Staffordshire singers lift Midlands Choir of the Year trophy
A choir from Staffordshire has been crowned 2026 Midlands Choir of the Year.
Friday Voices, from Anslow near Burton upon Trent, triumphed in the competition final, held at Lichfield Cathedral as part of this year’s Lichfield Festival.
The group, some of whom have been singing together for over 30 years, impressed the judging panel with their performances of choral music from the 16th to the 21st century.
They even arranged atmospheric green lighting for their final piece, 'Double, double toil and trouble' by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi.
Marcus Pashley, music director of Friday Voices, said: "We thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Midlands Choir of the Year Final in Lichfield Cathedral. It was flawlessly organised with a wonderfully supportive atmosphere among all the highly talented groups taking part, with whom it was an honour to perform alongside.
"Some members of Friday Voices have been singing together for over thirty years and to take the MCOTY crown was beyond our wildest dreams when we entered the competition. It will considerably raise our profile going forward and we look forward to working hard to continue to be worthy of this honour."
Friday Voices were presented with the Midlands Choir of the Year Trophy and a cash prize of £1,000 by Principal Sponsor Rayburn Tours, and an additional £500 Audience Award was given to Staffordshire Show Choir.
The competition attracted a diverse range of amateur adult choirs and singing groups from across the region, singing a wide variety of musical genres, from barbershop and musical theatre to classical choral music.
The Midlands Choir of the Year final on 12 July came at the mid-way point of this year’s Lichfield Festival amid 13 days of exciting music and arts performances.
Organisers of the Festival, which ran from 7-19 July, said more than 8,000 tickets were sold, with estimated numbers of over 10,000 including free events and community workshops.
Damian Thantrey, director of Lichfield Festival, which organises the competition, said: “Once again, the Midlands Choir of the Year Final was an extraordinary celebration of the depth and vast talents of choirs and singers in the region.
"We heard six incredible performances, and the commitment, musicianship and sheer love of performing together made the whole evening an absolute joy.
"Any of the six groups would have been worthy winners - I’m glad that I did not have the incredibly difficult job of choosing our champions!”
