The Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition usually features young performers. These are mostly students studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Through the oratorio competition, young people get to know stage life in practice, gain invaluable experience of live performances in front of audiences, and of course, all this helps them build their future musical careers. Read more about this choral festival and some of its results at birminghamski.com.
A practical approach to learning
The approach to learning at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is in line with that of the organisers of the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition. The Conservatoire believes that students should acquire their knowledge through practice. They see this as a huge benefit for future musicians.
In practice, training at the Department of Vocal and Opera Studies, which is no exception to this innovative approach, looks like this: in addition to intensive training with world-class teachers and professionals, the institution provides an opportunity to gain concert experience on their own, participating in a variety of performances, concerts, and competitions.
Moreover, they organise such performances for their students. After all, the Birmingham Conservatoire stages many local productions. Another important detail is that participation in these performances becomes possible literally from the very first days of study, from the moment an applicant becomes a student and crosses the threshold of this educational institution. Of course, competitions such as the Birmingham Choral Society Oratorio Competition of the Birmingham Festival are a very important stage of this practical training.
At the same time, the Birmingham Conservatoire firmly believes in individual tuition for young singers. That is why the local comprehensive training course was developed in such a way that students could pay much attention to their personal hobbies, but at the same time, they would have the tools for life in a modern profession. It’s about networking, acquiring contacts that will help in the future if the student is a talented and persistent person who wants to achieve their goals.
This approach to studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire helps many students to create a successful career. The chamber nature of the department gives students plenty of opportunities to perform. In addition, there is also a wide range of tutoring services. From Renaissance music to modern vocal technique lessons and everything in between.
Chamber choir
By the time students graduate, they can perform four full opera roles with the orchestra, as well as gain experience performing with the Birmingham Opera Company, ExCathedra, and record a performance for the BBC. All of this became possible only because of the connections provided by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to its students.
Another opportunity to gain quality knowledge through a practical approach, such as participation in concerts and festivals, such as the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition, is to visit the Chamber Choir. Its principal conductor is Julian Wilkins. The choir consists of a group of about thirty students who have passed auditions and managed to form an experienced and professional team.
This choir gives concerts and takes part in other performances. Along with the expectations, which are very high in themselves, the choir’s reputation is beginning to grow, both nationally and internationally. The singers record their performances for Somm Records, give concerts in Birmingham and beyond, and occasionally appear on TV.
Of course, they also take part in competitions, one of which is the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition. It is therefore clear that this choir is unique, especially in that it has a significant presence in the field of recording. In recent years, the choir has released nine albums.
Oratorio competition
It is no surprise that the participants of the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition, representing the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, are always considered among the favourites at this competition. The third competition, which took place in 2024, was a good example.
The third Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Oratorio Competition, sponsored by the Birmingham Festival Choral Society, took place in October 2024. The six best performers were invited to the final of the competition, according to the esteemed jury. As a result, they gave the audience at the Conservatory a concert of the highest quality, performing works by various famous and not-so-famous composers, from Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Handel to Maurice Duruflé and John Joubert, i.e. from classical to contemporary.
And if we talk about the level and skill of the competition participants and the rich historical experience of the choir, we immediately recall that it was the Birmingham Conservatoire Choir that distinguished itself by performing the premiere of Felix Mendelssohn’s opera Elijah in 1846. This time the competition featured three solos from this popular oratorio.
The final of the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition was traditionally a celebration of music and song. In addition, six very talented finalists, introduced by Paul Wingfield, Head of Vocal and Opera Studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, performed several oratorio works by Handel, Bach, Tippett and Hindemith.
During the break, the audience enthusiastically discussed what they had heard and seen on stage. No one wanted to discuss and evaluate the technique, complexity of the repertoire, communication with the audience, voice quality, all of which was left to the judges. The only question that worried classical music lovers that evening was whether their predictions and wishes would coincide with what the judges would offer.
Speaking of the judges. David Wynne, the musical director of the Birmingham Festival Choral Society, was the chairman of the oratorio competition. His job, I must say, was not an easy one, and few of those present envied David. Everyone had heard, seen and understood that it would be difficult to choose between these singers, to put it mildly. By the way, the presentations at the competition were made by Tracy Piotrowska, the festival’s deputy chairman.
Results of the competition
In the end, no matter how hard they tried, the judges were unable to choose a winner between contralto Laura Toomey and soprano Beth Taylor. As a result, two winners were announced. The crystal trophy and cheques were then presented to the two winners by David Fletcher, the competition chairman.
In the dry run at the end of the Third Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Competition 2024, Laura Toomey and Beth Taylor, both contralto and soprano singers respectively, were the winners. Joe Yates took second place. It is worth recalling that this competition is a unique opportunity for young singers to gain recognition and experience in this field. Which they have done, and the Birmingham Chamber Choir is just as active in supporting the careers of young singers.
Sources: