A PERFECT BLEND OF MUSIC AND FRIENDS IN TOOGOOLAWAH ON ST PATRICK’S DAY

Esk Community Choir

Faith an’ begorrah...statisticians are saying that one third of Australians are of Irish stock!  Yep, more than eight thousand Australians can trace their roots back to the ‘Olde Sod’ and t’besure, it was a good portion of these gentle folk and many others who make up the patchwork of a population who call the Somerset Region home and some beyond who were lured to the Alexandra Hall in Toogoolawah on this St Patrick’s Day for the Esk Community Choir’s fabulous Irish/Italian/Farewell Concert.

On a day when the south-east corner of Queensland’s landscape was showing signs of turning green, so too was the interior of Toogoolawah’s Alexandra Hall festooned as it was in the colours of Ireland with a hint of Italy for this was not only a celebration of St Paddy’s Day but an opportunity to laud the achievements of ‘Cantiamo’, the Esk Choir which will be heading off next month for a performance tour of Italy.

Councillor Sean Choat is fast becoming a familiar face behind the emcee’s microphone and again this day his eloquence shone through as he confidently shepherded each of the performances throughout the afternoon. 

Joy and Warwich Grewcoe

At 2.30pm, in a bitter sweet moment following her warm welcome to the capacity audience, Choir Director, Alexis FitzGerald stated that she would like to dedicate this concert to Joy Grewcoe, Choir Life Member, friend to many;  whose contributions over her 25 years with the choir were extraordinary; whose stoicism in the face of illness was inspirational; who peacefully passed away on March 9^th.  Few knew how to party like Joy Grewcoe so with Joy in their hearts, it was time for a choir to put on a show! 

Adorned in emerald green, the Esk Community Choir singing their Irish welcome sashayed down the aisles leaving the audience in no doubt that they were in for a very special treat.  Kathleen, Susie, Carolyn and Maree, aka The Sweethearts of Song, swapped their nifty sixties style for sophisticated swagger for their performance of ‘I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Halls’ the beautiful aria often quoted in Irish Author James Joyce’s novels.  The full choir then came together on stage for Audrey Snyder’s hymn-like arrangement with a distinctive Celtic air, ‘The Water is Wide’ and few could control the urge to move to the music when ‘McNamara’s Band’ filled the Alexandra Hall.

The Sweethearts of Song

For the next 45 minutes, save for a short interval break for costume changes and the drawing of raffle prize winners, the audience were treated to the sublime sounds of Toowoomba’s HAH… ‘High Altitude Harmony’, the a cappella men’s chorus whose four part barber shop style harmonies took concert goers to places as close to heaven as one can get sitting in a hall.  With close to 25 voices singing tenor, lead, baritone and bass, their passion was palpable as they performed a cross section of genres from ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ to ‘Who Put the Bop in the Bob She Bop’.  The group’s quartet ‘Four on the Floor’ were equally faultless, their performance accelerating the undeniable audience appreciation through generous applause.  With their perfect blend of voices, clarity of sound and their passion for singing, ‘High Altitude Harmony’ will surely be celebrating following their performances at next month’s Sunshine Region (Qld) Barbershop Championships.

High Altitude Harmony 

Alexis FitzGerald OAM appears to be the ‘Girl who cain’t say no’ for it was hot on the heels of the Choir’s last successful European Tour in 2016 that the flame was reignited for yet another and so began the crafting of a Choir group and repertoire for ‘Cantiamo’ …translation, ‘Let’s sing’… in Italy! With now eighteen months of rehearsals under their belts, this is a group who are giddy with anticipation and who were thrilled on St Patrick’s Day to be able to give to concert goers a taste of the songs this choir will be taking to audiences in some of the picturesque places in Italy. To Margaret Philp’s faultless accompaniment and under Alexis’s inspirational direction, they performed their bracket of Italian songs climaxing with ‘Australian Medley’ a fusion of exquisite excerpts from iconic Australian melodies, this giving rise to audience calls for ‘more!’ …and so they did with the beautiful Emily Crocker arrangement of ‘Gypsy Rover’.  With Italian flavours now in the mix it was time to summon to the stage for the finale all choristers as well as a sharpening of audience vocal chords for an all-in rendition of the infinitely popular Italian song ‘Funiculi, Funicula’, ushered in with the first verse Italian lyrics sung by Roland Cox.

"Cantiamo" Choir 

‘Best concert ever!’… ‘when is the next?’… ‘fabulous entertainment!’ were some of the comments bandied around the sumptuous afternoon tea tables.  Even Mother Nature was in on it, obviously having had a high ol’ time enjoying the music for at the end she dazzled all by delivering a deluge of drenching rain which kept concert-goers dining out on the delightful afternoon’s entertainment.

By: Sue Walker

"It says here that a Pixie will be the accompanist today!"
"Yes Sean, I am a Pixie, to-be-sure, but sometimes I come to these
concerts in disguise". 

Smiles that can change the world

Hmm! I sense mischief. 

