Monday, December 24, 2012

WE LIVED TO ENJOY ANOTHER DAY AT THE RACES IN ESK




Marina, Sue and Tom - a photo finish at the Esk Races Dec 2012
Well all I can say is thank goodness those ancient Mayans who, amongst other things, did a spot of calendar making somewhere between 250 and 900 AD,  weren't entirely correct with their "end of the world is nigh on 21st December 2012" prophesy.  Had they been, it would not only have put a heck of a dampening on Christmas this year but also the fabulous day we of the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR and a whole lot of other people enjoyed  the very next day at the Esk Races!!   Doomsday theorists who had the sun hurtling giant solar eruptions down on us would have been leaping for joy  with the predicted anticipation of a hot Esk December day, but not even this was enough to deter the crowds who attended the final Country Race Meeting for the year.
Brian Ready for action at the counter. 
While steaks and sausages rather than chestnuts roasted on the open fire and punters pondered the Bookies blackboards between races, Yuletide carols were sung by a small group from the Esk Community Choir adding another layer to the already festive atmosphere created by the merriment of racegoers as they soaked up the sunshine and Christmas Spirit.
For so many,  Christmas is still about the arrival of Jesus.  For others it's more about the arrival of Santa and presents.  For quite a few , Christmas is about gathering those we love around us and telling them just  that.  But whatever Christmas is about to each of us, there is always the presence of singing. 
  It is this gift Alexis and her Esk Community Choir love to give and have been giving  at any time of the year for almost 35 years and we would like to take the opportunity to thank, not only the Esk Jockey Club but all our friends from the Somerset Community and beyond who have supported us with their presence and kind words throughout 2012.   We look forward to celebrating with you all, our 35th birthday year in 2013.
Margaret, Carmel, Carolyn, Marina, Lloyd, Alexis, Tom, Kathie, Sue and Joann . 


by: Sue Walker
Public Relations Officer
Esk Community Choir

Monday, December 17, 2012

A TOOWOOMBA TRADITION THAT LIGHTS UP OUR LIVES:






There are so many wonderful  traditions maintained by families which come to the fore at Christmas time.  One of them was born in Toowoomba 10 years ago when the Burstow Family of Burstow Funerals  had a dream of giving to a Community a reminder of the joys and wonder of Christmas; to create for all a delightful display of lights, provide supper and free give-aways for all the children.  In the giving of this gift to a Community, the Community has given in return.  So big has this event grown over the 10 years since its inception, it is now organized by the Lions Club and the funds raised through donations are for the benefit of so many worthwhile Charities such as Lifeline, whose resources are continually being  stretched to their limits especially at this time of year.
This twinkling Wonderland of Lights has now become very much a part of the Toowoomba Christmas landscape and  we of the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR were again invited  to be a part of it.  From Centre Stage for an hour the Choir sang their Carols to an audience of Mums, Dads, Nannies, Pops and Children whose faces were lit up on a par with their surroundings which sent flashing lights and Christmas cheer into the evening skies.  This amazing twinkling Wonderland of Lights is a place where the joy could easily be measured  in wattage, but moreso by the exchanging of greetings, nods and smiles and the sharing of a magical experience and we of the Esk Community Choir felt  privileged to be able to contribute to what has become this wonderful tradition of Yuletide benevolence.

by: Sue Walker



Thursday, December 6, 2012

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
Mr Bumble (Geoff Stewart) and the Ragamuffins

Esk State Primary School Band

Ethan Versace and Emily FitzGerald

Matthew Lukritz

Christmas is Coming - Esk Community Choir Ensemble

Twelve Days After Christmas - Esk Community ChoirEnsemble
Sue Walker, Kathie Watts, Tom Byrne, Bob Hardy, Graeme Lynch, Carmel Lynch, Carolyn King