THE ‘SOMERSET MUSIC AWARDS with THE LOCKYER VALLEY’ A MORNING OF SUBLIME ENTERTAINMENT

The Somerset Music Awards including the Lockyer Valley, held on March 12^th may have been comparatively short on numbers this year, however, there was nothing missing when it came to the joyous sounds of music and singing pouring out of the St Agnes Anglican Hall on this delightful Saturday morning in Esk and after the last few years of see-sawing situations endured, this event, though tiny, was the gift of something good.

Normally held biennially but not so in these recent ‘unprecedented’ times, this day was certainly not about gaining places in a competition, but moreover, about the opportunity for the young and young-at-heart to perform beautiful music, and in doing so, receive the benefits of constructive recommendations via adjudications; about finding places within to deliver confident performances to an encouraging audience; about enhancing performance skills and learning to grow with a love for music in its many forms.

The song, ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’, self-accompanied on guitar and performed so confidently by Carley and Matilda Kunde could be a metaphor for ‘life imitating art’ with Carley, once a talented little tot as a vital member of ‘The Semitones’, now a 17-year-old, still just as enthused by her love of music, her sister Matilda following in Carley’s musical footsteps. With talents belying her tender years, Madleine Yeo’s expressive piano performance of ‘Summer’ by Hisaishi was hard to top. The instrumental section culminated in Suzanne Clemence’s unblemished flute performance of Bizet’s ‘Menuet de L’Arlesienne’ in company with the unquestioned talents of Alexis on piano.

There’s an old saying ‘If youth knew; if age could’ and by golly, they did on this day in the open and senior vocal sections when each, in turn, took to the ‘boards’ delivering performances far exceeding expectations. This section was an exercise in never being too old or too late to find the mettle to sing solo or in duet, and it was for some, courageous performances that gained huge audience acclamation. Evidenced by this and the smiles on faces of both audience and adjudicator, it was apparent that the task of choosing winners was not going to be an easy one.

Obvious too was Mr Brendan Scully’s shared love of music and performance when our highly credentialled music judge delivered his adjudications sharing his words of wisdom in such a kindly and encouraging manner. For his unquestioned acceptance of the request to adjudicate must go much of the credit for the success of this day.

It is true that a song would sound a bit strange without the piano; that it is the accompanist who reminds the singer of forgotten lines, who transposes the notes, jumps from page to page without stopping for breath, and so it is to Alexis and to Ruth the unsung heroes of this day whose beautiful accompaniments should be a constant reminder that there is so much more to a song than a singer.

To Alexis for her instigation of this event back in 2002 and for her devotion to the creation of opportunities for all ages to grow with a love of music, we are forever grateful. Hopefully, the success of this year’s event will be the streetlamp to light the way for an even bigger event in the Choir’s 45^th anniversary year in 2023.

Prizes and certificates were awarded to the placegetters in each section through the generosity of sponsorship and the support of the Esk Caravan Park, Esk Friendly Grocer, My Care Physio & Therapy in Gatton, The Somerset Newspaper and Toowoomba’s Byron Capital. For this and their continued support of the Esk Community Choir’s endeavours, we are forever grateful. By: Sue Walker /2

A list of the prizewinners:-

VOCAL DUET 20 YRS & UNDER - 1st Carley and Matilda Kunde

VOCAL SOLO OPEN - 1st Eric von Nida "Nina”.

2nd (tie) Grace Crichton "Natural Woman"

with Denis Hawes "If I Were a Rich Man”.

3rd Christine Caldwell "I Dreamed a Dream".

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO 13yrs & UNDER - 1st Madleine Yeo on piano “Summer"

2nd Matilda Kunde on guitar "En Dentino"

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO OPEN - 1st Suzanne Clemence on flute "Menuet de l'Arlesienne" by Bizet

SENIOR MUSICAL THEATRE - 1st Grace Crichton "Cabaret"

2nd Marina Crichton "Guess Who"

VOCAL DUET OPEN - 1st Grace Crichton/Eric von Nida "Never Too Late to Fall