TAMWORTH ARTS CLUB

EIGHTH MUSICAL THEATRE VOCAL COMPETITION  -  1^st – 4^th July 2010

FIRST PRIZE £1000.00

GRAND FINAL  -  Sunday 4^th July 2010 at THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS THEATRE, TAMWORTH

                                In 1996 the Tamworth Arts Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee.         

  During that year many ventures were planned to make it a memorable year in our history.

It was decided to hold a “Musical Theatre Vocal Competition” for young people between the ages of 15 and 25, offering prizes of £200, £100 and £50.           We were eventually, by means of an anonymous donation, able to give 4^th and 5^th prizes as well.       We opened the competition to the whole of the Midland area and had a wonderful evening when   15 young people showed exceptional talent to a “gob smacked” audience.      The success of the competition meant that we committed ourselves to making this a biennial event.     The 1998 competition was so well responded to that we had to appoint a second accompanist    (we do not allow piped music or amplification, although people can use their use their own accompanist)    We had to introduce an elimination round after which ten qualifiers sang their second song.

Following the success of the 1998 competition we entered into negotiation with the new head of Arts and Media at the Borough Council, with a view to making the Millennium Competition even bigger and better  -  widening the catchment, substantially increased prize money and well known adjudicators on the panel for “A Grand Final”.  As a result the Tamworth Borough Council gave us their full support. Additional sponsorship from Tamworth Cooperative Society, Tamworth Herald, Rotary Club of Tamworth and the Lady meadow Restaurant enabled us to (as well as the £1000 first prize!) award 2^nd prize of £250 and 3^rd prize of £100.

In July 2002, again with the support of Tamworth Borough Council, sponsorship from Tamworth Cooperative Society and Tamworth Herald plus a donation from the Local Arts Grant Scheme to cover the cost of our accompanists we were able to increase the second and third prizes to £400 and £150.

For the 2004, 2006 and 2008 Competitions we managed additional sponsorship from the                                      Staffordshire County Council Local Member Initiative Scheme and Stagecoach Tamworth.

It is now time for interested young people to get their applications in for the 2008 Competition.

The Tamworth Arts Club has again committed itself to giving a first prize of £1000.00 in 2010.    The Borough Council are giving us their support and sponsorship has already been received or promised from Tamworth Cooperative Society, Rotary Club of Tamworth and we have been granted a donation from the Tamworth Borough Council’s Local Arts Initiative Scheme.   We have also requested sponsorship from the Tamworth Herald, Stagecoach Tamworth and the Staffordshire County Council Local Community Fund, all of whom have been very generous in the past,    and if running costs can be covered then we will surely be able to offer substantial additional prize money once again.   We can, once again, look to a maximum entry of up to 65.      Former Arts Club Member, Michael Pipe, who is now a top university lecturer of music in London will once again be heading the Adjudicating Panel.   For further information contact Anne Goodwin on 01827 67297 email info@tamworthartsclub.org.uk  or Sarah Morris on 01827 280731 sarah.morris11@ntlworld.com                        www.tamworthartsclub.org.uk

Last updated on 26 June, 2010

Registered Charity Number:252852