Music & Wellbeing Symposium

Congratulations Alexis, our Musical Director, who has been awarded an invitation to attend the Music and Wellbeing Symposium to be held at the Melbourne University from February 10th to 11th 2009.

Alexis received this invitation after lodging a submission to apply for one of the three “tickets” available Australia wide.

SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW

Music is the world’s most established community development tool. Before recorded music, people used to make their own music. It was the glue that held communities together, and it still can be!

Inspirational Australian and International theorists – Jon Hawkes (Community Music Victoria) and Brynjulf Stige - will be speakers as part of a two-day symposium to learn about the cultural and biological reasons that active music-making improves community life. This program is designed for those from many areas of community development, arts and culture, education and welfare and health. Come along and access the science that backs up the powerful experience of music making for wellbeing.

First Night Back 2009

First night back - well - I think everyone was delighted to meet up again as there were lots of hugs and kisses etc. - and not enough time to talk! We welcomed three new members, two ladies and one gentleman and two returning members who had taken breaks for travel etc. We also welcomed one of the Prague Choir members who originally joined us for our tour but enjoyed it all so much that she has come back on a permanent basis (she will be travelling up from Hamilton so obviously enjoys our company) - and we expect a couple more in the next week or so once they sort out their programmes for the year.

The two new ladies are both Music Teachers, one of whom is keen to play whenever we need her, and the other who prefers to sing but is willing to help out on the piano if needed, how lucky can we be! With Alexis, our Musical Director, attending the Music Camp; Well Being Symposium in Melbourne this week – see our story on this – we have someone to take over the piano whilst our usual accompanist will direct.

There were a few away due to health problems etc., but they will be back in the next couple of weeks and a couple of others must still be away as we haven’t heard from them yet.

Oh yes, we have another Choir baby on the way - it's been 4 years since we were last a “Choir in Waiting”!

Europe Tour 2008 - From a member's perspective...

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas... Well there was no need to dream for the ladies of the Esk Community Choir Women’s Choir when we travelled to Germany and Czech in December 08. These enchanting countries of Europe celebrate the joy and spirit of Christmas right throughout the month. Our 12 days of touring Europe became our very own 12 Days of Christmas – complete with Christmas carols, singing, Christmas shopping, Christmas decorations, the fabulous Christmas markets and, of course, snow!!! And one can’t forget the delicacies of Christmas in Europe – hot apple juice with cinnamon, Bratwurst im Brötchen (pork sausage in bread), Crepes (complete with nutella, cream, baileys, or any other topping your heart desired...), fresh breads of varying descriptions (and nothing compares with German bakeries) and, last but definitely not least, Glühwien; hot mulled wine complete with beautiful mugs to keep as keepsakes.



The destinations visited this trip captured our hearts and imaginations, from Rothenberg; the magical Medieval city that fell asleep for 250 years only to be reawakened in the 1880s by German artists, to Prague – the majestic city of the Czech republic, home to the Annual Advent Sing and the reason for the tour. Which brings us to the purpose of our tour. The performances. Nearly all of our performances took place in the awe-inspiring churches of Europe. You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the glory of the architecture and interior decor, or to feel the weight of faith and history that makes you speak in hushed tones. Although you could very well be whispering because anything louder than that reverberates around the church as if you had shouted. Nothing quite compares to finishing a note and hearing your choir’s pure notes resound around a church that is just so appropriate for songs such as the ones we were singing.

And of course all of these beautiful experiences were made even better by the company. Our family of singers laughed together, cried together, sharing our awe and excitement, exploring the world we were visiting. And some moments will never be forgotten. For example – how many people can say that they, with the rest of their choir, stood in a winding staircase of a hotel to squeeze in some practice? And how many other groups have brought joy and amusement to the locals of a foreign town, just by wearing bright red scarfs and beanies? This trip was jam packed full of moments like these and I could take an age just to write them all down.

So now I will finish, I hope that’s alright.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Jessica Pitman