”. Luckily we have a reasonably long repertoire, which is kept fairly well polished, so gave our audience what they wanted.