Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Christmas Concert 2011

THEY CAME... ALL YE FAITHFUL.. TO THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN ESK














by: Sue Walker
For Twenty-one years now, the Esk Community Choir, under the musical direction of Alexis FitzGerald, has been hosting the annual Christmas Variety Concert in Esk and if variety be the spice of life, this year's concert was very much alive and well and decking the Hall at the State School on December 4th.
The joys of Christmas are brought to us by children and this Concert had them in abundance. At 3pm, a packed audience was welcomed by our Compare extraordinaire, Rosemary Wycherley followed by the opening strains of our National Anthem sung superbly and purposefully by a small group from the Junior Choir. Then, matched by their enthusiasm came the exuberant voices of Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and all their friends, the "Semitones 3", with their "Excerpts from Peter Pan" and so sublime was her singing, any mother with a dry eye following Emily FitzGerald's rendition of "Your Mother and Mine" must have had lots of extraneous things on her mind! The angelic voices of the School's Junior Choir also captured the audience with their African Greeting through to the rocking rendition of Jingle Bells. The colourful tapestry of musical sounds was intersperced with many young soloists. Matthew Lukritz, now a familiar face around the traps with his superlative trumpet accompaniment of "Love is a Song", Holley Smith, the young Clarinetist who gave the audience a moonlight rendition of "Tambourin" by Gossec and Courtney Oxenford, the "local girl" who is now turning heads and hearts playing trumpet with the Symphony Youth Orchestra in Tasmania and who, accompanied by her Mum, Andrea, graced our audience with a glimpse of what is becoming an extremely bright future in music.
To have been witness to the talents of our three young Guest Artists from the Sunshine Coast, 15 year old twins Meg and Sam Lucas and 13 year old Anna Foran was indeed a privillege. These three, the girls on violin and Sam, the Cello, both together and separately and for some of the items, accompanied on the piano by the dexterously talented Naomi Craddock, enthralled the audience with the mellifluous sounds of their instruments. With such style, grace and talent for which they have received multiple awards and honours, as role models for their generation and for the enduring future of Classical music, it is encouraging to know that it is in such wonderful hands.
At the other end of the variety spectrum and just as stimulating was the performance by Amber Hitzke and her troop who, by projecting the energy in their fabulous routine with ribbons, "Tribalee", set heartbeats soaring simply by watching, and the guitar band, "Unknown" will never now be after their stirring Guns 'n Roses classic. Then, if that wasn't enough to rock the room, direct from the US of A (street, Esk) .. with his trademark white suit, swivel hips and golden voice, Lloyd King as Elvis hit the stage and had the audience screaming for more!!
However, no Christmas Concert in Esk would be complete without some beautiful singing by the now widely acclaimed Esk Community Choir. Following their popularly received rollicking choral numbers before interval, they completed the Concert with some soul stirring Sacred songs bringing the true meaning of Christmas to their audience who all stood, as tradition states, for the final "Hallelujah Chorus".
And as the Hall slowly cleared of an audience, all replete from a diet of wonderful music, a delectable afternoon tea and bags full of gifts and goodies purchased from the Stall, people were singing the praises of this year's delightful afternoon of entertainment. And as we all now prepare for our family celebrations of Christmas, pray for peace, happiness, rain... but not too much... and enough giftwrap to reach around the last of the presents on Christmas Eve, the family of the Esk Community Choir thanks you all for sharing with them this their 21st Christmas Variety Concert.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Open Garden 2011


THEY CAME TO A GLORIOUS GARDEN AND HEARD A SONG
by: Sue Walker
There is something quite infectious which affects the spirit and cannot help but be transmitted to all those exposed to it when one finds themselves in a garden the likes of which was open for all to explore at "Wivenhoe" on the weekend of the 12th and 13th November. A masterpiece of colour, structure, tiny focal points and mass plantings which melt into the landscape and lakescape so perfectly you'd be shocked by the reality of the barrenness that it was some 30 years ago. Around 470 visitors were welcomed by hosts, Mary and Leofric North over the two days of the Open Gardens Australia weekend and all were inspired in so many ways by this pleasurable experience.
But what be a garden without music? ..and on this occasion it was the Esk Community Choir who sang so beautifully to the flowers, the clear blue sky and the many guests where they relaxed on the lawns and in the shaded seating, all fortified by delicious refreshments, a setting to capture the hearts and minds of all those who were fortunate enough to be there.
The mission of the Australian Open Garden Scheme is to promote the enjoyment, knowledge and benefits of gardens and gardening in Australian Communities and since 1987, has contributed over $4.7 million to charities and groups, the choice of which is left to the Garden owners themselves. This weekend, through the unimaginable hard work and kindness of Mary and Leofric North, the beneficiaries of their generosity have been the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR who have been unstoppable in living their motto "Service in Song" since the destruction of all their possessions by fire eighteen months ago and their gratitude to the North family and to this Community knows no bounds.
For those who were privileged to share the joys of this weekend I'd be willing to wager that their new or improved gardens are already in the planning stages and for another dose of the sounds of their music, the Choir will be holding its 21st Christmas Variety Concert at the Esk State School Hall on the 4th December. We'd love you all to share with us in the making of more beautiful memories.

