The King's Ely Barbers

THE King’s Ely Barbers won the runners up prize in the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition at the Royal Northern College of Music on Sunday.

The students went head to head with 14 other youth choirs across the UK, narrowly missing out on the top spot to rivals Amabile, who won the competition in 2011.

It is the first time that the boys’ a cappella group has entered a competition.

Director Peter North, who is head of vocal studies at King’s Ely, said: “To win the runners up prize in our first ever competition is a really good achievement. I’ve been impressed with the way that the boys have responded to the extra elements of singing in a competitive arena. They are working as a group and performing really well. Added to that, they are a great bunch of boys to work with.”

The Barbers will next perform at the King’s Concert in the Hayward Theatre on April 26 – a day before they hope to travel to Wellington College in Berkshire to take part in the Voice Festival a cappella competition.