The British Columbia Girls Choir has taken home an international award with the help of young singers from Burnaby.
The choir won the “Children’s Choir of the World” award this month during the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, considered to be one of the most prestigious choral competitions in the world. The group tied with the Hereford Cathedral Girls Choir of England for the award.
This year, 12 children's choirs competed from America, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, India, the Isle of Man & Wales.
Seven of the 40 singers in the B.C. Girls Choir are from Burnaby.
Elizabeth Dwan, who attends Burnaby South Secondary, said she was was overjoyed about winning the competition.
“It didn't hit me until the next day, when I cried with happiness. It’s an unbelievably good feeling, knowing you're the very best at something,” she said in a press release. “And it takes lots of hard work. We even stopped drinking milk and eating ice cream because it mucks up our vocal chords.”
Ellen Barnette, a 13-year-old student attending Burnaby Mountain Secondary, said she’s enjoyed how much she’s learned from being part of the choir.
“We work best when everyone is listening and paying attention, and because it’s like we are one, giant family. I feel so proud about all that we have accomplished,” she said.
Artistic Director Fiona Blackburn said succeeding in the competition required a lot of concentration and hard work.
“The girls have a special bond that comes from weekly rehearsals and a knowledge that they are preparing music that is of the highest quality,” she said. “I love the girls’ commitment to our art.”
The choir competed in Wales, and spent a week in Scotland at the Stirling Bridge International Festival where they met singers from USA, Belgium and Germany. The two-week tour wrapped up with a performance in Ireland at the Galway Cathedral.
New Burnaby Central Secondary grad Annika Guy will continue pursuing her passion for music on a professional level. The others will return to rehearsals in September.
The forty-member-choir also won third place in Folksong and 1st in the Senior Children’s competitions.
