Tuesday, May 7, 2013

CHOIRS, CLARINETS, CUPCAKES AND CONVIVIALITY IN CONCERT IN ESK:



It's amazing who turns up at the Esk Community Choir Concerts!


If music be the food of life, then the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR'S  Fun and Family Concert at the Somerset Civic Centre on Sunday May 5th was an all-you-can-eat buffet nourishing the spirit of all who came to be entertained.
The Semitones start the show with the National Anthem.
Mr Brian Crichton (Merlin of Mongolia) the emcee for the concert.
This was a  35th birthday celebration of a Choir which has been entertaining audiences continuously for all of those years.  It was emceed by the always eloquent and ever popular   "Mr Crichton" but bees could not have been busier than Choir Director, Alexis FitzGerald  as she subtly steered, conducted and co-ordinated the performers on and off the stage.  With the spirited sound of  The Semitones now becoming  Concert 'regulars',  their heartfelt entreĆ© of the Anthem preceded the colourful greeting by the Choir reminding everyone  that " It's May" and the scene was set... On with the show!!

Classic Clarinets 

Guest artists, 'Classic Clarinets'...30 of them there were, with beautiful instruments of varying sizes and pitch, were led by their Director Graham Evans.  They were the personification of their name giving a first class performance of some enduring classics including "Puttin' on the Ritz" which set many feet a'tapping and didn't stop through the Choir's rendition of Irving Berlin's "Let Yourself Go".  To complete first course, the Choir, accompanied by both clarinets and piano, truly did "Sing Like There's No Tomorrow"!!


Swinging on a Star - The Semitones
 A trio of sparkling songs by The Semitones then lit up the stage with their boundless energy and talents on a par with their beautiful costuming.


Enter...Story Teller extraordinaire, Patrina McLeod with her Nursery Rhyme Medley. 
Story Teller - Patrina McLeod

Big Bad Wolf

 It was here where Little Boy Blue met Old Mother Hubbard and a very cute, tail wagging, Big Bad Wolf was seen to be in hot pursuit of an even cuter Little Red Riding Hood. 









 Humpty Dumpty, all were told numerous times, had a great fall but still managed to keep smiling at the front of the stage when along came a rather large spider which scared the living daylights out of Little Miss Muffet as she sat on her tuffet!!  Mary,  Mary told how to make a pie out of apples and rice...who wouldn't be contrary?
Little Tommy Thin
and the Pussy from the well.

 ...And finally... mystery solved...It was little Tommy (Joshua FitzGerald) Thin who was last seen departing the well with a rather bedraggled pussycat in tow!!!











The interval over, it was over to the special guest artist, Jessica Berwick aka "Jess" whose self-accompanied  trio of songs including the irrepressible James Cohen classic  "Hallelujah"  left no doubt as to the reasons she was chosen for her role in the recent successful Toowoomba season of  "Hairspray".  





Corked hats and bodies went bobbing through a collaboration of Choir, Clarinets and Conductor with "Click Go the Shears".  Then with Semitones, Choir, Clarinets, Piano and some brilliant conducting, Rodgers & Hammerstein's evocative "You'll Never Walk Alone" not only brought goosebumps to an appreciative audience but the concert to a close.
Esk Community Choir
Having served up an afternoon of some sublime singing, the culinary reputation of the Choir will also remain intact following the exquisite mosaic display of cupcakes as it was presented on tables at the conclusion of the day and which  had concert goers heading home replete as well as thoroughly entertained.

By Susan Walker

Cupcakes galore!

Chris and Annissa Watts dance
into the hall to the song "It's May"
Humpty Dumpty - keeping an eye on proceedings

Esk Community Choir and Classic Clarinets - "Sing Like There's No Tomorrow"

John Caffin and Bob Hardy tell the story of Humpty Dumpty

Clarinet player extraordinaire taking a well earned rest









Monday, May 6, 2013

ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR GIVING THE GIFT OF SONG IN FERNVALE



The Esk Community Choir has come a long way since Choir members vied for room on the backs of trucks in order to entertain the masses but lack of suitable space has never stood in the way of their living their motto "Service in Song".   Though space in the Marquee at Fernvale on Saturday 27th April was limited, the Esk Community Choir were there in numbers and fine voice to share their gifts of music at an event which was designed to acknowledge the importance of "Community" when it has been needed.  This "Flood and Recovery- the Somerset Story" is a window to a courageous and memorable episode of Fernvale's and surrounding area's history, depicting the spirit of a Community to rally, repair and restart following the recent flood devastations of January 2011.   It was the privilege of the Esk Community Choir to be able to be part of this momentous occasion.
By Sue Walker

Saturday, May 4, 2013

FOR THE MARRIAGE OF NARELLE DENNEHY AND GLEN TITMAN, THE ESK ENSEMBLE SANG


Sometimes great things come in little packages.  On April 27th it was an awesome sextet from the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR whose harmonious hymn singing as well as an inspiring collaboration of sounds from flute and organ which  provided the music for the wedding of Narelle Dennehy and Glen Titman at Corpus Christie Church, Nundah. 
Though unfamiliar with the intricacies of such a magnificent organ, Margaret's ingenuity at the ivories and masses of musical talent were evident when, together with the intoxicating sounds of Suzanne on flute at the outset, they had the guests captured with the strains of Pachelbel's "Canon in D".  The lilting  harmonies of the hymns throughout the service and finally to Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary"  signalling the exit of the newlyweds and guests from their places in the  magnificence of Corpus Christie Church, the ensemble's singing and music soared to the hallowed domed rooftop.
The Dennehy family are longstanding residents of the Esk district and it was indeed an honour for these members of the Esk Choir to provide the music for their beautiful day.
Suzanne Clemence  filling the church with
 beautiful sounds from the flute
The accompanist must always feel comfortable
 and connected to their instrument. 

Five of the sextet - Ellise, Suzanne, Margaret, Kathie, Ruth.
Sue is taking the photo. 

Oh! There she is - OUR Sue Walker