REVIEWS

My first exposure to ‘Who Dares Sings’ was about 3 years ago when a friend of mine was having private singing lessons with some whiz-kid vocal coach called Kaytie. Apparently she was quite the extrovert and had an abundance of enthusiasm and belief in her posse of singing girls. I’d heard of this amateur choir and they had quite a reputation within the West Sussex area.  

Then another friend of mine cautiously told me that she had joined this group but she wasn’t quite sure where she was going with it. Within a few weeks she was performing at a small intimate concert in St John’s Church Hall in Horsham. I was fortunate enough to get tickets for this event and really wasn’t sure what to expect. The cynic in me expected it to be a very amateur performance of a few well-known songs. That was over a year ago and boy was I wrong! I duly turned up at the Hall, took my seat and prepared to be suitably unimpressed. What came to pass was an inspiringly uplifting evening of pure joy! These women singing together in perfect harmony were truly awesome. In fact, I was quite envious that I didn’t have the ability to be up there belting it out alongside them. They thoroughly enjoyed every second of their performance and actually were pretty damn good at it too! I came away that evening feeling elated and feeling that all was good in the world. 

Another year on and the rallying cry came from my choral friend “We’re doing another concert, would you like to come?” This time it was to raise funds not only for a charity that this wonderful group supports, but also to raise funds for them to attend the Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition in Cardiff in May 2008. So I duly booked my tickets, and went along to St John’s Hall on May 3 – this time taking my 67-year-old mother and my 14-year-old daughter (yes, this ‘Who Dares Sings’ lot really does appeal to all ages) turned up on the night and prepared to be as equally impressed as I was a year ago. Once again, boy was I wrong!!! This time they exceeded my expectations in dazzling style.       

The range of different songs that they chose to perform, demonstrated perfectly their enormous ability and their genuine desire to dare to sing songs from a wide variety of genres. Who could possibly imagine a disparate bunch of women singing their own version of Sweet Home Alabama, to providing an incredible rendition of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and then later segueing nicely into a perfectly timed and perfectly harmonized Bohemian Rhapsody? I was transfixed, as were my mother and daughter by this slick, clever and talented performance by these wonderful women.  

What next for ‘Who Dares Sings’? Surely, further concerts, and I hope with all my heart that they gain success and recognition for their rousing interpretations of modern and classic pieces. Onwards and upwards girls!!!  

Adele Nash, May 2008

Other comments made by the audience after our last concert:

“Good harmony, excellent dynamics.”

“Fantastic performance; really enjoyable evening. You have such good fun. Bohemian Rhapsody was excellent, fantastic, awesome – showing your true colours!!”

“Every word was clear. I’m always impressed by anyone who can remember more than the first line. Remembering a whole evening’s worth – only women can do that!”

“Just keep on doing what you enjoy! Your audience can’t help but enjoy it too.”

“Good luck in Cardiff! You deserve to do well.”