Hallelujah Chorus Melbourne Central Flash Mob Skin Opera 22-12-10

Sue sent us a notice to say that we might like to participate individually in this Flash Choir event to be held at Melbourne Central. Two of our choir members went along and said it was great to be part of it. Here they are...

Our intrepid Hallelujah Chorus participants taken at Mt Martha

I've put the YouTube link here for you to see the event. 
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhaB_24b-FI

You will see our lovely participants right at the bottom of the screen at about 1 minute 20 seconds - watch carefully. They are visible only fleetingly. Wish I'd managed to get there too.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I'm thankful it wasn't too hot to sit outside with our friends. You can expect a bit of news from the Singers Festival in Daylesford in about three weeks and in the meantime, enjoy the break before we return at the end of January, 2011.
 
Happy New Year,
Ros.

Carols by Candlelight at Mt Martha, 2010

Thursday, 23rd December, and Carols by Candlelight has swung around again, with people gathering on the embankment just below Mt Martha House. Quite a few of us met for dinner at the Dava Hotel before the gig.

Dinner at the Dava Pub

This year it was quite cool and although the children were running up and down the hill letting off steam, many came with their knee rugs and jackets.

Lots of play and picnicking as folks found their spot for the Carols

Mr and Mrs Santa were well rugged up

We had a warm-up in the evening light behind the semi-trailer that was the stage. We were on the stage at the beginning to sing the first two carols with everybody. Our segment was next with Tuross Carol, Christ Child's Lullaby and One Morning Soon which always engages the audience in some clapping.

Waiting to start our warm-up amongst the lengthening shadows.

After we left the stage, a few joined the crowd, a few went straight home, and some stood to the side and joined in the next couple of well-known carols.

Singing with the audience before departing

Christmas Carols in Frankston, 2010

The weather was kind to us as we gathered just before 6 PM at the north end of Shannon Mall yesterday evening. Conspicuous in our red tops of all kinds with dashes of green here and there, we established our group outside the entrance to Bayside shopping centre ...outside Rebel Sports and Sanity Music. That seemed to work!



...outside Rebel Sports and Sanity Music, ready to begin.



People floated past with kids and trolleys, whilst some tarried to listen for a little and danced with children pointing.  There were those who stayed until the end of a song, or changed their pace as they went by. I noticed one woman who caught the mood of "One Morning Soon" and went skipping down the mall, clapping as she went.



Achoir of colour for Christmas

There were two sets of Christmas songs and carols with a short break in between. Amongst them (not a full list) were On Christmas Morning written by our Director, Sue, Soalin', and Mary’s Boy Child. Amen Aleluia from South Africa is rousing and Christmas Day (North Wind) is an Australian carol that a few of us learned at school. Thapelo is a traditionl prayer with lovely harmony from the Soweto Gospel Choir and we have a soft spot for Tuross Carol which was written by Genevieve Pizzey who died this year.

Happiness is a song sung well

Our position in front of a wall was great as it seemed to deflect the sound quite well, and the spirit of song and harmony carried us to along to sing well. Afterwards, some said goodbye and headed homeward, whilst others met at Sofia Pizza down by the pier to enjoy large helpings of food, laughter and talk.

At Sofia Pizza afterwards. Andrew makes a strong point

Happy days,

Ros

Christmas Carols in Mornington

We gave an informal street performance of Christmas songs and carols for the after lunch shoppers and passers-by in Mornington on Saturday, 11th December, 2010.

Stepping outside the usual dress code for Christmas, we wore tops of any Christmas colours with hats and tinsel decorations for our music books.

We sang a mixture of traditional Christmas carols and more recent songs. For those who are interested to recall what we sang, here is the list:
Amen Aleluia, On Christmas Morning, Soalin', Mary's Boy Child, Jazz Gloria, Salaam, Christmas Day (North Wind), Bright Bethlehem, Thapelo, Tuross Carol, One Morning Soon.

Best wishes,
Ros.

Christmas Minstrels in Seaford

What fun to be part of a VIP Customer evening for Christmas at the Nova Pharmacy in Belvedere Park, Seaford. Two Bays Choir was invited to sing three sets of Christmas songs and carols between 5.30 and 7.00 PM on Thursday evening, 25th November. Our dress was black with green or red tops to add a Christmas touch, and being minstrels for the evening, we sang both inside and outside the shop.

Standing under the canopy, the rain didn't dampen our spirits.

The choir mingled with the customers and enjoyed a glass of bubbly and some nibbles. There were great specials, and a couple of raffles during the proceedings.

Here we got into the swing, sadly coming between a customer and his Metamucil.

