They Came, all ye Faithful...to the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT!!

Esk Community Choir

It wasn't only mad dogs and Englishmen who were out in the midday sun on Sunday December 2nd. Despite the cruelly hot and humid conditions, ( and that was inside the Auditorium) the Somerset Civic Centre was packed to the portals with people from the Somerset Region and beyond for the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR'S 22nd Annual Christmas Variety Concert and what a wonderful Concert it was!!!

Semitones

Noteabull Ensemble

Compared by the always eloquent Rosemary Wycherley, following a stirring performance of the Anthem by our own talented Matthew Lukritz on Cornet and despite momentarily losing Mr Bumble in the wings, the "Semitones", all 10 ragamuffins ranging in ages from 5 to 11 years, took the audience back to a time and place in the back alleyways of ol' London Town with their entertaining excerpts from "Oliver". Emily FitzGerald's and Ethan Versace's duet was a demonstration of the burgeoning talent that has seen the reputation of these little songsters gain in popularity over a number of years and I'm also here to tell you that the cherubic Aydan Forsyth's beautiful solo lead into the Esk Community Choir's rendition of "Where is Love?" belied the activity and energy he usually displays at rehearsals!!! Then followed a mellifluous rendition of the David Haas/Mark Hayes composition "You Are Mine", a gift to the Choir by two much loved and long-standing supporters of the Choir, Bob and Beverly Biggs. With the Semitones ringing out the sounds of Christmas with their percussion to accompany the Choir, "Ring the Bells" heralded the introduction of Guest Artists, "Noteabull Ensemble".

Sue Flower

It is said that "art begins where effort ends" and these highly talented Sunshine Coast musicians, with the serenity and seeming effortlessness during their performances truly was a demonstration of the art of making beautiful music. Sue Flower, whose talents with the mandolin have seen her perform around the world including her first professional appearance at Covent Garden in London at the age of 17, showed the audience why her accomplishments have paved the way to her becoming one of the World's finest mandolin players. What a privilege it was to have her perform along with the "Noteabull Ensemble" for us here in Esk.

Courtney Oxenford

Equally tantalizing was the performance of Somerset's own Courtney Oxenford. Since becoming the inaugural winner of Esk's Amateur Classical and Jazz Music Awards in 2004, Courtney, whose talent as a trumpet player gives lie to her youth, has become a valued member of the Orchestra and Brass Ensemble at the Conservatorium of Music, University of Tasmania. She has subsequently become a member of the Hobart City A Grade Brass Band and with the Trumpet Quintet, performed a very successful 10 day tour of New Zealand. Then, as if that is not enough, she has recently, through audition, been chosen to take part in the first National Australia Junior Brass Workshop. As she continues to climb the ladder of musical success and make a Community very proud, Courtney treated this year's Christmas Concert audience to a glimpse of her amazing talent as she played "Vois to la neige qui brille"-"See the Shining Snow" by Arban.

Christmas Concerts wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of some of the joyful sounds of the Season, nor would they be the same without Santa. As well as the Community singing of some well known favourite Christmas Carols, jolly old Saint Nick showered sweets around the audience. The second half of the programme saw the Esk Vocal Ensemble One perform a truly harmonious rendition of "Christmas is Coming" and that Partridge in the Pear Tree will never seem the same after Vocal Ensemble Two's depiction of "The Twelve Days After Christmas"!

The artistry of the combined performance by the Esk Community Choir and the Noteabull Ensemble as they came together to present the Finale was a magic and a language only of which the songs themselves could convey. The stirring "And the Glory of the Lord" from “The Messiah” by Handel, the mournful but Heavenly pulsing of "Lacrimosa" by Mozart and, as tradition states, the exhilarating "Hallelujah Chorus" from "The Messiah" left a thrilled audience in no doubt of the store of wonderful Esk Community Choir performances they can expect in 2013, Choir’s 35th birthday year.

By Sue Walker