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TEL: 01234 843905 ADVERTISING: advertising@biggleswadebulletin.co.uk BULLETIN DECEMBER 2011 15Houston – no problem!NATIONAL champion quartetFinesse are still on cloud nineafter making history at an internationalcompetition in houston,Texas last month. The female acappella quartet from Beds andBucks was one of only 49 out of792 quartets worldwide toqualify for the semi -final of theSweet Adelines Internationalcontest this year … but theirsuccess didn’t stop there. Theywent on to earn their place in thebarbershop history books asthey beat 39 of their competitorsto win a coveted tenth place inthe world!Hundreds of excited supporterswatched into the small hours of themorning via a live web link asFinesse became the first UK quartetever to make it to the final ten atthe annual international contest.“We were all watching withbaited breath as the final ten quartetswere named, and Facebookwent absolutely wild whenFinesse’s name was called out!”recalled Caroline Donovan, supporterand member of local chorusPhoenix. “It is such a huge step forwardfor the whole UK region tohave one of our quartets up therewith the big names! It puts Britishbarbershop well and truly on themap!”Finesse are Helen Owen, fromCheddington, Beth Brimmi combe,from Pitstone, Tanya Jenkins, fromFlitwick and Nicky Salt, fromBiggleswade. Having achievedtenth place, the quartet automaticallyqualify for next year’s semifinalcontest, this time in Denver,Colorado, and they have alreadystarted fundraising to help them getthere. They also appeared on thePhoenix Chorus show in Sandy onDecember 3rd and they are alsohosting a Celebration Show at 7pmon Sunday December 11th atCheddington Village Hall wherethey will perform all their favouritesongs plus some festive additions.Joining them will be championmen’s quartet, Evolution, and theshow will include some eight-partsongs featuring both quartetswhich include husband and wifeHelen and Stuart Owen.“We don’t often get the chanceto sing together in our home villageso this will make it a very specialoccasion,” says Finesse tenor,Helen.Finesse have been busy makinga Christmas CD which will beavailable for sale at their show aswell as via their websitewww.finessequartet.co.uk. Theyalso plan to record another nonfestiveCD in January to be availablebefore May when they will beappearing as special guests at theSweet Adelines InternationalRegionial contest at theBirmingham Symphony Hall.“That will be a very emotionalevent for us because it is where itall started in May last year,”remembers Finesse bass, Nicky.“When we won that contest we hadno idea where it would lead us andwe will be taking the opportunityto thank our region for all theirmassive support while we were inHouston.”Tickets for the Cheddingtonshow are £8 for adults, £4 for children,and are available from Helenon 01296 661817 or helen@finessequartet.co.uk. Finesse arealso looking for opportunities to'sing for their supper' at events orfunctions in the coming months. Ifyou would like to book Finesse,sponsor them or support theirfundraising in any way please contactNicky on 07960 173604 oremail nicky@finessequartet.co.uk01480 260050www.pippasblinds.com