LIGHTING UP THE LIVES OF THE MANY AT ALKIRA IN 2024

Carollers  from the Esk Community Choir and a troupe of jolly little elves

 

While twinkling houses festooned with sparkling strands of lights and glowing reindeer are certainly a merry drawcard for families and others to gather and enjoy a complimentary piece of Christmas cheer, there are also so many who are unable to be with the people they long for most at this time of year.  

However,  the notion of giving which underpins the joys of Christmas was a glowing  presence once more at Toogoolawah’s Alkira Home for the Aged when a merry jingle of Carollers  from the Esk Community Choir and a troupe of jolly little elves gathered around Ruth Skippen at the piano to entertain the residents with so many of those beloved Christmas Carols…perchance to encourage some of the ol’folk to join in…simple pleasures that create a spectacle of their own, lighting up the lives of all those who had come to hear. 

Christmas should not be all about presents but the presence of people who care and on this morning at Alkira it was a wonderful feeling of togetherness.  Ruth and her ensemble of carollers who afterwards lunched together for their final gathering for 2024 were so grateful to the residents and the caring staff at Alkira for the opportunity to spread the joys of Christmas.

By: Sue Walker

Mischief - Caitlin and Jo

Christine sharing her smile

The leader of the band - Ruth

Jan, ready to strum a tune. 

Kerry taking it easy

Liz Sharing a painted rock 💕

AN INSTRUMENTAL EXTRAVAGANZA BRINGING THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS TO ESK

Esk Community Choir Ladies Ensemble 

It has been almost four decades since the Esk Community Choir  began to bring the sounds of Christmas to audiences in the Somerset Region and by all accounts, this year’s Christmas Variety Concert at the Somerset Civic Centre was a spectacle of Advent sights and sounds which seemed to lift the bar on many performances which had gone before.

On Sunday, December 8^th, it was just plain hot!  The weather gurus who had predicted a long hot summer had certainly got it right.  However, there was nothing but high spirits as concert goers, with raffle tickets, condiments, crafts, plants and all manner of stocking fillers in hand, made their way into the cool of the auditorium.  The giant Christmas tree, erected proudly at the entrance and adorned with vibrant ornaments, each reflecting the soft glow of the dozens of fairy lights, stood as an inviting spectacle to all who came to enjoy the sounds of Christmas.

Following the customary welcome by emcee extraordinaire Sean Choat, the joy of the season was brought to life with choral sounds from the Esk Community Choir, Esk Men’s Choir, Esk Ladies Choir, and the masterful instrumental performance of Elgar’s Salut d’Amour (Love’s Greeting) with the indisputable expertise of Alexis on piano, our sublime flautists, Suzanne and Ruth together with Chrissy Davis’s superb string ensemble, Strings ‘n Things, all of whom  created a perfect prelude for the extravaganza to come. 

Strings  'n  Things with Alexis at the piano

Music and painting are two different types of art which, as evidenced on this day, can interact so beautifully.  Introducing this year a slight twist to the customary musical path, two of SASI’s gifted artists, Shirley and Nikki, sat quietly creating on canvas the mood, harmony, emotion, colour, shape, and composition reflecting their interpretations of the songs filling the auditorium.

It was such an honour to host 17 members of the Blackbutt Singers who, under the direction of Judy Lawrence, presented their uplifting harmonies and upbeat songs to great audience acclamation.  These choir members who share an obsession with singing have been making great music and fostering friendships in the South Burnett area and beyond for many years.

Blackbutt Singsers

This concert, hailed as an ‘Instrumental Extravaganza’ was grounds for the introduction of featured guest artists Full Spectrum Brass. Comprised of a quartet of two trumpets, a trombone and tuba, these consummate musicians, all members of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, had the audience spirited away with their playlist of everything from up tempo Christmas favourites to sultry New Orleans Jazz and shades in between.

Full Spectrum Brass

Esk State School Band  with teacher Paul Edwards 

The talented Glenrock Uke ensemble together with a few wacky warblers were a shot in the arm for energetic audience participation of some upbeat Christmas classics; the  debut performance by Recorder Resonance brought a whole new appreciation to this much maligned instrument; and another entre to the stage, this time by Patti Jaenke’s glittering Somerset Tappers was a triumphant and captivating  performance by this group of women with so much life in their years.  To complete the essence of an ‘Instrumental Extravaganza’, under the direction and expertise of their teacher, Paul Edwards, the six fine little musicians from the Esk State School Band charmed concert goers with their delightful Christmas tunes.

