‘SERVICE IN SONG’ ALIVE AND LOOKING BRIGHT IN THE SOMERSET REGION

Things are really beginning to hot up in the Somerset Region, this not an allusion to the onset of Summer!   With a 10^th birthday on the horizon and a new venue co-ordinator, Esk’s Somerset Civic Centre is beginning to breathe new life into the Somerset Region thanks to a whole bunch of talented people from various Arts and Culture related organizations who came to the Centre on 30^th September for the Somerset Arts Network inaugural dinner and discussion.  And what could be more pertinent to pave the way for the night’s proceedings than a performance by the Esk Community Choir who, thanks to musical director, Alexis FitzGerald OAM, has been providing a culture of music and performing arts in the region for the past 43 years.

With acknowledgements to the Land’s Original Owners, the contributions by the Local, State and Commonwealth Governments and a warm welcome by Somerset’s Mayor, Graeme Lehmann, notable guest speakers from places including Somerset and Scenic Rim  Regional Councils, Toogoolawah’s Condensery,  Creative Art Alliance, Regional Arts Services Network and Ms Valkyrie Blacksmith, the Centre’s new venue Co-ordinator, delivered an impassioned and informed account of the possibilities of growing and the support of the arts in its many forms along with the promotion of cultural tourism in the region. 

Augmenting the ambience of an evening themed of the Arts, during a short break, guests dined on delicious grazing platters by Noabiarra while being entertained with some soulful singing by Arts Alliance’s Andrew Coleman.

Members of the Esk Community Choir could never have imagined that they could have been sharing the ‘stage’ with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, but hot on the heels of this inspiring evening, there they were on Saturday, October 2^nd, serving up to a small audience rugged up around the illuminated lawns of the Somerset Civic Centre, a short choral entre to the QSO’s Livestream performance by Brisbane violinist, Grace Clifford and the musical works of Jean Sibelius.  The infectious rhythms and powerful emotions of Beethoven’s 7^th brought the evening to its gratifying conclusion.

‘Service in Song’ is this Choir’s mantra.  That we are a choir that is caring and passionate about what we do is its value to those we serve.  With so many talented people eager to collaborate and grow the Arts in a comparatively small region is an exciting prospect…not going to be easy but going to be worth it.

By: Sue Walker