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| The Combined Choirs under the baton of Paul Coppens |
On the 8th December
at Esk's Somerset Civic Centre there were, blessedly, no koels[1] chortling the prequel to
Queensland's summer storms but anyone in the vicinity of Esk's Somerset Civic
Centre would have been left in no doubt that summer and the season of Christmas
had definitely arrived. This little
black bird will let all know of the impending passion in the sky. The capacity
audience at the Esk Community Choir's 23rd Christmas Variety Concert certainly
felt it on the ground.
People meandered in
lazy curves around the Foyer of the Somerset Civic Centre pondering treats from
the Choir's Christmas Craft Stall. They
purchased their tickets for the myriad of raffle prizes on offer. They collected their Lucky Door Prize tokens
for that fabulous family day at Australia Zoo.
Then at 2.10pm the main doors were opened and like bargain hunters on
Boxing Day, the auditorium began to fill.
It seems the
talents of some of the Esk Community Choir are not simply limited to the sounds
of their voices as the fledgling orchestra of 4 played a majestic rendition of
the Australian National Anthem. This was
a prelude to the tribute to two of the great composers, Verdi and Handel, by
the combined voices of the Esk Community Choir and their guest Choirs, the
Blackbutt Singers, Vocal Mayhem and the Buderim Male Choir. Their performances of the uplifting Anvil Chorus, the passion of the Chorus of Jewish Slaves and the buoyancy
of Handel's Sing for Joy delivered a
portent of some thrilling sounds to follow.
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| Esk State Primary School Choir with Mr Adam Smith |
Is there nothing
more endearing than the sparkle of children at Christmas and Adam Smith's
talented School Orchestra and his enthusiastic Junior Choir with choristers as
young as 4 and 5 years were a measure of the enjoyment of music encouraged in
children of all ages at the Esk State School.
The Semitones' brilliant solos,
trios and ensemble singing of excerpts from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang',
complete with Flying Car, were truly,
truly scrumptious and they lived up to their reputation as talented little
6 to 11 year olds whose performances
have and will continue to tug at the heart strings of audiences young
and old.
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| The Semitones - Truly Scrumptious |
The Esk Community Choir's
Men's Chorus delivered Lily's Eyes
with the depth of feeling this beautiful song evokes. Ring
the Bells chimed out the joys of the Season and the Choir's mellifluous
rendition of Gounod's Sanctus was
sure to have resulted in goose bumps both on and off the stage...this piece
voted by the Choir as 'their all time favourite'.
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| Blackbutt Singers with Vocal Mayhem |
Judy Lawrence's 'Blackbutt Singers', with the confidence of a choir whose singing talents have been honed over its 22 years, expressed the joy of Christmas in vibrant music and song. The Esk Community Choir were privileged to be invited to The Blackbutt Singers' own 'Sing Songs of Joy at Christmas' Concert held the previous Sunday in Blackbutt, forging further the friendship that has existed between the two Choirs over many years.
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| The Buderim Male Singers under the baton of Paul Coppens |
The Buderim Male
Singers, now under the baton of Paul Coppens and in the tradition of the Choral
exchanges that have existed between Esk and the Buderim men over time, made their way in turn this year to the
Somerset Region. This superlative male
Choir has been singing in the style of the classic Welsh male voices since
their inception and will celebrate their 40 years as a Choir in 2014. Their songs were and always
inspirational.
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| Vocal Mayhem |
Conducted by Jan
Pritchard, the men's ensemble from Kingaroy, 'Vocal Mayhem', delivered with the
chocolaty sounds of tenor and bass, the beautiful When You Say Nothing at All a performance that belied their name!
To have resident
musicians with the calibre of the talent displayed by Alexis FitzGerald on
piano and Courtney Oxenford on trumpet is truly a coup for the Somerset
region.
Courtney and Alexis performed an
unforgettable 1st Movement of Joseph Haydn's Trumpet Concerto to the thrill of all who were present. Courtney,
who has been moulding her musical career thus far in Tasmania, will be
returning to Queensland in 2014 to complete her Honours in music. Look forward to more of the same!!!
It is with huge
gratitude that the Esk Community Choir acknowledges the generosity of both the
Esk State School and the Lowood High School for the use of their Choir risers
which allowed the showcasing of so many Choristers, almost 90, with the
greatest impact for the audience and efficiency for their Conductors.
There is truly
something magical that happens when a group of individuals sing together,
making music so much greater than the sum of its parts. This was the inspiration behind the
invitation to the guest Choirs who came to perform individually as well as in
combination with the Esk Community Choir for the finalé of glorious
soul-stirring songs bringing the true meaning of Christmas to the audience, and
magic was made. All stood, as tradition states, for the Hallelujah Chorus. Grateful
thanks must go to Margaret Philp, accompanist extraordinaire and a shining
example of talent and dedication, to Alexis FitzGerald whose love of music and
Choir knows no bounds and to emcee de jour, Roger Woodman who, at short notice,
did a brilliant job of keeping the show on the road.
A tribute to a great man, Nelson Mandela, was the combined Choirs' impromptu final performance when they sang the lilting rhythms of the great South African freedom song, Siyahamba. With uplifted hearts, a heightened appreciation of Choral music and the sounds of Christmas still resonating in their souls, the audience departed.
A tribute to a great man, Nelson Mandela, was the combined Choirs' impromptu final performance when they sang the lilting rhythms of the great South African freedom song, Siyahamba. With uplifted hearts, a heightened appreciation of Choral music and the sounds of Christmas still resonating in their souls, the audience departed.
by Susan Walker
[1] Migratory
Cuckoo of northern and eastern Australian coastal areas and island to the
north. Has a distinctive 'cooee' call.
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| Esk Community Choir - Bass and Tenor sections - 'Lilly's Eyes" from the Broadway Musical The Secret Garden |
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| Lorraine accepting the Lucky Door Prize - A Family pass to Australia Zoo. Presented by Kathleen Watts |
[1]
Migratory Cuckoo of northern and eastern
Australian coastal areas and island to the north. Has a distinctive 'cooee' call.
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