Around seven o'clock the singing was over, and many of the choir members had dinner at the pub across the road. Altogether a great evening and thanks to Sue for putting a few bottles on the table.

Happy days,
Ros

Genevieve Pizzey

Indigo Singers sang at a small and intimate memorial lunch for Genevieve Pizzey. Genevieve lost her battle with cancer after a long and brave fight and passed away on 22 September this year.

Indigo Singers in their deep blue scarves provide a musical tribute.

An extremely creative and musically talented woman, Genevieve had been a singer and choir director at times in her life, as well as painter, published poet, novelist and some time writer for the Age. She is survived by a host of loving family and friends.

Genevieve had a fine musical talent; she played piano and sang and attended The Conservatory of Music in Melbourne. She learned the Celtic harp quite recently. She loved choirs which were a large part of her life and she sang in and directed choirs around the world wherever she lived. Anywhere she went, she found a choir to join, or formed one. She joined ‘Indigo Singers’ in 2007.

Genevieve’s pastimes involved music, nature, writing, painting, photography and gardening. She wrote the novel, “Figures in a Seascape” and the “Tuross Carol” which was sung for the first time by ‘Indigo Singers’ at Genevieve’s Celebration of Life in October.

This new carol will be performed by Indigo and other choirs at a number of Christmas gatherings both this year and in the future. It is a lovely carol and a very fitting reminder of Genevieve every time we sing it.

Yours as ever,
Ros with thanks to Pam for notes.

Mornington Festival. Food, Wine & Performing Arts.

Main Street closes for this party featuring food, wine and performing arts.  Two Bays Choir occupied the outdoor stage in the afternoon whilst a stalwart audience braved intermittent showers to hear a selection of songs.

In keeping with the fun and cultural interest of the day, we performed songs from Africa, the Middle East, South America and Australian song-writer, Paul Kelly.

The Community Stage has a roof, but the audience is not so lucky.

Next year we hope for better weather and perhaps a shop verandah where the sound will project better.
Who knows...

Cheers,
Ros.

Melbourne Millennium Chorus 2010

The Millennium Chorus was brought together again this year by The Boite. Penny Larkins and Carl Pannuzzo were the creators and directors of the concert this year, the year of sustainable living.

Penny and Carl worked hard to create the international journey that took us from Australia to South America, Africa, Celtic origins, and back to our beloved land. Rehearsals were fun, the concerts were great, and the connection with so many other singers was (as always) very energising.

As your Resident Blogger, I want to say that this was my first Millennium Chorus and I loved every minute.
Miles of smiles,
Ros.

French Island Fund-raiser

On Sunday 20th June Simply Irresistible did a gig on French Island to help raise funds for improving the local hall.  We include in this post a few photos and a blurb taken from the French Island Community Magazine, August, 2010.

"It was a Sunday afternoon. The community hall was packed with the cacophony of expectation. Local resident Jane Unwin had invited the 20 strong choir "Simply Irresistible" (Mornington Peninsula), of which she is a member, to the Island for an afternoon of a'cappella music. This bubbling, energetic bunch of choristers treated us to songs we all know: "Summertime" with delightful twist with words about French Island; Billy Joel's "Longest Time", and "Money" when the hall was aflutter with one hundred dollar bills thrown with careless abandon by the smiling choir. Sue, the choir master, led us all in the simulation of an approaching storm. Hand clapping, knee beating and foot stamping rolled, wave-like, around the room. Our rendition of angry, inclement elements was most professional!"

Rhythmic beat, voices soaring.

"... we were blown away by a set of African songs. The rhythmic beat with primitive syncopation, the voices all soaring, dipping, conspiratorial, immodest and feather. It didn't matter that none of us understood one word in any song. The choir's emotional renditions brought the hall into silent awe. ... that afternoon has to be one of the most beautiful events on the island"

"Money" and throwing it around!

Hope you enjoyed the memories, and if you weren't there, that you have a sense of the fun and energy of the afternoon.
 
Cheers everyone,
Sue.

Mornington Peninsula Choral Festival 2010

For the whole afternoon of Saturday, 15th May, we were busily involved with the Choral Festival held in the lovely environs of Toorak College at Mt Eliza.

After a great warm-up in Mary Herring Hall, the performances continued through the afternoon with two or three choirs singing concurrently in different rooms and halls at the school.

Making Waves

All four of our choirs performed splendidly: Simply Irresistible, Indigo Singers, and Making Waves in that order, and finally Two Bays Choir was last to leave the stage at the end of the Festival.

Two Bays Choir on stage for the finale

What are your memories of this event. It will be great to have comments from you.

Ros.