Glenrock Ukes with Wacky Warblers stirring up the audience 

Recorder Resonance

Somerset Tappers

The finale of this Instrumental Extravaganza, a tour de force with Strings ‘n Things, Full Spectrum Brass,  Recorder Resonance, the Blackbutt Singers and the entire Esk Community Choir all finding their positions on the stage and floor, the choirs’ instrument, their voice.  With Suzanne on flute and the Choir’s adaptable, all-round consummate musician Ruth Skippen at the keyboard and with a nod by Alexis to all instrumentalists and choirs,  Alexis raised her hands and the emotional depths of Beethoven’s Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee filled the room, to an audience reaction rarely heard before.  This audience on this day awoken to the joys of singing and music.  With gracious wishes for a safe and happy Christmas conveyed by Alexis, both audience and artists converged around the colourful afternoon tea tables to celebrate the fellowship that music inspires.

By: Sue Walker 

 

To view the video Click on the Centre button and then 

the small white button on the bottom left. 

Esk Community Choir 

Glenrock Ukes with the Wacky Warblers 

Inspired by the music and performances during the concert 
Artist Nikki  from the  Sommerset Arts Society Incorporated titled 
this piece "Do you see what I see". 
At the end of the concert the artwork was auctioned. 

Elizabeth Brown with a her painting - donated to raffle

Suzanne and Jan, Jorja and Avalee, Jennifer and Leah 
Thank you for always helping with Front of House duties. 

RECONNECTING WITH MARGARET WITH LOVE AND SONG

 

Our Margaret may have lost her ability to move around with the spriteliness of yore and while her place of residence has gone from 8 Down Street, Esk to up in room 204 at a delightful new Home for the Aged in Orwell St Camp Hill, it is Margaret’s love of music and that for her choir which has never changed.  Nor has her ability to recall so many of the moments which have become the storybook of her life.  

Where once her Down Street shelves were brimming with trinkets along with treats for the choir members who would come for extra practices, her shelves are now an accumulation of keepsakes and kodak moments from her years as accompanist with the Choir.  Even now, downstairs in CPSM Care’s Recreation Room, Margaret’s own piano is a treasured showpiece.

It was with a heavy heart that after more than 12 years of her sublime accompaniments at the Choir’s Annual Christmas Concerts, Margaret’s circumstances prevented her being at this year’s concert in Esk.  Ergo, if you can’t take the lady to the concert, you take the concert to the lady and on December 8^th it was carloads of Choristers from Esk and surrounds who were thrilled to hit the highway and bring to Margaret their Christmas Concert repertoire along with many of Margaret’s concert favourites.  Taking ‘centre stage’ and surrounded by Christmas gifts, her doting family members, carers, and the capacity audience who filled the room, Margaret was completely (in her own words) “overwhelmed by it all...close to tears much of the time”!  An occasional furtive glance in Margaret’s direction would often catch those once dexterous fingers air playing on the imaginary keyboard…muscle memory, well intact!

It was such a joy to have been able to give this gift of song to Margaret who, right up until she couldn’t, was so intent on giving her all and so much more to her choir.  It is so true that the sum of a person’s life is not how or where one ends up but in the details that happened along the way.  From your ‘choir family’ to whom you have always been an inspiration Margaret, we give our love and thanks.

By: Sue Walker

Roving Singers at the lighting of the Esk Christmas Tree

 

If you’ve ever wondered when Christmas carols first came about, the answer lies in the 14th century -although their evolution dates back even further when, even before Christianity, it is thought that midwinter songs existed to keep up people’s spirits.

Although, certainly not midwinter but actually the end of a very warm summer’s day, eleven members of the Esk Community Choir lifted the spirits of all who attended the lighting of the Christmas tree in Esk on December 2. Feeling excited to be joined by Councillors, a fireman and a police woman, the roving carollers entertained young and old.

Thanks to the Esk Christmas Tree committee for inviting us to join in this special community event.

By: Ruth Skippen.

