About Second City Sound

In May 1990, 5 wives & daughters of Anvil Chorus (Birmingham's BABS Chorus) members decided to form a Ladies Barbershop Harmony Club. After much fund raising the ladies managed to organise the first Open Evening on November 19th 1990. John & Margaret Riseborough agreed to help, and John became the club's first Musical Director. This official start to the Club was followed in May 1991 with acceptance into LABBS and a steady trickle of new members from open evenings and word of mouth.

When John and Margaret moved out of the area in 1992, John Brackpool took over as MD and took us to our first Prelims Competition in Dunstable in May 1992. We qualified for Convention for the first time in April 1993, and have been rising through the ranks ever since.

John remained our MD until 1997, when Rod Butcher took over - a very well known and respected figure in Barbershop circles. He is a gold medallist quartet singer in his own right, and also a Judge for the Men's competitions. Since Rod agreed to become our MD, we have gone from strength to strength, improving our singing techniques and performances thanks to Rod's expertise and enthusiasm and much support and help from many barbershop coaches, both from Britain and overseas.

In 2003 we were invited to enter the International Convention in Holland, which meant we all put a great deal of effort into fund raising, and we were very pleased to come 5th in the Competition - a grand achievement!

We have performed in concerts all over the region, including the Remembrance Day Concert 2003 and the St Georges Day Festival 2004 at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham and countless smaller singouts for private parties, homes for the elderly, hospitals, and outdoor events, like the ArtsFest in Birmingham City Centre.

The Club organises a show every other year to help promote the Barbershop style in the West Midlands. This brings together a variety of different entertainment styles, including comedians, brass bands and theatre groups and also gives a welcome boost to Club funds!

Since our humble beginnings in 1990 we have gained many new members, raised thousands of pounds for new stage costumes, walkout outfits, risers and charity donations, and had a huge amount of fun and friendship - our 'Post Convention Parties' are second to none! We hope that we will continue on in joy and harmony into the foreseeable future.

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