New Venue

This in an artist's impression of what the Somerset Civic Centre will look like. Work has commenced in Esk and this will be the new venue for many of Esk Community Choir events. As sad and as financially distressing the loss of our beloved Lyceum Hall was to the Choir and the Community, this new building will enable local talent to be enjoyed at a level equal to other venues for a long time.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Desperadoes Theatre Restaurant





OH WHAT A BUZZ!!!
Around the towns of Esk/Toogoolawah/Gatton there's been a noticeable buzz in the air and no.. it's not the sounds of bush flies rearing their sticky heads amid this sudden onslaught of a premature Summer!! They're all abuzz with talk of the "DESPERADOES"... the Theatre Restaurant performances by the Esk Community Choir over the last two weekends. On both Saturday nights and a Sunday afternoon, the doors were opened, stage lights went on and boy, did they put on a Show!
The first hint of something wacky, western and wonderful was the transformation of the Venue Halls into the Somerset Pot Hole Saloon and from the moment its Proprietor, Dolorus welcomed a stampede of Customers both on and off stage, it was a jocular journey that had audiences laughing as well as stomping and romping to the music while Rose, Lily, Clarabel, Dipso, Lucky, Hank, Ma and Pa Skittle and a chorusof Pot Hole "regulars" managed to manoeuvre their way around the three dysfunctional Desperadoes, each of whom were eager to make a quick buck along with a quick get-away. Well, you can lead a Desperado to money, but you can't make him think and by the time the audiences were mopping up the last of their delicious three course "gourmet" grub, provided by and delivered to each setting by the oh so talented and capable hands of the Ladies ( and gentlemen) from the Esk Show Society and in Gatton, the Ladies of the Lutheran Church, Pa's Chicken Farm was an Oil Well, the furious and fuzzy courtship of Adam and Laura saw them all but walking down the aisle and the bad guys, turned not only good, but good for something!!
Even great mistakes have a half-way moment, and during the Opening Night performance, if it hadn't been for the quick thinking and dexterity of the Sound engineer, Harry FitzGerald, the music for one of the final songs would have had to have been left to a bit of some stand-alone imagination!! However, problem quickly remedied and so to the finalé.
If one wants to dance, all one needs is a beat and to the strains of Hank belting out few verses of "Boot Scootin' Boogie" the rousing final numbers saw the cast doing just that followed by an all- in rendition of "Cigareets, Whusky and Wild, Wild Women".... and, by golly, if audience reaction is anything to go by and if the wonderfully talented Director , Kathleen Watts is willing, they're getting ready to see what intarnation might be happenin' next!!
People made their way home following those performances saying "best ever","brilliant" and more than a few actually rolled up to more than one of the shows!! So keep the buzz going folks 'cause as sure as Jacarandas will bloom at exam time, the Esk Community Choir, spurred on and inspired by Alexis FitzGerald, Choir Director, Musical Director, Accompanist and Producer extraordinaire, will have something just as wonderful in store for your total entertainment in the days, months and years to come.
By: Susan Walker

















