Let's Hear it for Singing

Did you notice Kate Sadler's short letter to the Editor of The Age this morning? You'll recall that she led the workshop at the Mornington Peninsula Choral Festival this year. Here is her letter for your interest...

I am just letting the parents of pageant toddlers know that all the goodies they think their kids gain from parading can be obtained by belonging to one of Melbourne's many fabulous children's choirs. And there's no downside.
Kathryn Sadler, Northcote. 

Fine sentiment for the future generation.

Mornington Peninsual Choral Festival, 2011

 Our annual Choral Festival on the Mornington Peninsula came around again on 28th May, 2011.  We gathered in Mary Herring Hall at Toorak College in Mt Eliza just before midday in anticipation of workshopping the Festival Song for this year.

Waiting for the balloon to go up.


 All four of our choirs - Two Bays, Simply Irresistible, Making Waves and Indigo Singers - were performing which requires our inestimable Director to juggle four repertoires, not to mention scarf management.

Lynette on Scarf Management

The special guest this year was Kathryn Sadler and it is her song "Synergy" that we are to present to the audience at the end of the day.

 

Kate is on stage and we start the "Synergy" workshop

It was inspiring to learn technique for voice and enunciation as we became familiar with the song, not to mention the inspiration for its creation. Kate conducted the choir, Vox Synergy in the Battle of the Choirs and wrote the song to lift the spirits when the choir looked as though they would not have the necessary resources to keep going.

Vox Synergy in Battle of the Choirs. Click here to see Kate and Singers at work.

We were interested to see the new Music Centre built at Toorak College since we were there last year. It's certainly a splendid facility for the students at the school. The usual concurrent choir sessions were presented during the afternoon, and it was possible for us to perform and then listen to a couple of other choirs.

Two Bays Choir singing in the Music Centre

Returning to the Hall, there were performances from each choir and we finished with a fine rendition of "Synergy" for which Kate stood in the balcony with the audience behind her. It's lovely to sing upwards to the audience...feels as though we send the sound up to the sky.

Then there was dinner afterwards at 'Spoons' in Mt Eliza.


Dinner at 'Spoons'



And a stirring photo of Sue and Lynette

 That was fun - always good to unwind and review the day's doings, have a glass of wine and a good laugh.

Yours as ever,
Ros.

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.

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.

Mornington Peninsula Choral Festival, 2008.

The Mornington Peninsula Choral Festival, May 2008, held at Toorak College, a wonderful venue with many spaces in which we can sing to both large and small audiences.



Making Waves singing in the main School Hall



Indigo Singers giving everything to a gospel song

Mornington Peninsual Choral Festival, 2007

The first Mornington Peninsula Choral Festival was held on Saturday 5th May 2007 at Toorak College in Mt Eliza. Two Bays Choir made a great performance to a small but appreciative audience.

Later in the program Indigo Singers, Making Waves and Simply Irresistible sang a couple of songs each and then Two Bays Choir performed Spirit of this Land in the main hall as part of the finale.  It was a great day with a varied program of beautiful music from all the choirs involved.

Making Waves and Simply Irresistible



Simply Irresistible



Simply Irresistible