Lewes: Choir rated outstanding at singing competition

The Paddock Singers, from Lewes, took part in the Peterborough International Women’s Choral Festival last weekend.

The choir, led by musical director Ruth Kerr, were complimented by judges on their “powerful and entertaining performance”.

Choirs came from all over the UK and even Canada for the competition.

Ruth Kerr, musical director for the choir, centre with frame (Image: The Paddock Singers)

Sarah Hunter, one of The Paddock Singers, said: “This was the first time we have ever entered a competition, it was a women’s choir competition.

"It was great, we went to Peterborough which has an enormous cathedral and performed on the cathedral square outside.

“All the choirs sang to the people of the town. There were also workshops and lectures over the day.

“There was a choir from Canada that came over and other choirs from all over the country.

“The rest of the choirs were rated, we got an ‘outstanding’ rating. 

“Pretty much all 40 of us went but 33 of us performed.”

The Paddock Singers will be performing the songs they sang outside Peterborough Cathedral and more for an event St John’s sub Castro Church in Abinger Place, Lewes, next month.

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The church is now largely used as an event space and tickets are available to see the choir.

Sarah said: “It’s going to be quite an informal concert. This will be about sitting around tables with a glass of wine and having snacks and cakes. Various groups in the choir will sing and then the whole choir.

“It’s a chilled, relaxed evening which will be nice.

“We’re a community choir and we do have auditions for people to join. We have a range of repertoire from classical music to much less formal music.”

The evening will be on Saturday, July 8, from 7pm.

For more information, visit the choir’s website.