A HAMPSHIRE barbershop chorus has picked up more silverware after competing at a national competition in North Yorkshire.

Ocean Harmony, which has around 40 members from Southampton, New Forest and surrounding areas, was named the most improved barbershop choir in the country at Bournemouth a year ago and put in an even better performance at Harrogate recently.

Led superbly by conductor and musical director Paul Keeping and up against 38 other barbershop groups, the chorus performed perfectly balanced renditions of ‘Love Me’ and ‘When My Baby Smiles At Me’ in four part harmony, which were acclaimed with rapturous applause from an appreciative audience of over 2,000.

However this year the all-male a cappella chorus’s award came from all their hard work off the stage – receiving the Tony Foster Shield for recruiting more new members than any other choir in the British Association of Barbershop Singers.

Now Ocean Harmony intends to build on success at the National Championship.

Several members who took part came from a hugely successful ‘Learn to Sing’ course organised by bass section leader Dave Poucher in 2016 – many of them had little or no previous singing experience.

Plans are already underway to swell Ocean Harmony ranks further by repeating the course, which is free of charge, in October.

Chairman John Yapp said: “The increase in membership following our very successful Learn To Sing course last year has really made a difference to the vibrancy of the Chorus and has been a key factor in our recent success. And, on an individual level, there are great health benefits from singing, as well as the chance to socialise in a friendly atmosphere whilst learning to sing in harmony. We encourage everyone to give it a go!”

Ocean Harmony meets at Colbury Memorial Hall, Ashurst near Totton every Wednesday evening and is available to provide lively entertainment for corporate, fundraising and charity events. For more information – or to register your interest in the forthcoming Learn To Sing course - please contact Robert Morgan robomorgan@btinternet.com.