ACT (Arts and Community in Thornbury) is delighted to offer an evening of music and singing with a difference! ACT's season of arts events features two rare musical treats.

The first is a Ladies' Barbershop Choir named Fascinating Rhythm, which currently boasts over 30 members and is based in Rangeworthy. The other intriguing component of this exciting programme is Harpist Tessa Sullivan, who unusually combines this talent with singing.

Fascinating Rhythm started 13 years ago with 5 ladies interested in singing close harmony a capella music in 4 parts and now boasts 30 female members, whose voices cover tenor, lead, baritone and bass! Besides singing at weddings, music festivals and taking part in competitions, the group has sung in such diverse locations as the SS Great Britain and Berkeley Castle, as well as in village halls and shopping centres! Fascinating Rhythm has recently run two very successful 'Learn to Sing' courses, open to women of all ages and 190 ladies registered, with some becoming new recruits! A member of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers, which competes annually, this group was delighted to win the Novice Chorus Award in 2001.

Tessa Sullivan started singing at nine and was immediately entered for eisteddfods, music competitions and exams, eventually becoming a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. She has always enjoyed singing a wide range of vocal music and has played lead rôles in shows, such as Magnolia in Show Boat, Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld, Kate in Kiss Me Kate, and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music for Thornbury Amateur Operatic Society, plus Anna in The Merry Widow and Maritza in Countess Maritza, to mention just a few; passing on her skills to hundreds of pupils over the last 20 years. Tessa fulfilled a lifelong ambition four years ago, when her husband gave her a harp as a birthday present and the rest is history, with Tessa performing regularly and even running workshops for harpists!

This wonderful combination promises a varied musical palette, combining folk songs with well known standards, gospel tunes and numbers from musicals. Altogether an evening not to be missed and tickets (£10 and £9 for FACTs) are available from Thornbury Garden Shop, High Street, or tel 01454 416291. For further information on ACT and its challenging project to build a theatre and arts centre in Thornbury, please log on to our website.
www.ACTthornbury.org.uk