When we come together, we create something special with the music we make and the enjoyment we share. Much more than the words used to describe us.
We really are Louder than words.
From the sound we make to the enjoyment and camaraderie we share, for Synergy and our audiences, it is all about being in the room together.
We’re warm, passionate and absorbing.
Synergy Impress in Northern Ireland as ‘A Happy Band of Brothers’
Synergy returned buoyant from their visit to the Bangor International Choral Festival, having impressed both audience and the adjudicators.
Friday evening saw the chorus loosen up at the Festival Concert, lighting up the venue with a blend of close harmony A Capella singing in a set designed to entertain under the guidance of MD Owen McCarthy. Synergy opened with ‘King of the Road’ and ‘Beyond the Sea’ before a double injection of Welshness with ‘Myfanwy’ and ‘Calon Lan’. Closing the set with crowd pleasers ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ by Queen, followed by the promise of a sincere classical piece that evolved into ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’, an act that always brings the house down, this time with a standing ovation! In a final surprise twist the chorus delivered ‘Irish Blessing’ as a thankyou and goodbye, which left some of the locals in tears in the true vaudeville ethos of ‘make them laugh and make them cry’, by compressing those opposite emotions into a ten-minute slice.
This set Synergy up well for the competition section of the tour on Saturday, where they were entered in numerous categories throughout the day.
Off to a flying start, Synergy won the Barbershop Chorus category with renditions of ‘He A’int Heavy He’s My Brother’ and an Elvis number ‘Love Me’.
The Quartet, ‘The Howlers’ then won the Barbershop Ensemble section followed by Octet ‘Shorething’ coming runners up in the Newcomers’ Class under stiff competition.
In the evening Synergy returned to compete in the Festival Gala Concert, resplendent in their newly purchased kit, as colourful and vibrant as their performances.
The Howlers Quartet were placed runners up in the Light Entertainment Section which preceded the main event: the Open Choral Competition containing accomplished choirs. Synergy entered with ‘Africa’, as made famous by TOTO, ‘Only You’, another Elvis number, and ending with ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’.
A nervous wait ensued whilst the adjudicators tallied up scores and addressed each competing choir before chief adjudicator Richard Yarr MBE brought the evening to a close with the main awards for the weekend.
Pleasingly, he showed a soft spot for Synergy, complimenting the chorus for being “Stylish and Engaging” and possessing “Great Spirit and Storytelling”. He noted Synergy were under superb direction and had an excellent rapport with their MD showing fluid movement. He finally gave congratulations for bringing ‘joy to people’s lives’ and hoped it would long continue, summing up Synergy as ‘a Band of Brothers’. This was soon followed with Synergy being awarded Runners up in the Open Choral Competition and a prize of £500.
Finally, Synergy were awarded two bonus prizes, the Marine Court Shield for Best Single Performance of the Festival (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) and an award as The Best Visiting Choir.
We would like to thank Richmond Accountancy, a family run firm in Abergavenny for contributing towards sponsorship this year.
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On Sunday 21st July at 5pm The Roy Noble Show, BBC Radio Wales, featured Synergy. Roy interviewed our MD Owen McCarthy.
Click See Event below for link to the show. The Interview begins 37.10 minutes in.
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Fresh from our success winning our competition in Truro Cathedral that day, Synergy travelled to Launceston in the evening to perform in a concert with many other talented choirs. Some impressive camera and editing work had it all posted on YouTube within a day to our joy!
See the below link for our set
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Having participated in the prestigious biannual Cornwall International Male Choir Festival previously in 2011 and 2013 Synergy were travelling more in hope to compete in this years event. We had previously done well winning Best Uk Choir under 40 voices on both previous visits. However, that was a long time ago and the Synergy roll call had changed substantially and like most choirs had suffered through Covid.
Y-Fenni Vidi Vici
See event” I wanted to say how much we all enjoyed your performances at Bangor. Some performances, even if they are excellent pass you by in life, some remain with you forever. Yours will remain with me forever – thank you so much! I hope you have/had a safe journey home and please come back again!”
Elaine Laird Miskelly Chorale
“Words can’t even begin to capture how much we loved SYNERGY being at our wedding. You made the moments we were least excited about our most cherished memories.”
Elen + Jack
“WOW!! Just WOW!! We had the best of days and can’t thank Synergy Choir enough… I believe you were fantastic before I arrived and I know you were fabulous when I was in the church. It was truly amazing and our guests enjoyed every minute of your performance.”
Jane + Rob
More than ‘just’ a community choir Synergy performs to an astonishingly high standard, a ‘professional’ standard if you will. I’m usually fairly indifferent to amateur choirs but this was different, with sophisticated and complex vocal arrangements that owed more to barbershop singing and doo-wop than to the Welsh male voice choir (MVC) tradition.
Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann Correspondent
We’re available for concerts, festivals and party celebrations. We always deliver a rousing and moving experience whatever the occasion.
Bookable as a full choir and small ensembles.
We are always open to new members. Rehearsals are every Thursday 19:30 at St Michaels Centre Abergavenny, 10A Pen-Y-Pound, NP7 5UD.
To find out more, book us or get in touch you can below, or email:
