IT WASN'T ONLY 'IRISH EYES' SMILING AT THE "WEARIN' O' THE GREEN" CONCERT

Full House for the "Wearin' o' the Green" Concert March 16

Good golly 'n begorrah... the only thing not resembling a peek into Ireland on Sunday 16th March at the Somerset Civic Centre, Esk was the unseasonal hot temperature but if the Esk Touring Choir can pack a little of that Queensland warmth into their suitcases and hearts for their arrival in Dublin, these tourists will, together with their lust for an adventure and their sublime singing, have Ireland in store for a very special treat from this tiny part of the world!!

It is well known that the Irish have a penchant for partying and judging from the happy expectant faces and colourful 'St Patrick's ' attire adorning many of the concert goers, it was evident there was no shortage of Irish ancestry floating throughout the Auditorium on this day. As a capacity crowd meandered through the doors to find their seats, they were greeted with a burst of the green, white and orange colours of Ireland and a sense that they were in for a taste of the celebration that the incomparable Alexis FitzGerald and her Touring Choir will be taking to Ireland and England in April.

"If You're Irish, Come Into The Parlour" - The Semitones

Appearing as If they had just stepped off the pages of an Irish Children's storybook, the cutest little line-up called The Semitones set the scene with the warmth of their welcoming songs of Ireland. With the confidence in their singing and performance skills growing on a par with their numbers, the Semitones are fast becoming an integral connection to the present and future of the wonderful musical culture already established in the Somerset region.

Tom Byrne serenades the audience with "Gold and Silver Days"

'Advance Matilda', a spirited fusion of the Australian Anthem...and that other one, 'Waltzing Matilda', heralded the first half of the Concert by the 'Cork' Choir. Beautiful harmonies and sounds secular and sacred including the mellifluous paring of Roger and Trish for 'Proclaim Him Lord' and songs by Irish composers all filled and thrilled the room and those within. Completing the bracket was the emotive' Soul of Australia' by Brisbane's Timothy Sherlock. Having written this for a performance by his own Choir at Anzac Cove, he has graciously allowed the Esk Choir to be given the honour of delivering its poignant message to a congregation on Anzac Day 2014 in St Ann's Church, Dublin.

Esk RSL President, Charlie Elwell, presents Alexis FitzGerald OAM
with a plaque for Dublin RSL

In another moving moment of sanity amid the Irish romp, giving further recognition to this special day of remembrance was the presentation by Esk's RSL President, Charlie Elwell, of a beautiful plaque to be gifted to Dublin's RSL movement. Not only this, but Anzac Badges which will be worn with pride by all of the Choir as they sing on ANZAC Day and share the enduring spirit which has held our nations together since 1918.

The Esk Community Choir's performance was a display of the reasons this Choir has continued to grow from strength to strength in both musical quality and quantity as they truly did 'Sing Like There's No Tomorrow'!

There were six green legged 'hams' of the Scherzi Sextet, 'The Fairies' Quartet including little Nedi and Ticky Granzien, The Men's Trio in well used overalls, the duet by those two ol' Geezers and the truly sublime instrumental duet, 'Flannigan's Ball/ The Kerry Dances' by Suzanne and Alexis and always, the unmatched expertise of Margaret Philp, accompanist extraordinaire. All these spoke of the talents and versatility that will be part of the friendship Concerts in and around the bustling city of Cork during the week of the 60th International Choirs' Festival.

Neither a concert in Ireland nor an Irish Concert in Esk would ever be possible without a 'Danny Boy' somewhere in the mix but nor would it be possible to finish without making an Aussie mark on the occasion. This achieved with a breathtaking description of an 'Australian Sunrise' followed by a rollicking rendition about shearers called the ' Lachlan Tigers'.

Tom Byrne featuring his hand made Lagerphone.

Many concert goers with the luck of the Irish went home with raffle, lucky door, lucky seat and best Irish hat prizes. It was also obvious from the enjoyment of the colourful culinary display that the talents of the Esk Choir were not simply limited to their singing as everyone thronged to the afternoon tea tables to 'chew the fat' over music on a Sunday afternoon or simply re-acquaint over a cuppa...Irish style.

With the Irish sentiments expressed in the 'Celtic Benediction' still ringing in their hearts, the audience departed with many good wishes for the upcoming tour, secure in the knowledge that the Esk Touring Choir will still and always '...call Australia Home'.