Pitch perfect: students debut in BBC Two’s The Naked Choir
Six students, one passion.
Talented student vocalists from Southampton Solent University are set to appear in Gareth Malone’s new TV show, The Naked Choir, which airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Tuesday 22 September 2015.
The a cappella group, Restless Symphony, who only got together earlier this year, were picked to appear on the programme from video competition entries from hundreds of vocal groups from all over the UK.
Directed by Lecturer in Popular Music Esther Frake, the six students, Anita, Fizz, Georgie, Ioana, Siobhan and Taz are a variety of ages and from different walks of life, brought together by their love of music.
Esther says: “When I saw an advert for the series and encouraged the group to audition they had only gigged together once. To create a successful career in the music industry I believe that you need to be an opportunist and sometimes take a blind leap of faith; thankfully it has paid off this time and here we are!”
With a passion for music from classical to pop, five of the six group members are studying on the BA (Hons) Popular Music Performance course at Solent.
Siobhan says: “We’re six strangers from different countries, different backgrounds and different cultures but our love for music and crazy personalities unites us as group that work to create magic on stage.”
The Naked Choir, so called because all musical instruments have been stripped away, includes songs varying from doo-wop to hip-hop, through gospel to barbershop with material ranging from Elvis to Little Mix.
During their performances Restless Symphony were inspired by their shared love of a cappella groups including Pentatonix, Naturally 7 and Third Story.
“The discipline of a cappella singing requires an immense amount of vocal talent and technical skill and it is through sheer hard work, dedication, focus and determination that the group were successful in being selected for the show, putting them in the top eight a cappella groups in the UK,” Esther says.
“I am immensely proud of them all with what they have achieved so far and look forward to continuing to watch them grow and develop as a successful vocal group” she continues.
Talking about the theme behind the show, Ioana says: “A cappella gives you the power to give 100% of what you’ve got, it’s just you and your voice, nothing else. It's unbelievable what can you create with only human voices; it's fresh and once you start it becomes addictive.”
Follow Restless Symphony’s journey on Facebook or Twitter and read about the real stories behind the group on Southampton Solent’s blog: official.blog.solent.ac.uk.
The Naked Choir broadcasts at 9pm on 22 September on BBC Two. Watch a trailer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032j95r.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8201 3642 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
About Restless Symphony
Restless Symphony is a new and upcoming a cappella group based in Southampton. Formed in 2015, the group study at Southampton Solent University. For more information contact Esther Frake at info@restlesssymphony.com or follow Restless Symphony on social media:
Facebook: RestlessSymphony
Twitter: @R_Symphony1
Instagram: restlesssymphony
About The Naked Choir
The Naked Choir is a nationwide competition to search for Britain’s best amateur a cappella singing group. Called ‘Naked’ because all musical instruments have been stripped away, a cappella is an exposing form of singing without any backing tracks, testing vocal dexterity, creativity and ingenuity.
The Naked Choir broadcasts at 9pm on 22 September on BBC Two and runs once a week for six weeks with the final episode on 27 October.
Watch a trailer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032j95r
Southampton Solent University offers more than 19,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The University was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2014 poll of students. Solent Business School has been awarded ‘Gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Small Business Charter Award, which is supported by the Association of Business Schools and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
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