Farnham Youth Choir, the only children's choir to enter this year's prestigious Montreux Choral competition, has returned triumphant to the UK having won not only the top prize (the Grand Prix de la Ville de Montreux) awarded by the Jury, but also the coveted Audience Prize (the Prix du Public). This follows the Choir's stunning success at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati, USA in July 2012 where it won a gold and a silver medal.
The competition took place over four days, culminating in the Grand Prix which was held in the huge Stravinsky Concert Hall by Lake Geneva on Saturday night in front of an audience of around 1,000.
Adult choirs from as far afield as Venezuela, Korea, the Czech Republic and Russia competed in separate classes in the festival until three choirs were selected by the Jury to enter the 'Grand Prix' contest on the final night. Two adult choirs from Slovenia and Ireland qualified with FYC for the Grand Prix but it was FYC's secure intonation and its demonstration of a wide range of emotions and styles that won over the jury on the evening.
The 37 FYC youngsters aged between 12 and 18 had travelled all the way by coach through France to Switzerland to take part. "We always enjoy this festival," said director David Victor-Smith, "and although we have had some success in previous visits in 2005 and 2009, winning the Audience Prize on one occasion, we knew that the competition would be of an exceedingly high standard once again - and it was!"
The young people had to cope with many challenges to keep their focus and turn on a winning performance. "Despite tiredness caused by four consecutive late nights and the less-than-ideal living conditions in the youth hostel in which they stayed, our singers showed their mettle in the final, by managing to convince the jury brilliantly in the Grand Prix contest against the two superb adult choirs. I was so proud of them!"
To add to the excitement, the evening's Grand Prix was transmitted live on Radio Switzerland and so fans of FYC back in the UK could listen in to the broadcast as it was happening.
Senior Choir member Lisa said: "It was all very confusing. We were backstage when suddenly we were asked to run onto the stage in a state of excitement! Clearly we had won a prize - but we actually had no idea until afterwards that it was both the major awards!"
David Victor-Smith added "Due to of the difficulty we all had hearing the announcements from behind the stage, and maybe because they were mainly in French, it is quite possible that the audience back home knew the results before the choir members did!"
"That was a thrilling moment but quickly followed by terror! It was going out live on the radio and, after all the excitement, I was asked if the choir could perform yet another song. I had to get the youngsters back into tight choir mode and make a quick decision about what we should sing from our repertoire. I took the risk of choosing the highly rhythmic celebratory party song, Las Amarillas - which at the best of times is complex and difficult - because it seemed so appropriate to the occasion. If we were able to control our elation it could be stunning - and indeed, that's just what it was."
Further details about the choir are at www.fyc.org.uk
Posted: Thu 18th April 2013