Aquapella World Music Choir, a Magnetic Island and Townsville combined choir is hitting top notes after being selected from eleven other competing north Queensland choirs at St. Margaret Mary's church recently for the State Finals of the ABC Classic FM, Choir of the Year, "Sing Out" competition.

Aquapella, a choir of approximately 50 voices, was the only one selected from the group for the Queensland State Final which is being held on Thursday 3 August, 8.00pm, at Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Brisbane.

According to an ABC spokesperson, "The judges were impressed with the standard of choral singing in Townsville. It was the only non-capital city visited and due to the strong response in the region judges were flown specially for the day of competition."

"The judges were Robert Boughan, an orchestral and choral conductor, arranger, composer and performer; and ABC senior producer Owen Chambers (himself a chorister in Sydney). And, yes, the decision was unanimous."

Unable to interview Aquapella's choir master, Islander, Beat Lehman, who is currently visiting Switzerland, we spoke to singer Dani Ceccarelli, who said, "We were really pleased at the end of our performance but when we found out that we had won we were really excited."

Aquapella's success, was based, Dani said, on two ingredients."The first was our unusual song selection. Some, such as the African party song, Ippi, are not mainstream even for World Music and there are East European songs too that are not well known. We also sing well-known songs in an unusual way, like The lion sleeps tonight in French. Secondly, we look like we are having so much fun and that draws people in."

Other Townsville choirs who competed include - Allegro, Townsville Choral & Orchestral Society, Bella Voce and Townsville Youth Voices.

This is the first-ever national choral competition held in Australia. ABC Classic FM has yet to decide when the next one will be held.

State and National winners will share a $25,000 prize pool with each State winner guaranteed $1000 and a congratulatory trophy. The two winning choirs in the National Final - one adult, one youth - will share an additional $13,000 with the winner of the adult category also being awarded a recording contract with ABC classics which will include a new commission for broadcast by ABC Classic FM.

Of the 40 choirs chosen to compete in the State Finals only the top six - three adult and three youth choirs - will be selected to go through to the National Final set for Saturday 20 September.

All State and National Finals will be broadcast live on ABC Classic FM.

ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year is the country's largest choral competition. Between March and June, 7000 singers from more than 250 youth and adult choirs came together to hear each other sing in audition sessions held in every capital city and Townsville.

Held at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, the National Final will determine the overall category winner and one choir will take home the title ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year.

ABC Classic FM Listeners will vote for the ABC Classic FM Listener's Choice Award, which will also be presented at the National Final.

Tickets for the State Finals in Brisbane are now on sale.

Bookings for the Queensland State Final - 136 246 or www.qtix.com.au

To find out who is competing in the State Final go to abc.net.au/classic

Story and file photo: George Hirst