The chorus beat 27 other groups, including five previous champion choruses. Phoenix are now the national champions for British women’s barbershop singing, and can represent the country at International level competitions abroad.

Lynda Wood, Musical Director, said ‘I am so proud that Phoenix has been acclaimed as the best chorus in the country. We said we were going for Gold this year, but to carry away not only the gold medal, but all the trophies, is a dream come true.’

The convention is organised by the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers. The competition is judged by a panel of six judges, scoring the contestants on their music, singing and presentation skills. Twenty-eight of the 49 women’s barbershop choruses from around the country competed. Phoenix has been placed in the medals every year since 1996, but has never won the ultimate prize before.

Phoenix’s medal-winning songs were the hauntingly beautiful ‘One Alone’, from the hit musical Desert Song, and the jazzy ballad ‘Lover Come Back’, recently featured by Bryan Ferry on his album As Time Goes By.

Phoenix are looking forward to an exciting Championship year, appearing on a range of shows and events as national gold medallists. They will also stage their own show in February, and compete in the Peterborough Music Festival in November.

Phoenix draws members from Bedfordshire, Cambridge, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, and Essex because of the quality of its singing.