The City Sings Part 2 at Arts Fest, 13 September 2009

Photos by Adrian Burrows

Lead voices: Steve Davis, Clare Edwards, Oliver Jobes, Melanie Pappenheim

Trumpets: Andrew Belfield, Jeremy Clay, Ben Gaskin, Catherine Knight, Ben Murray, David Tibbitts, Frabcesca Treadaway, Rebecca Waite, Sam Wooster

Additional vocal workshop leader: Pete Churchill

Programme note

The City Sings Part 2 took place on 13th September 2009 in Chamberlain Square Birmingham as part of ArtsFest.

This first sung event of The City Sings was an (almost) spontaneous flash-mob style performance involving singers from all over Birmingham, led by 4 professional singers and 9 trumpeters.

At 2.30pm, three young trumpeters stood up from their deckchairs on the Monarch Beach and played the first few notes of a melody.  They were answered by more trumpets from all around the square.  The trumpet phrases were played back and forth chasing and echoing each other with no sign that anything else was about to happen until four singers appeared on the beach with music stands and coloured folders. Suddenly they were singing, joined by half the people on the steps in front of the library - an instant flag bearing, ribbon waving choir.  Look out for film clips of the event coming soon to this website.

I would like to thank all the people who took part for their fantastic and exuberant performances.  I hope that everyone who participated in this, the first mass performance of the piece, will continue to be involved and take part in the final performance next year.

I would also like to thank the lead singers and trumpeters (see credit list above) for their wonderful performances and great leadership, and the staff of mac for thier wholehearted support and encouragement.

Helen Ottaway, October 2009