WHAT A GREAT DAY FOR THE IRISH AND EVERYONE WHO CAME TO ENJOY!

Esk Community Choir with soloists Robert Hardy and Kathleen Watts - Danny Boy / Air From County Derry

What is it about that Ol' Emerald Isle which inspires its people to sing?  Judging from the expectant faces amongst the audience at the Somerset Civic Centre on March 20th, it was evident there was no shortage of Irish ancestry floating through the Auditorium as even from each side of the closed stage curtains; the sounds of singing were unstoppable during Matthew Lukritz's faultless trumpet rendition of Australia's National Anthem.   Then, from behind the drawn curtain,  a sea of green and the smiling faces of Alexis FitzGerald's  ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR and SEMITONES greeted the eager concert goers who came in numbers, many in costume, to enjoy 'The Wearin' o' the Green', a celebration of music from Ireland.

Adding another layer of loveliness to the massed choral sounds was the Sunshine Coast's DAVONSKI CONCERT ORCHESTRA who, alongside the paragon of the piano, Margaret Philp,  provided for this bracket, the uplifting orchestral accompaniment.

Davonski Orchestra from the Sunshine Coast

"Top of the Mornin'' by the Choir and Semitones,  ushered in by the lovely tenor voice of soloist Eric Von Nida,  set the giddy mood for what was to follow.  Though the meaning behind the words to "Danny Boy" can be somewhat less joyful, there was nothing but euphoria felt when Kathleen Watts and Bob Hardy each paved the way in sublime solo, their voices then uniting with the Choir for the singing of the words of "Air from County Derry" penned and, at another time, sung for Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.

The Semitones

Trevor Davis

And what would be an Irish Concert without the heady sounds of the Bagpipes?    Piper Trevor Davis certainly did not disappoint with a display of his extraordinary talent, equalled only by his stamina, so vital for such an emotive performance as this was.

Lloyd and Carolyn King

"My Irish Song of Songs", the duet sung by Carolyn and Lloyd King told so beautifully its story through its  lilting Irish sounds and  with Irish sounds of a different kind, Alan Roughan's comical quips, the logic of which have become synonymous with the Irish,  kept the audience thoroughly entertained.  The talented little group, The Semitones could have jumped right off the pages of an Irish storybook so cute they were as they took to the stage.  Katie FitzGerald and Nedi Granzien each were outstanding  in duet with "A Little Dash of Dublin" and with Shillelaghs in hand, the Semitones brought laughter, smiles and many Kodak moments as they performed brilliantly their rousing songs, their confidence and talents  seemingly growing on a par with their  numbers.

With a  twist on tradition, each section of the Choir was instructed to prepare and perform their own musical selection and so it was that behind closed doors, the Altos, Basses, Tenors and Sopranos each put their sectional heads together to come up with  enough shenanigans and a whole lot of blarney, the enjoyment of which was not only felt by the audience but by their fellow choristers and perhaps a Choir Director who may possibly be having second thoughts of a similar scenario at next year's concert!!

Robyn, Gail, Nola, Judy (Altos)

Karen, Iris, Sue, Yvonne, Lynette (Altos)

 

Judy, Elaine, Kerry, Christine, Desma, Jan behind (Altos

 

Eric, Trevor, Phil, Roland and Lloyd (Tenors)

The Magician of the Lagerphone

 

Tom, Roger, Alan, Wally, Bob, Steve & Andy obscured.(Basses)

Only the Sopranos can get away with Football Socks and Boots as accessories to an Evening Gown. ☺

Raffles were drawn and won and interval over it was the turn of Davonski's Cellist, Graeme Souster together with the gifted Anne Bowyer on piano, to perform their sublime rendition of "The Swan", the grace and melody of this piece playing out the tranquillity of its visual sounds.   Maestro Lloyd Robins and his Davonski Concert Orchestra then took their places on stage and in a display of the mastery and professionalism by which this wonderful orchestra has achieved its acclaim, had every foot in the house tapping to the well-loved tunes by Wagner, Gershwin, Lara and Myers, culminating in the inspirational overture to "Pirates of Penzance" by Arthur Sullivan.  A standing ovation and an éncore performance spoke volumes of the joy this wonderful orchestra brought to those who came to listen.

The concert culminated in a final fabulous collaboration of voices and orchestra with what was "A Great Day for the Irish"... and for each and every captivated concert goer that day as they headed off to the sumptuous afternoon tea tables to prolong what was a magical afternoon of music.

To Alexis FitzGerald go bounteous bouquets, affection, admiration and too many superlatives to fit on this page, for her patience, talents and dreams which make all things possible.  To Margaret Philp, friend, and accompanist, who is as generous with her time as she is a genius at the keyboard and to all our Choir followers and supporters including Boutique Meats, Harcourt's Real Estate, Bribie Island and The Somerset Newspaper, goes our undying gratitude for your continual belief in us.

By Sue Walker

Winners: Kevin Kruger & Joy & Warwick Grewcoe. ☺