Our History
GraceNotes has been established in our community for more than 30 years, and during that time we’ve done a lot! From performing, competing, coaching and teaching, to socialising and fundraising, we’ve always been a busy chorus.
1990 - In December, Brunel Harmony Chorus is born. Initial membership is around half a dozen ladies.
1991 - Affiliation with the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers.
1994 - 15 singers are rehearsing regularly in Saltash Guildhall.
1995 - Following the start of the Guildhall’s refurbishment project, Brunel move to Botus Fleming Village Hall.
1996 - 17th - 20th October, compete for the first time at the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers Convention, in Cardiff.
1997 - Rehearsals move to Burraton Community Centre, Saltash.
1998 - 17 singers compete at the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers Convention, and win the Small Chorus Award.
2002 - Register as an educational charity, running Learn to Sing courses, and graded music theory courses with Cornwall College.
2003 - Brunel attend their first Harmony College.
2008 - Brunel goes on tour in Canada.
2016 - Brunel says goodbye to Delyth, and welcomes Heidi as our MD.
2017 - We rebrand, and change our name to GraceNotes Acapella.
2019 - GraceNotes wins two awards at Plymouth Music Festival.
2020 - In January, GraceNotes wins at Saltash Music Festival.
2020 - In March, Coronavirus forces the country into lockdown and rehearsals move onto Zoom.
2021 - In July, we finally get back to in-person rehearsals at Burraton, and welcome new members who joined us during lockdown.
2021 - In October, we release our first music video – Bridge Over Troubled Water.
2021 - In November, GraceNotes wins four awards at Plymouth Music Festival.
2022 - In October, GraceNotes compete and rank within the top ten choruses in the UK, winning two awards for our performance.
2023 - In June we organised and performed a successful concert at the phenomenal underground concert venue, Carnglaze Caverns
2024 - In October we performed again at LABBS convention and defended our B chorus status.
We’ve come a long way since that first small group of friends came together to create Brunel Harmony, over three decades ago. Today, GraceNotes is a chorus of almost 50 members, who still have performing and competing, education and learning, and our local community at the heart of all we do.
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