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.
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