GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! BY CRIKEY IT’S BEEN A BUMPER YEAR FOR THE ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR AT THIS YEAR’S SILKSTONE EISTEDDFOD.

Standing in front of a very astute, highly credentialed Adjudicator in a room full of fellow competitors of the teenage variety, some of us prepared for a Ladies Ensemble, frocked in what might be construed as ‘mutton dressed as lamb’, was in itself a test of courage.   It was on a Friday night in Ipswich when the members of the Esk Community Choir came to sing in four items at the 92^nd Silkstone Eisteddfod and boy, did we sing our hearts out, the only things separating us from those little whippersnappers were a few energetic dance steps and fifty something years of maturing!

First on stage was the Ladies Ensemble, small in number but full of flare, who gave it their all with All That Jazz. ‘…special commendation for the costume! Such courage and pizzazz!’  and ‘…we enjoyed your performance just as much as you did!’ were some of the adjudications by the insightful and instructive Mrs Adele Nisbet though the “Awwww, aren’t they gorgeous!!” coming from some of the talented little pipsqueeks watching on were just as encouraging.

With an Houdini-like costume change, the Jazz Ladies quickly joined with the Esk Mixed Ensemble for We’re Gonna Put on a Show/ Can’t Help Falling in Love.  Coming hot on the heels of the engaging performance by the Ipswich High School Vocals, our ladies and men really did put on ‘a classy act’…a ‘terrific!’ performance.

Then in an inspiring demonstration of diversity, it was a viva l’Italia with a dolce duo of O Pastorelle Adio and Mambo Italiano by the second Ladies Ensemble. What we may have lacked in Italian completo was made up for in fun and commitment… ‘delightful’…’the simple costuming and choreography was the icing on the top!’... from the knowledgeable Mrs Nisbet.

In the Open Choral Section where the whole Esk choir came together for a trio of African/American Spirituals, it was a case of “if youth knew; if age could” when we came up against two polished theatrically produced medleys of songs by the kids from St Bridget’s College, Indooroopilly and a Show Choir from St Mary’s, Ipswich who sang, sparkled and danced their way through a montage  from The Little Mermaid and Sister Act 2.  And so it was with Margaret’s practised accompaniment and Alexis in command, ready to inspire, that the Esk Community Choir did wow the audience and clearly, the adjudicator who awarded us with Gold!!  Well, in truth, we did share first place with the brilliant St Mary’s College Show Choir and though it has been said that the best substitute for experience is being 16, on this occasion it was clear that being part of this amazing 40 year old choir was the only ingredient required for that feeling of triumph.  So triumphant in fact that on this night we came away punching the air having been awarded GOLD for each of the Choir’s performances.

 
Performing in front of both an audience and judge can be confronting, but strange and wonderful things can happen when courage wins over insecurity. Just ask the handful of Choir Members who throughout the eisteddfod gave inspiring solo, duet and trio performances over many categories of vocal competition amid some of the district’s finest talents.  All dug deep to find the power of “me” and received very encouraging reports, many achieving placings.  However, that sort of courage can never be measured in awards; it’s what one does with it that enriches one’s life.  Though this writer is loathe to single out names, special mention must be made of Di Chaplin and Eric von Nida who each entered six different solo and duet categories, not forgetting Esk’s little rising star Nedi Granzien who was awarded the Girls’ Championship Trophy for 13 yrs and under for her superlative efforts.  

However, please pardon the cliché when I say that we could not have done all this alone because it is true.  Gratitude in spades must go to accompanist, Margaret who is as kind and giving as she is gifted at the piano and to Alexis whose patience and guidance through scheduled as well as numerous unscheduled practices brought all Esk performers to a level beyond expectations; whose encouragement and belief could make flowers bloom on stage; who has covered approximately 800 kilometres over the course of a week to give the gift of her sensitive and meticulous accompaniment and encouragement to each of her performers making our songs leap off the stage into the hearts of the audiences allowing us to believe that nothing is impossible.

By: Sue Walker

IT’S BEEN A GOOD NEWS WEEK AT THE 2017 SILKSTONE EISTEDDFOD

Esk Community Choir Ensemble
Margaret, Judy, Yvonne, Nola, Carolyn, Maree, Bob, Roger, Alexis, Tom, Eric, Di, Marina, Sue, Jo, Kathie

If ever there was a fast-track to a reality check for performers of any genre, it would be entering eisteddfods and this it has been for the handful of entrants from the Esk Community Choir, along with little Nedi Granzien, following their courageous performances scattered over 10 days and nights of competition at the 2017 Silkstone Eisteddfod.

In her very first eisteddfod, there were no jelly-legs for Nedi who completely commanded the stage with solos in Musical Theatre, Folk, Sacred, Girls Aged 12 years and Girls’ Championship 13 years and under; Four “seconds” and a highly commended or third placing.  Bravo Nedi!!

