ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR SHONE AT THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY OPENING CONCERT

Just as a belief in a dream and the sweet sounds of optimism resonated from that small group who sang around Alexis FitzGerald’s piano in 1978, so it was from another small group who came together in song to herald the Esk Community Choir’s 40^th Anniversary Opening Concert at the Somerset Civic Centre on Sunday 8^th April. With a representation of that original “Esk Ladies Choir…plus One” singing Just a Single Voice, they set the bar for an utterly inspirational concert translating to the audience through narration, picture, music and song that journey of four decades which has created a wonderful musical culture within the Somerset Region and way beyond.

Top-hatted and frocked in his formal but appropriate attire, Concierge de jour, Choir tenor, Denis Hawes was there to greet and direct concert goers to the Choir merchandise, raffles and entry tables from whence the capacity audience came to fill the hall.

Following Alexis’s poignant welcoming prelude, a smaller group of now bigger Semitones with the multi-talented Matthew Lukritz on trumpet, led the audience in the singing of the National Anthem. It was from this point in the proceedings that the eloquence of emcee, Councillor Sean Choat brought to life all the hours, weeks and months of preparation and rehearsals by Alexis, Margaret and the Choir, whilst keeping the ‘show on track’ and the audience engaged.

By any definition of the word, ‘treasured’ is the worth of a good choir accompanist. The Esk Community Choir at present can boast three…Margaret Philp, a pearl in their practice and performance oyster, the unquestioned talents of Ruth Skippen, pianist, accompanist and chorister and ‘Angel of Music’, Alexis who, as periods of necessity have dictated, has been both accompanist and conductor. Their piano trio this day, Qui Vive (‘With Life”) was not only unique in concept for Concerts such as these but a performance of the highest artistic quality which carried concert-goers away.

Unlike Elvis who, it seems, must have left some other building for he was certainly a presence in the Somerset Civic Centre when the zoot-suited ‘King’, aka Lloyd King, shook, rattled, rolled and crooned his way down the aisle generating squeals of excitement, leaving audiences frenzied with his trademark hip-flick as he again ‘left the building’!

With a return to some sanity, an ensemble of Esk Ladies demonstrated how they Sing Because They Love to Sing, to be joined by four of the men for a performance of an old German Folk Song Am I Not Fondly Thine Own. The Ladies along with flautists, Suzanne Clemence and her daughter Kym, gave an emotive rendition of the Kupperschmid/Besig Take These Wings, all these an echo of the early days of this Choir and of performances past.

Then move over ladies…the boys from the beach are back! More specifically, the boys from the South Pacific beach who let the audience know There’s Nothin’ Like a Dame and certainly nothing like those dames, Joann, Desma, Judy and Grace who then ‘cut the rug’ in habit with their Sister Act segue.

As a 17 year old student, Holly Smith was a deserving winner of the Choir’s $1000 Bursary. Now a talented young lady in her 20s, Holly has forged an exciting musical career path as a part-time teacher of woodwind, a member of the Queensland Youth Orchestra and a University student studying for her Graduate Diploma of Education. It was an honour to have Holly return to the Civic Centre stage to perform on Clarinet alongside Alexis’s piano accompaniment, the mellifluous sounds of Fughetta. This and Pie Jesu performed so beautifully by the Esk Male Choir surely whet audience appetites for what was to follow.

With raffles drawn and won and the cacophony of catch-up sounds from around the morning tea tables during the short interval still ever a presence, the audience soon found their seats and quietened as the curtain was drawn for the next phase which would involve the warm, colourful and inspirational sounds of Choral music. A beautiful arrangement by Linda Spevacek of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Edelweiss; the stirring music and lyrics from another place and time when Joshua fight da battle ob Jericho and The Awakening , a piece commissioned by the Texas Choral Directors Association in commemoration of their 40^th anniversary celebrations could not have been more appropriate nor more soul stirring than that of the performance on this day by the Esk Community Choir at their own 40^th anniversary celebrations.

During this 40year journey, there have been numerous choristers who at times have found their places in the choir. Many of these were thrilled to be able to return to unite with present members for this wonderful celebration. One such past member, Beverley Biggs, joined the Choir as chorister in 1998 until her exceptional talents as pianist and moreover, as accompanist became indispensable. Many years later, personal circumstances meant her having to leave but on this day beside Margaret on stage at a second piano, these two wonderful accompanists were able to swell the musical sounds and as emcee Sean delivered his closing summary, the choir risers spilled over with eager choristers in anticipation of a finale non plus ultra by the massed choral voices of the Esk Community Choir, past and present. They did not disappoint. Goosebumps were the results of the harmonious African rhythms of Siyahamba. Thoughts of an early departure would have been futile When the Trumpet Sounds and following the singing of I Am Australian, souls were set on fire both on and off the stage with an audience’s standing ovation.

Post -performance words of praise and delight flowed as many concert-goers returned to the afternoon tea tables or reluctantly made their way home. However, a birthday celebration could not be complete without a party, and party they did as choir members past and present along with some special guests were treated to a delightful tapestry of tasty treats and drinks as friends reunited and memories were recalled. Nor could a birthday celebration be concluded without an acknowledgement of the one very special lady who has continued to have that belief in her dream. Atop a chair having gathered the attention of all the party guests, Eric von Nida told of the journey of the ‘Rosa Alexis FitzGerald’, the magnificent pink rose he created and had formally named in honour of Alexis as a lasting gift to a lady who has given to many so much of herself in so many ways and in doing so, has transformed the lives of hundreds.