‘SUCH AN ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON’S ENTERTAINMENT’!!!!

Ireland is a country whose breathtaking beauty is matched by the richness of her heritage and traditions, St Patrick’s Day celebrations being high on the list. Though this day had passed, the Esk Community Choir and a whole host of concertgoers were not about to let the occasion slip away without notice. And so it was that with the colours and sounds of Ireland, the Somerset Civic Centre was the scene for an abundance of green, delicious food, beverages and the musical sounds of Ireland brought to concert goers at the choir’s Opening Concert With a Dash of Irish.

The stirring sounds of pipers from Lockyer’s Celtic Pipe Band and two of the Choir’s tenors in dulcet duet greeting concertgoers as they spilled through the doors was a mere whisper of what was to follow.

To an audience predominantly dressed in green, a warm welcome by Choir President, Marina Crichton preceded the handover to our eminent emcee, Sean Choat and then, it was on with the show! While it is safe to say that Michael Flatley can sleep peacefully in the knowledge that the skill and popularity of his ‘Lord of the Dance’ troupe will remain unchallenged, there were some pretty impressive dance moves by Helene Hawes’ eye-catching dance ensemble comprised of Eric and six sparkling danseurs who tapped their way through the choir’s A Little Dash of Dublin to open the show with flare.

The soulful singing of Men’s choirs has been a long-held tradition in Ireland, and this it was again in Esk when the men of the choir told in song the story of The Black Velvet Band. Ruth Skippen’s hypnotic solo entre to the altos’ moving rendition of Galway Bay gripped the attention of concert goers and when, in a rare moment of acquiescence, Alexis combined in perfect harmony with Roland Cox for the emotional opening verse of Danny Boy, climaxing in an uplifting chorus of choral singing, many could be forgiven for reaching for their tissues.

Lloyd, Trevor, Roland, Denis

Variety was the word when the harmonious singing duo, Never Two Late took to the stage with their bracket of popular songs from the decades. Then followed that beaut little Uke group, Glen Rock Players in a showcase of the talents that appear to thrive within the choir as they plucked, strummed, and sang their way through that song about the tart with the cart…Molly Malone and that shameless Drunken Sailor.

Though somewhat of a break away from the songs of Ireland, the choir’s own Kathleen, in duet with Elaine Coates and the audacious ally cat, aka Doug Brown, presented a brilliant arrangement of Alley Cat Love Song bringing enthusiastic audience applause.

The Civic Centre then rang with the multicoloured sounds of the Lockyer Celtic Pipe Band boys on bagpipes as they heralded in sound the break for an intermission and the drawing of some amazing raffle prizes.

Shepherding the afternoon’s proceedings with a transition to its climactic conclusion, emcee de jour, Sean brought to the stage the choir’s little instrumental ensemble The Accidentals with flautists Suzanne and Ruth together with Margaret, Nola and Ruth Wyatt on keyboard and in cohesion with a small combo of choir singers, inspired all with the sounds of What a Wonderful World.

He has portrayed many things on stage from a defendant in court, a Sea Witch, to a Gnu and this day Eric von Nida, swathed in sleepwear, was an out- of- luck tenant in desperate need of a Gasman. Again, never failing to entertain along with his motley team of trades people from the choir The Gasman Cometh was yet one more irrepressible performance.

Matthew with Margaret and Ruth

Matthew Lukritz has since 2006 when just knee high to a grasshopper, been sharing the choir stage giving stellar performances both vocally as a solo artist and with his instrument of choice, trumpet. His prodigious talents have grown on a par with his gracious demeanour and on this day his trumpet accompaniment alongside Margaret and Ruth on piano was that extra level of loveliness when the choir sang their penultimate piece, Love is a Song.

Not simply as a beautiful tune synonymous with Ireland and the world over, Amazing Grace was also an unplanned homage to the events in Europe during these last weeks, a deeply moving finale, its prophetic words sung by the entire audience as they joined with the choir to the strains of the Celtic Band on bagpipes. ‘’tis grace has brought (us) safe thus far, and grace will lead (us) home’.

There are times, usually only a matter of days prior to performance day when, to choir members, a successful concert seems like its own form of miracle. To Alexis, without whom we would be completely adrift; who challenges but never stops believing in her choir; for her patience, time, and knowledge we of the choir give our deepest gratitude.

To Margaret whose talents at the piano must often sit in the shadow of the singers but are no less vital to a successful performance, we are also indebted. To the choir volunteers, the unsung heroes who prepare the venue, the stage and afternoon teas; to the Editors of the Somerset Newspaper who never fail to spread the word each week in their brilliant publication and to all our faithful supporters and others who have so recently hopped aboard the choir bandwagon, we of the choir give our sincere thanks.

By: Sue Walker