Susan Walker and Eric von Nida

Equally energetic was our Eric von Nida who floored most of his competitors in four different solo sections humbly receiving high praise from both adjudicator and audience with placings in each, finally to unite in duet with Susie Walker, their Golden Song proving just that when they came away with a first.

Di Chaplin

While placings are gratifying, they can also be subjective in a festival of the vocal arts adjudged by one.   Notwithstanding Ms Ireni Utley’s notable accreditation, it is also the commitment to fulfilling personal goals which deserves equal acknowledgement.  These were most certainly achieved when Di Chaplin gave her all with Autumn Leaves in the Ballad section and in Musical Theatre, Nola Niemeyer, always brilliant with her Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid, both our ladies receiving encouraging high praise, their joy no less for their efforts.  

A learned person once said ‘it takes a long time to become young’ and in two of the Choral Group sections, the Esk Choir Ensembles’ were clearly evidence of this when they were able to mix it with their youthful opposition in both talent and enthusiasm, separated only by a few energetic dance steps and 50 odd years of maturity. For I Love a Piano, the ladies were awarded a silver and for their efforts both visually and chorally, the ladies and gents in the My Fair Lady ensemble brought home the gold!  During her commentary in the presentation of awards for the Ensembles, Ms Utley stressed the need for the young school leavers to ‘do it for yourselves…go find a choir and continue to sing’, her comments clearly alluding to the obvious enjoyment showcased by our Choir during the performances.  

Margaret Philp

To Margaret, once again for your unquestioned giving of your spare moments and faultless accompaniment of our Ensemble songs;  and to Alexis, the heart and soul of our Choir, for a bazillion practices before, after and around choir rehearsals, for your gifting to all the soloist and dueters your time, teachings, beautiful accompaniment and encouragement without stopping to take a breath, we give our heartfelt thanks.

By: Susan Walker

 

Nedi Granzien

Nola Niemeyer

Queensland Eisteddfod, Ipswich. 2012

WE CAME, WE SAW... and we conga'd our way onto the stage a total of eight times for the Esk Community Choir's performances at the Queensland Eisteddfod in the Civic Centre of this year's host city, Ipswich - notably the birthplace of the Queensland Eisteddfod some 119 years ago. 

This prestigious Eisteddfod, traditionally held over the Easter weekend, is an annual festival of both Vocal and Instrumental competition which attracts contestants of the highest calibre and competence and this year's was certainly no exception.  With such a rich history, this Eisteddfod has become, amongst other things, a significant part of the development and appreciation of the Choral art in Queensland.   A number of  Ipswich's highly acclaimed Choirs as well as Choirs from Toowoomba, Gladstone, Caloundra, Queensland University and, of course, Esk, all competed in the various sections of the Choral Competition over Good Friday and Easter Saturday and Sunday.

As the saying goes "if you don't risk anything, you risk even more"  and in a competition where the Esk Community Choir had nothing to lose and everything to gain by putting themselves amongst some of the most highly talented Choirs in Australia, we came out "winners" on so many levels.  To say that our courage was tested amid choirs whose volume and numbers are in direct alignment with their high artistic standards would be understating the facts.  However, the Esk Choir's performances were a testament to the commitment made through many long hours of rehearsals and practices to which Alexis and the Choir members dedicated themselves in order to achieve their utmost for this event.

One only had to listen to these huge (some numbering 90 SATB voices) and hugely talented Choirs to know that any expectation of a top three place was out of our league.  However, both the point’s scores and the adjudications we received were complementary, congratulatory and extremely encouraging.   Following the passionately delivered rendition of "O Pastorelle  Addio" when our initial butterflies were very capably eradicated, through another six sections during which our performances were received with high praise and finally to our stirring rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" when the audience positively cheered.... and that was BEFORE we'd  sung!!...the Esk Choir created some wonderfully memorable musical moments for a capacity audience. 

This report on our two days of competing at the Queensland Eisteddfod must not reach it's end before mention be made of the Men of the Esk Community Choir, though too much praise and who knows what might go to their heads!!?  Our men, with a heart stopping performance of "Lightning", by Greg Bilpin, were awarded 1st place in their section.  Now the details surrounding this victory I feel are irrelevant.  The scores are on the board and our men brought home 1st prize for their commitment to the mastering of this piece and their performance of it and  there would not have been a person in that Ipswich Civic Centre who would not have agreed with the adjudicator's decision.  

These moments of competing with and being witness to some quite spectacular Choral performances have been a huge learning curve for this Choir and another in the long line of open door opportunities for exposure to music and musicians at their finest.   To have competed with the style and confidence that they did alongside some of the most amazingly beautiful choirs in Australia and once again put the name and wonderful reputation of the Esk Community Choir to the forefront of the Choral world is to have indeed felt greatness.