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Choir finalists on song for U's

From the archive, first published Monday 20th Feb 2006.

THERE was a distinct improvement in the quality of singing at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium on Saturday - and it was all thanks to Ivor's Choir.

Familiar football chanting directed at the referee or opposition fans took a back seat to a bit of class from conductor Ivor Setterfield and his 40 choristers from Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.

They are starring in a Channel Five television documentary and Saturday's performance at the Kassam was their first taste of singing live before a large crowd.

The choir is busily rehearsing to get ready for the show's big finale -- singing live at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

They will feature in a Classic FM concert in April alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, singing a classical piece in Latin, the Wheel of Fortune in Carl Orfe's famous work Carmina Burana.

Before the U's match against Cheltenham, the choir treated the crowd and players to a rendition of the traditional Irish folk song Wild Rover. Lyrics were adapted into an ode for Oxford United, and the boisterous crowd in the Oxford Mail stand joined in once they had aimed a few barbed chants in the direction of Cheltenham supporters.

As well as a first for the choir, it was a debut for professional conductor Mr Setterfield, who sifted through nearly 200 hopefuls to pick his choir for the documentary that will be screened in the summer.

He said: "The choir may have been a bit nervous but it was a new experience for me too, never having conducted a choir at a football stadium. They performed well considering we had to compete with a noisy section of the crowd, but they joined in and I ended up conducting the supporters too."

Among the 40 choristers was BMW paintsprayer and part-time DJ Colin Morris-Smith, 48, from Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys, who likes to sing along at home accompanying himself on his guitar.

He said: "What an amazing challenge, singing at the Kassam Stadium and then we go to the Royal Albert Hall. It will be a difficult classical piece of music in Latin.

"I've always loved music and this is a great opportunity for me to expand my interest and learn more about the classical side. The choir is great and I hope we can stick together after all this is over. Blackbird Leys had a bad name, but this goes to show what can be achieved and what a close-knit community it really is."

Darrinda Lewis, 33, of Nettlebed Mead, Greater Leys, loves singing in the bath and kitchen.

She said: "I can't believe I've made it. Now we are going to have to work hard for our Albert Hall appearance, but it'll be worth every moment."

Jade Gabbidon, 20, a single mother of Sawpit Road, Blackbird Leys, said: "Winning a place in the choir is a big boost for me. I want to go on to become a solo artist, but I need coaching to strengthen my voice. I would love to see the choir continue, not only for the music but because it does so much for your confidence and shows what the community here can achieve."

The choir's chants failed to spur the U's on to win, but they managed a 1-1 draw.

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