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1 December 2024
Pilarmonics ladies choir.
Pilarmonics ladies choir.

Not being very clever myself, I have managed to join a few very clever ladies and do a weekly quiz. They don't mind me sitting with them and throwing in the odd correct answer to make it look like I know something. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that four of the ladies with whom I entered the quiz were part of a barbershop harmony group known as the Pilarmonics.

Pilarmonics ladies choir.

One day during the quiz, Donna, a member of the Pilarmonics and one of the ladies I do the quiz with told me about the first concert the Pilarmonics would be doing. I tried to make an excuse not to go but Donna physically held me down whilst other members of the Pilarmonics went through my wallet and extracted three euros from my wallet so that I could purchase a ticket. I soon found out that it was, in fact, the first ticket they had sold, but they had soon sold two more tickets to quiz team member Debbie. Debbie and her husband, Keith, would now have to go to see the show as well, so we joined together to form an escape committee.

Unable to sell my ticket on eBay, Facebook or at the local market I met with Keith and Debbie the afternoon of the show in a local bar, La Vid de Ojeda. I arrived early to have a drink to steel myself against the upcoming entertainment. The Six Nations rugby was on the television in the corner, so I hid in the corner of the bar watching the rugby, hoping that Keith and Debbie would not see me when they arrived and would leave without me. My luck was holding as they walked past me and sat at another table. Unfortunately, Keith was a rugby fan and whilst glancing to see the score he noticed me cowering in the corner. Debbie soon dragged me away from the television, telling me that if she and Keith had to go, so did I. We finished our drinks and prepared ourselves for what was to come. We climbed into the car to make the short Pilar de la Horadada trip.

We soon arrived at the Church hall where the show would be. I followed Keith and Debbie into the hall and thought I might get away without getting in when I couldn't find my ticket. Unfortunately, the very large bouncer/ticket collector at the door lifted me off the floor, hung me upside down by my ankles and shook me until my ticket fell out from where I had hidden it away. I straightened my clothing and walked into the hall, where Donna showed me my seat.

The show started with Donna briefly describing the Pilarmonics and some background information on Barbershop harmonics. It was very interesting, and I thought I might hang around for the first few songs. Keith was sitting next to me, and although he didn't say anything, I think he was preparing to make a bolt for the door. Sadly for him, I was in the way, and Debbie wouldn't let him out without her. Two songs in, and I realised that I quite liked the singing. The Pilarmonics were great, and I had been tapping my feet throughout the show. Two songs later Keith, I believe, had also given up on his escape plans.

We were then introduced to the group and the different sections by Dawn (another quiz team member) and shown how the different sections fit together to produce the great-sounding music we were listening to. The ladies in the Pilarmonics were even brave enough to get the audience to participate in the singing. Although Keith sang more than I did, my feet tapped more. After this, there was a small break where tea, soft drinks and cakes were sold. A raffle was held, and as expected, she always won; Debbie won the first prize, a nice hamper of mixed food and drink. This was followed up by every prize but one being won by someone sitting directly next to us or in the row in front of us. I didn't see anything underhand but wished I'd bought a ticket.

The second half followed with a few more songs before the group split, and we heard a few songs from a quartet from within the group that will be singing separately in competitions and with the other ladies of the Pilarmonics. They then all joined to form the group and sang the songs they would be singing at Belamadena in April in competition. The quartet was great, and the whole group were great. I think they will all do well. I did not know how much I would like this type of music, but the ladies opened my eyes and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it and will go to hear them again. Well done to the ladies of Pilarmonics. Whether you wanted one or not, you now have another fan.

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