Today, I bring you news of an event that promises to be the perfect amalgamation of soulful melodies and riveting entertainment. Yes, you guessed it right, the 11th Annual UGCY – University Gospel Choir of the Year competition is back with a bang!
Picture this: "Sister Act meets X Factor"! This annual Gospel choir competition is all set to bring together the best of the best from across the UK, in an epic showdown, for just one night only – on the 25th of March 2023. Believe me when I say that this year's UGCY is aiming to stage the most spectacular show yet!
Eight university gospel choirs have secured a place in the hotly contested finals, which will take place at the iconic Oasis House, Croydon. The winner will be announced on the night by none other than the Mayor of Croydon himself! The excitement is palpable, and the anticipation is building up as the choirs get ready to battle it out for the coveted title.
But wait, that's not all! UGCY 2023 is organised in partnership with AStepFWD, a trailblazing multi-media platform organisation that curates the monthly UK Christian Charts. They also run initiatives such as the Masterclass Series, Artist Relief Fund, Poets In Autumn World Tour, and the annual StepFWD Awards. These initiatives showcase the best of the best in the world of gospel music, and this year's UGCY is no exception.
Founded in 2011 by Lorraine Wright MBE, University Gospel Choir of the Year provides a prestigious platform for choirs to showcase their musical ability in a supportive community environment. This bridges the gap of geographic location and variety of alumni, bringing wider audience engagement. It is heartening to see how this event continues to grow from strength to strength each year, garnering more and more support.
This year's shortlisted choirs are all set to bring their A-game to the competition. Featuring choirs from BIMM Birmingham Music College, Canterbury Christ Church University, Durham University, University of Kent, Keele University, University of Birmingham, UCL, and Warwick University, the competition promises to be fierce.
To add an element of variety, this year's UGCY rules allow choirs to feature a special guest artist to perform as part of their final set. Many contemporary choir groups favour collaborations as a way of creatively adding variety and versatility to their sound.
A panel of Gospel Music experts will judge the competition and carefully consider the overall performance of each choir on the basis of theme, choreography, musicality, arrangement, and harmony. As always, the UGCY will be full of dancing, laughter, and roaring cheers (and a few tears!) as the judges decide which choir will be crowned the 2023 University Gospel Choir of the Year.
The University Gospel Choir of the Year will be held on Saturday 25th March 2023 at Oasis House, Croydon CR0 3EX, with doors open from 6 pm. Tickets are now available, and this event is not to be missed! Join us for a soul-stirring, fun-filled live competition for the whole family. Don't miss out on this spectacular event!