Sunday, July 24, 2011

Sydney Revisited - 2011



SONGBIRDS MAKE A BEAUTIFUL NOISE IN SYDNEY
By: Susan Walker
THIS IS THE STORY about a group of twenty-eight choristers from Esk who got to sing in the Sydney Opera House. It began when Alexis FitzGerald, their Choir Director, received another invitation to the World of Music festival to perform "Mass of the Children" by the esteemed composer, John Rutter. The venue, the Sydney Opera House. Those of the Choir who had gone before and those who had wished they had, were not about to let this opportunity go begging and so it was that the invitation was accepted, the musical score purchased along with some practice CD's and for as many moments as they could afford themselves during the weeks prior to performance, they learned and listened in an attempt to master this most moving piece of music.
By 14th July, heightened with excited anticipation, a busload of Choir members from Esk headed for the airport, destination Sydney. Little was known of the internationally renown Choral Director and musician, Eric Dale Knapp other than that he was to be guest conductor and that he would be bringing along with him his Choir from the USA. However, at their first rehearsal after introductions were made, vocal warm-ups completed and Maestro Knapp ironically began with " ...ok, let's jump right in with Kyrie "...( he did a lot of jumping!) they knew that they were in the presence of a dynamic leader of voices whose energy was sure to empower his performers with something very special designed to stir the souls of an audience.
The genesis for “Mass of the Children" appeared many years before its completion. It was not until the tragedy of losing his son, Christopher, that John Rutter was compelled to pour all his passion into the completion of this music as a dedication, and to perform it is to feel the depth of his emotion. With the purity of the Children's voices, combined with the maturity of the Adult choirs, latin text, interspersed with lines from the poetry of William Blake, from the colourful opening of "Kyrie" through to the peace of "Finale (Dona nobis pacem)", this work is Rutter at his most sublime and for the travellers from Esk, to perform it amid a 160 voice choir to an almost capacity audience in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, was a moment when their world was crammed with Heaven and their dedication to their preparation for this experience was evident and noted.
Prior warning had armed them well for the impact of hearing and singing with the Children's Choir "Partners in Praise" from the USA. It was to have a bypass from one's heart to one's tear ducts not to shed tears at the purity of their sound!! So too was the audience moved by the goose-bump performances by the soprano and baritone soloists, Alicia Luick and Morgan Pearse whose chocolaty depth of sound was simply swoon-worthy. The "Mass of the Children" was originally written with accompaniment by an orchestra or chamber ensemble. However, Eric Dale Knapp chose in this instance to perform to the accompaniment of the Opera House's magnificent pipe organ and in so doing, brought with him his own highly acclaimed accompanist, Mark Pacoe, whose talents seated at the organ were on a par with his superlatively good looks!
By Monday the 18th, the reality of returning home began to intrude, but not before the Eskimos had shopped, supped and savoured the sights, spectacle and sounds that were there for the taking in the exciting city of Sydney. From Bondi to Balmain, La bohéme and beyond, over the 5 days of their sojourn, they were treated to a feast of fabulous fun and entertainment, though paled in part by their performance at the Opera House.
To put finish to this story and to this most beautiful of singing at this point in time would be a miscarriage of the heart and so to avoid that end, the Choir will be performing two of these moving pieces for local audiences at their upcoming Concerts later in the year.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Italian Tour - April 2011




CANTARE IN L’ITALIA……….MOLTO SPECIALE!!
Is it the spine-tingling sensation of the first note sung in the hallowed precincts of Basilicas or Concert Halls? Is it the inspirational and indeed humbling feeling as one stands in awe beside the historical architectural monuments of ancient Rome? Is it the joy of viewing the typical countryside – the sparkling lakes, the cherry trees amassed with blossoms, the acres of vineyards, the tiny farms and the picture-postcard villages of rural Italy? Is it the excitement of performing with choirs from around the world at the unforgettable Verona Choral Festival? All of the above are treasured memories but perhaps the greatest of all is the visit to Casa Verdi – Rest Home for Retired Musicians, financed and built at the request of Verdi himself “for those old singers not favoured by fortune, or who, when they were young, did not possess the virtue of saving. The poor, dear companions of my lifetime! Believe me, that home is truly my most beautiful work.” Believe me also, this is where Choir Italia 2011 gave their ultimate performance. Was it the exquisite surrounds? Was it the strains of the glorious piano heard as we entered the courtyard? Was it being surrounded by the spirit of Verdi himself? Was it the sincerity and intense interest of the audience (one of whom had actually sung with Maria Callas)? Who knows but it was here that days, weeks and months of preparation came together in such magnificence for an unforgettable, final performance of a very special choir. Pride, satisfaction and sheer joy – my thanks and congratulations to you all.
Alexis FitzGerald











Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Annual General Meeting 2011

On the 2 February 2011 our AGM was chaired by our Patron, Jean Bray. All of the incumbent office bearers stood down for the election and many were not standing again because of other commitments. A very special thanks of appreciation was given to Shirley Todd who had held the position of Secretary for 10 years. During this time she has given above and beyond what the position required. But, yes you guessed it, she is not giving up altogether and will be continuing as the Italian Tour Co-ordinator.

It was pleasing to see so many new members prepared to give the committee a try and the new faces for this year are:

Secretary: Kathie Watts
Treasurer: Suzanne Clemence
PR Officer: Sue Walker
Uniform: Marina Crichton
Production/Stage Manager: Lloyd King

Congratulations to all elected members.