RINGING IN THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS WITH THE ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR

What is it at this time of year that could be greater than a landscape of twinkling lights and the sounds of Christmas Carols? … those wonderous songs of our childhood spreading the joyous sounds of Christmas; the reminders of this time of year that never seem to age.  It was these Christmas Carols once again sung by a jolly band of Roving Carollers from the Esk Community Choir who lifted the spirits of all those who gathered at Esk’s Memorial Park on Saturday 2^nd December for the Lighting of the Christmas Tree.  Why even some of town’s first responders couldn’t resist the urge to join in with the Carollers as they spread their joy to their world.

And so it was that after a good night’s ‘sleep in heavenly peace’ that the group were back, this time to join with all the members of the Esk Community Choir for their 33^rd Annual Christmas Concert, this the choir’s doorway to the Christmas Season.

On Sunday, December 3^rd, it was just plain hot. The weather gurus who had been predicting a long hot summer had got it right.  However, there was nothing but high spirits as concert goers found their places in the cool of the Somerset Civic Centre, eager for an afternoon of musical entertainment.  

Following Choir President Marina’s formal ‘welcome to country’, to audience and to our exceptional emcee, Councillor Sean Choat, it was the brilliance of a ‘Fanfare for Christmas’ interwoven with heavenly sounds of Bell’Amore’s assortment of handbells which set the bar for the variety of magical entertainment to come.

‘Handbells?’, you well may ask?  The art of handbell ringing with an assortment of specially designed and tuned bells is centuries old.  However, the Handbell Choir, Bella’more, who dazzled an audience at this year’s Christmas Concert has been together barely three years, their performances, spellbinding as they transported the room of ardent admirers on a magnificent musical journey with their art of ringing. If Bella’more’s mission is to provide magical experiences through live performances that resonates with audiences creating sounds that inspire happiness and joy then it was mission accomplished!

Accordingly, the beautiful carols sung by the choir, some well-loved, others new to many, left no-one wanting.  The sublime harmonies by trio, Bob Hardy, Grace Crichton, and Patrina McLeod prefaced the choir’s entry for ‘I Hear God’s Music’ and stepping up to tag team with Alexis for the joyous ‘Sing With Festive Cheer’, Kathleen’s conducting competence further evidenced the capabilities and versatility within this choir.

Nurtured by Alexis, the Choir men are fast becoming an accomplished choral force on the concert scene. The powerful lyrics and a masterful performance this day of ‘Anthem’ from the musical ‘Chess’ surely moving many heartstrings.

The ‘Accidentals’ are members of the choir whose musical talents extend so much further than their voices.  They are a burgeoning instrumental ensemble of flutes, pianos, clarinet, guitar, and together with the paring of Bob Hardy and Richard Skinner for a sublime vocal performance of ‘Panis Angelicus’, followed by Anna flipping from piano to performance mode with Annie’s iconic tune ‘Tomorrow’, the ‘Accidentals’ confidently put a little bit of ‘extra’ into the anything but ‘ordinary’.

The trio of Alexis on piano and flautists, Ruth Skippen and Suzanne Clemence have become regulars sharing the gifts of their prodigious talents on the concert scene.  On this day with their masterful performance of ‘Riff Raff Rock’ they became a quartet with the addition of proficient percussionist, Tom Byrne as he ‘beat out that rhythm on a drum’.

A Christmas Concert would not be complete without an arrangement of the popular ’Christmas is Coming’ delivered with gusto by a snappy sextet of singers. Nor would it be complete without a grand finale.  A heavenly rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ followed by the uplifting Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, became the perfect epilogue to this 33^rd Christmas Concert story and a climactic culmination to the Esk Community Choir’s 45^th anniversary year.

With uplifted hearts, gifts, goodies, and raffle prizes won and the sounds of Christmas still resonating, concert goers gathered for a delectable afternoon tea, all in no doubt of the wonderful choir performances they can expect in 2024.

We of the Esk Community Choir are so grateful to Ruth Skippen’s unquestioned loyalty and her ability to step up as accompanist so capably filling a void when needed.  We are also constantly indebted to Alexis whom we are so fortunate to have as our Choir Director;  for her musical expertise, patience and undeniable belief in her choir;  who often opens her home and always her heart to allow us the privilege of being a part of her world for a little while each week.

