Cruisin' Calypso (2009)

In September of 2009 the E.C.C. presented their latest "strictly for adults" theatre restaurant 'Cruisin' Calypso'.

Michelle, Jo, Kathie
"Drinkin' Rum & and Coca Cola"

From the moment audience members stepped into the Lyceum Hall they found themselves being swept along with the swell of the SS Indulgence. Audience members were greeted at the door by island girls, who immediately put everyone in a Caribbean frame of mind. Rather than enter in the traditional way everyone walked the gangplank, where the ship's pretty mates welcomed us aboard with a flower lei and glass of champagne. The hall was decorated with palms and banana leaves, and the colour scheme of black, yellow and green reflected the flag of the country we were destined for - Jamaica.

The story following a group of passengers who set out on a Caribbean cruise which offers them much more than they bargained for, as they travelled through the Bermuda Triangle things went from strange to stranger as they encountered some very odd characters.

Audience favourites were definitely Elvis (played by Lloyd King in a number of fantastic outfits - made by his wife, Carolyn), and the hilarious "Bowls Ladies" (Patrina McLeod, Carmel Lynch and Marina Crichton). Prizes were awarded for the best dressed audience member - it was very pleasing to see so many passengers dressed for the part. A smoking volcano had centre stage in Act 2 and cast members had to appease the Great God Burpo with a sacrificial virgin - easier said than done! The appearance of four Zombies had the audience members in stitches and it was great to see some good sports join them up on stage to do the Limbo.

The show ended with Elvis singing up a storm and the whole cast joining the audience for a congo line through the tables.

Many passengers were reluctant to come to the end of their cruise and compliments were flying - the show was a great success. It was a lot of hard work, but everyone pulled their weight and it all came together. Our Musical Director and Producer, Alexis FitzGerald of course, did a wonderful job as did everyone else involved. Russell Zammet produced his masterpieces again and the volcano especially was a great hit, we are so lucky to have his artistic talents in our choir.

Michelle Rose

Sydney Opera House (June 2009)

This is a story about 15 ladies and 2 men from the Esk Community Choir who sang at the Sydney Opera House. It is not fiction, though the experience was the stuff dreams are made of.
The story began when Alexis received, via email, an invitation for the choir to sing Mozart's Requiem as part of the Festival of World Voices in 2009 at the Sydney Opera House. Seventeen choir members, unwilling to pull the shade down on this opportunity, answered the call.




Armed with the musical score, a couple of home grown tapes, purchased CD's and very little knowledge of what was to come, they dedicated spare moments during the following weeks and months to mastering this very challenging Requiem Mass in D Minor by Mozart.

The little that WAS known was that the Internationally high regarded American clinician, lecturer and Director of Choral Studies at Atlanta's Emory University, Dr Eric Nelson, was to be the conductor for the festival, travelling to Sydney to perform the work along with a number of choirs from the USA.

A great leader is said to be someone who takes genuine joy in the successes of those under him and from the moment Dr Nelson began the rehearsal with "OK, let's sing the Requiem: they knew they were in the presence of, not only a great leader and teacher, but also a musical genius and hearts soared along with their voices.

From the wandering tones of 'Intoitus' through the intricacies of 'Kyrie', the rhythmic vitality of 'Dies Irae', the mournful pulsing of 'Lacrimose', the fire passion and pathos of 'Rex Tremendae' and 'Confutatis' to the final dramatic notes of 'Lux Eterna', the ladies and gentlemen from Esk were born aloft on a sea of musical excellence. So too were the other choirs, anchored by the incomparable voices of the Centenary College Choir from Louisiana, and others from Georgia and Charleston as well as sixty 'angelic' boy sopranos, altos, tenors and basses from Sydney's Knox Grammar School who were called to the fray with only one months notice. The sum total of 160 voices filled and thrilled both the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House and an almost capacity audience.

True testament to the determination and dedication to practice by the Esk contingent were the comments and compliments expressed by more than a few members of the visiting choirs regarding the 'excellent preparation by this community choir'.

The story could not continue without the telling of the four highly credentialed soloists, highlighted by the amazing voice of Tim Chung, a countertenor, who sung alto, nor the accompaniment of a wonderful orchestra comprising young graduates from the Conservatorium alongside accomplished professional musicians.

This story does not have an ending because once there are no more words to tell, our music will continue to take over. People who make music together will always share that bond... for as long as the music lasts.

Sue Walker

Members who participated in Mozart's Requim

Elaine Brown

Joan Burke

Kym Clemence

Suzanne Clemence

Brian Crichton

Marina Crichton

Alexis FitzGerald

Mary FitzGerald

Maree Hammond

Dorothea Moyle

Noela Niemeyer

Jessica Pitman

Ellise Pope

Leon Toms

Sue Walker

Kathie Watts

Music & Wellbeing Symposium

Congratulations Alexis, our Musical Director, who has been awarded an invitation to attend the Music and Wellbeing Symposium to be held at the Melbourne University from February 10th to 11th 2009.

Alexis received this invitation after lodging a submission to apply for one of the three “tickets” available Australia wide.

SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW

Music is the world’s most established community development tool. Before recorded music, people used to make their own music. It was the glue that held communities together, and it still can be!

Inspirational Australian and International theorists – Jon Hawkes (Community Music Victoria) and Brynjulf Stige - will be speakers as part of a two-day symposium to learn about the cultural and biological reasons that active music-making improves community life. This program is designed for those from many areas of community development, arts and culture, education and welfare and health. Come along and access the science that backs up the powerful experience of music making for wellbeing.

First Night Back 2009

First night back - well - I think everyone was delighted to meet up again as there were lots of hugs and kisses etc. - and not enough time to talk! We welcomed three new members, two ladies and one gentleman and two returning members who had taken breaks for travel etc. We also welcomed one of the Prague Choir members who originally joined us for our tour but enjoyed it all so much that she has come back on a permanent basis (she will be travelling up from Hamilton so obviously enjoys our company) - and we expect a couple more in the next week or so once they sort out their programmes for the year.

The two new ladies are both Music Teachers, one of whom is keen to play whenever we need her, and the other who prefers to sing but is willing to help out on the piano if needed, how lucky can we be! With Alexis, our Musical Director, attending the Music Camp; Well Being Symposium in Melbourne this week – see our story on this – we have someone to take over the piano whilst our usual accompanist will direct.

There were a few away due to health problems etc., but they will be back in the next couple of weeks and a couple of others must still be away as we haven’t heard from them yet.

Oh yes, we have another Choir baby on the way - it's been 4 years since we were last a “Choir in Waiting”!