THE Forth Valley Chorus has plenty to make a song and dance about.
The 82-strong, all female choir has won the coveted Sweet Adeline Regional gold medal beating 19 other choruses from all over the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Chorus director David Sangster said: "I'm walking on air. The competition was tou
gh. We've been preparing intensively for the last nine months and our prize is to go to international competition in Seattle in the US in 2010."
Founded 21 years ago, Forth Valley Chorus attracts women from Glasgow to Penicuik.
The Midlothian members include Linda Heary, Betty Marshall, Lesley Anderson, Margaret Murdoch, Ruth Franton, Susan Irvine, Florance Kennedy, all from the Penicuik area; Alison Lee from Dalkeith; Barbara Cox from Lasswade; and Christine Sinclair from Roslin.
Mr Sangster added: "There's a mistaken assumption that barbershop is four men with moustaches in bowler hats and stripy waistcoats. Forth Valley combine glamour, glitter and razzamatazz with high musical ability which is a winning cocktail."
The four American judges awarded Forth Valley a total of 611 marks for their performance, praising their "rich, resonant sound" and the "high energy" of their choreography.
Forth Valley achieved highest marks not only in sound quality and technical ability but also in showmanship and expression for their delivery of two popular songs in classic barbershop blended four part harmony full of ringing chords.
While they have been consistently placed in the top four in recent years, it has been 15 years since Forth Valley last won gold.
The chorus will now represent the UK and Netherlands in Seattle in October 2010, where they will compete against choruses from all over the world.
Mr Sangster, a solicitor by day, added: "Barbershop moves people because the songs are part of the universal musical consciousness. Everything is learnt by heart and delivered straight from the heart. It's as far as you can get from a conventional choir as possible.
"It's a thrilling art form combining highest quality singing with performance. Every note and every body move matters. It's a total experience for everyone involved and the public love it."