By: Sue Walker 

WE WISHED THOSE AT ALKIRA A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS

At this time of year, it has become a sort of Christmas ritual for members of the Esk Community Choir to bring a little bit of Yuletide joy to the lives of the residents at Toogoolawah’s Alkira Home for the Aged.  And thus, it was on December 6, at this charming facility that a small ensemble of carollers and jolly little ‘elves’ found their positions around Ruth at the piano to sing and frolic through their first bracket of Christmas carols.  Though a small number of the audience appeared to be asleep, they were surely just resting their eyes in anticipation of a jolly ol’ singalong and sing along they did as the choir ensemble channelled their passion in the direction of these expectant audience members. 

First concert completed it was off to the next room where another gathering of old folk had already found their seats in anticipation of the choir’s performance…perhaps to sing together the carols they knew; or maybe just for the joy of being together.  From ‘Deck the Halls’ to ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and other equally well-loved Christmas songs, to blessed duets by Ruth, Carolyn, Roly and Denis through to ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ the enthusiasm in the room was clearly evident.  None more so than that of an old choir friend, Warren McLaren who, with his upcoming solo performance of ‘O Holy Night’ was brought to tears, so humbled was he to have been asked to perform his Alkira debut rehearsal with the support of his favourite choir, clinging to that spark of what he once used to be.  

To give the gift of ourselves in song to these lovely souls will always be a gift in return.  To the staff of Alkira for your warm welcome and hospitality, we of the Esk Choir give our sincere thanks.

By: Sue Walker

Back: Di, Jan, Ruth, Denis,
Front: Carolyn, Sue W, Jo, Christine, Roly, Sue C, Leah, Alan, Helene

ANOTHER YEAR JAMMED FULL OF HAPPY MEMORIES TO CELEBRATE!

 

We did it, you guys.  We made it to the end of a seriously amazing year full of events, some challenging, all uplifting, and all of which will now convert to more memories fanning the flames of the 45 recalled moments, contributed by choir members, collated, and recounted by Ruth Sk. at this year’s Choir Christmas break-up, so generously gifted to us by John Cunningham from the Esk Op Shop and his Angels at the Esk Bowls Club.

However, despite a few by now feeling the saturation effects of a busy year, this was not a time to be hitting the snooze button.  As soon as people took to their places around tables decorated equally as tastefully as the delicious Christmas fare served, the joie de vivre was tangible. 

This was an evening with no black folders to organize, no repertoire to remember; just one final time for a choir family to enjoy an evening together; to soak up some mental breathing space along with a glass or two of something stronger than water, the camaraderie that this choir brings to each of us and enjoy the performances from those whom our wonderful emcee de jour, Jessica, called upon to give their all at the microphone.  Christmas cards were exchanged along with hugs, Christmas wishes and thankyous and, rising to a crescendo for a fitting finale, to our cherished Choir Director, Alexis, who, by this time, appeared to be caught between a cry and a smile, a big surprise, flash-mob style final thank you from her entire choir for one more fabulous year… ‘Thank You For the Music’.  

By: Sue Walker

Hanging on the words of the Maestra

A Standing ovation for our Margaret - accompanist extraordinaire

Caught between a cry and a smile

Carolyn, Elizabeth, Eric (with pearls)

Jo, Grace, Patrina 

Kathie and Lloyd, & Maree

Elizabeth 

Sue and Ruth 

Glen Rock Uke Players

Suzanne, Marina, Jessica

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC FROM THE ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR

 

Esk Community Choir - Christmas 2022

Take a bow Esk Community Choir!  By anyone’s definition ‘celebration’ was the word of the day on Sunday December 5^th when the Esk Community Choir presented their Annual Christmas Concert held at the Somerset Civic Centre in Esk. 

A concert, many weeks in the making, the choir was well and truly in the zone even before the first notes had been sung.  As the choir men joined with the ladies on stage in a demonstration of some of the key elements of choral singing with a Nativity round, through to the choristers who gave their all in a spectacular finale of Christmas songs which prompted hairs on the backs of necks to give a standing ovation; from the poise and beauty of the Ukrainian Butterfly dancers to a bunch of very cute little elves with a kooky Santa riding the ‘Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train’, and all performances in between,  this was a Christmas Concert befitting a Choir which has been drawing audiences into the glorious sounds of Christmas for 32 years.

