Competitions Blogs

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Competitions

May 22, 2023
With Sing2023 (the British Association of Barbershop Singers 49th Convention at Bournemouth) now only a couple of weeks away, the Kingsmen are putting the finishing touches to their two competition songs and getting ‘stage ready’ for their performance on Saturday 27th May.
March 8, 2023
The Kingsmen added to their trophy cabinet for the second time in as many months following a fantastic performance at the Torbay and South West of England Music Festival on 3 rd March 2023.
February 13, 2023
2023 got off to a winning start for the Kingsmen with a fabulous performance at the Saltash Music, Speech and Drama Festival. Singing two wonderful songs – The Way You Look Tonight and I Believe, the Chorus came away with a mark of 88, a Distinction, ‘An excellent performance technically and artistically’.
March 29, 2022
The Kingsmen under the direction of new Music Director Gary Rowe won two trophies at the Torbay Music Festival held in Paignton Festival Hall. Gary was immensely pleased with the choruses performance in both the male barbershop competition and the male choir category obtaining a distinction and commendation respectively. And this was his son Freddie’s (12yrs) first competition. And he performed like a real trouper. So well done to him.
December 12, 2018
'Enigma' Quartet comprising Peter Goodliffe (tenor), Gary Rowe (lead), Barrington Sowden (bass) and Dave Griffiths (baritone) travelled to St Austell in Cornwall to perform in the annual music festival.
May 15, 2018
The Kingsmen entered the choir category and came first with a great score of 86% singing 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' and 'We'll Meet Again'; they also entered the barbershop category singing 'May I Never Love Again' and 'Taking A Chance On Love' and came first again but with a score of 87% and a distinction. The adjudicator Penelope Rice Jones said this was a thoroughly enjoyable performance by an experienced choir. 
January 30, 2018
A small group (named K2) of twenty Kingsmen directed by Kingsmen Deputy Music Director Gary Rowe competed in the annual Saltash Music Festival and came away again with the trophy for the fourth year in succession with a distinction, a mark of 87% and glowing comments from the adjudicator Jeffrey Wynn Davies quote:
June 6, 2017
I joined The Kingsmen Barbershop Harmony Club at the end of a very enjoyable Learn To Sing Course they ran in early 2016. 

LATEST FROM THE BLOG

By Kevin Hamer February 17, 2026
Two days after Valentine's Day, the Kingsmen had the privilege of bringing music, smiles, and harmony to patients and staff at Mount Gould Hospital, sharing songs centred on one simple but powerful theme: Love. From the first note, it was clear that this was more than a performance. Love was there in every sense; in the dedication of the hospital staff who paused in busy corridors to listen, in the smiles of patients, and in the shared moments of connection that music so effortlessly creates. The Kingsmen sang of love, friendship and care; themes that resonated deeply within a place where compassion is part of everyday life. Music has a unique way of lifting spirits, and for a short while the wards echoed not with routine, but with harmony and warmth. For the Kingsmen singers, it was a reminder that love doesn’t always need grand gestures; sometimes it arrives as a familiar tune, a shared laugh, or a chorus sung from the heart. The Kingsmen left Mount Gould Hospital feeling uplifted themselves and grateful for the opportunity to give something back and reminded that love, like music, is best when it’s shared. We received a lovely message of thanks from the hospital chaplain who said "you need to know that you made a difference to those who came. Here's some examples : one lady told me just 30 minutes before you sang that she did not feel well enough and was not in the right frame of mind. I persuaded her, telling her how good you are. You may have noticed that she was singing along and left feeling much happier and smiley. There were also patients from the neurological ward who have been in hospital for some months. It made such a difference to them leaving the ward for some "normality" and uplift in their lives". Well done gents for all you do, and thanks again and hope to see you soon ! "
By Kevin Hamer February 17, 2026
Kingsmen celebrate with new recruit Sam Tolchard
By Andrew Large January 20, 2026
So, in the words of Jim Stewart, why would a 67 year old who hasn't even completed a "couch to 5k" run in a Marathon, let alone the Madrid event, one of the hilliest on the circuit? Jim has chosen to take up this challenge to run and raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK, this is the Kingsmen Chairmans Charity this year and so we are all throwing all of our support behind Jim. Here's why Jim chosen to run and raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK "I recently sat in my GP’s office after a PSA test. My results were ‘normal,’ yet I was told not to take 'comfort' in that. The PSA is only an indication, not a diagnosis, and it left me with a chilling realization: 'normal' doesn’t always mean 'safe.'" Prostrate Cancer UK's mission is: Prostate Cancer UK has a simple ambition - to stop men dying from prostate cancer. Through shifting the science over the next 10 years to focus on radical improvements in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and support, we will stop prostate cancer being a killer. Jim has set up a justgiving page which can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kingsmen-jim Jim also has his own Marathon Blog: https://marathonfundraiserforprostatecancer.blogspot.com/p/home.html Please visit these pages and if you can support Jim in this wild endeavour then please do so.
By Kevin Hamer December 8, 2025
By Popular Demand we're coming to a venue near you - Don't Miss Us!
By Kevin Hamer May 26, 2025
Division 3 winners, a great score and 14th Overall in the Country

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