Alexis and Bob 

If an exceptional choir conductor is a strong communicator who has vision, gives clear direction and who engages her choir wholeheartedly, then Alexis FitzGerald O.A.M. who has been fulfilling this role with a passion for the past 44 years has to be pure gold.  On this occasion, it was a case of tag-teaming with the musically gifted Ruth Skippen both as choir conductor and at the piano for the opening chorus of uplifting carols by the Ladies and Men’s Choirs, augmented in duet with the euphonious voices of Alexis and Bob, Eric and Roland alongside Suzanne’s and Ruth’s mellifluous flute accompaniments.

The yuletide gala continued with the choir’s own Glen Rock Uke Players whose rhythmic strumming and singing had the audience completely engaged, many unable to resist the urge to participate in song. There was the Sweethearts of Song’s dazzling harmonies aligned with Alexis’s sublime piano accompaniment of Natalie Sleeth’s ‘Hallelujah Glory Hallelujah’; Mr Smith’s talented little Esk State School Band thrilling Mums and Dads with their little bit of  Christmas magic; Eric, again defying convention with his charming interpretation of Flanders and Swann’s ‘Hippopotamus’;  and what’s not to love about every single performance of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ especially when it’s the tantalizing harmonies of Denis and Roland in collaboration with Ruth and her son Peter Skippen in accompaniment on piano and guitar?

It is almost considered un-Australian not to have loved the unique blend of voices created by ‘The Seekers’, the Australian folk-influenced quartet who has been filling the storybook of lives since 1962.  On this day, the tribute to their music by Carolyn, Roland and Denis was truly uplifting, many remembering word for word ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’ and ‘The Carnival is Over’, the prophetic lyrics of two songs reflective of Judith Durham’s death in August for, in the hearts of those who loved her, there will never be another you.

Roland, Carolyn and Denis - Tribute to Judith Durham

Tom Byrne

Many Choir followers will know Tom Byrne who has not only been a valued member of the bass section of the Choir for years but the gifted creator of many of the stunning stage settings for productions the likes of Phantom of the Opera in Concert and Les Miserables in Concert.  Health circumstances have forced Tom to take his leave from the Choir, but his versatility was again on display when the Choir, as part of their spectacular finale, presented Tom’s brilliant musical arrangement of the enduring classic ‘Walking in the Air’.

The tenderness of Robert Burns’ words penned for ‘Auld Lang Syne’ will always be felt, the sentiment expressing nostalgia and hope for the future.  On this day in a perfect collaboration of Choir and audience, the Christmas version was no less meaningful.  Full of the joy that music brings, concert goers trickled to the tables to further fill on kindly conversation and a tantalizing afternoon tea.

For the success of an event such as this there are so many people to thank.  First and foremost, to our marvelous accompanist, Margaret, who found her place at the piano for opening and closing carols.  Her determination to keep on keeping on despite her multitude of mobility concerns is an inspiration to us all;   to Chayne and Jackie Walsh, the terrific team at the audio controls who allowed us to sound so much better than we hoped for; to Councilor Sean Choat, our eloquent host with the most;  to the management team at the Somerset Civic Centre who are a constant source of cooperation; to the Editors of the Somerset Newspaper without whose support my stories and articles would still be just Word documents on my computer;  to a very dedicated Choir Committee who work tirelessly behind the scenes along with a whole host of choir members who oft times go unrecognized for their volunteering roles which make our events flow so smoothly; and to our fans and followers whose smiling faces are constantly a presence at so many choir events and for whom this choir continues to exist.  Finally, to Alexis, without whom this day may not have been.  Your guidance, energy and talents are limitless and for this, your choir and a community are constantly grateful.  

By: Sue Walker  

Pat and Maria - The Butterfly Dance (for Ukraine) 

Santa (Gary) Grace, Jessica, Sienna, Bridie with the Sweethearts of Song 
"Santa Claus is Coming in a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train"

Glen Rock Players

Maree, Kathleen, Carolyn and Susan - The Sweethearts of Song

Esk and Toogoolawah School Band  - under the baton of Adam Smith.

Esk Community Choir