Freedom Road - Final Sunday Afternoon Rehearsal

The final rehearsal before the weekend of the Freedom Road concert was last Sunday, 31th July. As many people as possible came from regional choirs – Bendigo, Ballarat, Wodonga, Stratford to name just a few. Some came in buses, others car-pooled and many came in their own donks.

Peeping over the drum kit, we see people finding their places




Two Bays Choir members were everywhere, and enjoying the whole thing of course. We have shared the driving, the tea and carrot cake, and the music. 

Simply Irresistible, we are   ;-)

Most of the musicians, most of the guest performers and the narrators were present to take us through the substance of the program. It was a longer rehearsal than usual and we all worked hard with Stella and Dani moving the whole thing along with energy, precision and laughter.
 

Dani calls for hush, Stella draws breath, Barry is pensive

It made all the difference to hear the narrators doing their thing – it all feels connected now. Barry and the other narrators read their scripts which create an understanding of the tragedy of slavery, bringing to life the gospel music that spelled hope for the people caught in this desperate trap. Geoffrey Williams sang, Archer sang, and Mark Grunden beefed up the rhythm with his fabulous drumming. 

Geoffrey Williams singing, Stella's right there!

Afternoon tea break was welcome as we were to continue until 5.30 this time. It was sunny and time for stories and catching up.



Tea break in the afternoon sunshine



Thank goodness Harry was present, the world’s best sound engineer (for MMC performances). The work song stomps and the happy clapping from over 300 people would overwhelm the recording so we made adjustments accordingly. The Illuminators sang their piece and described their costumes - can't wait both to see them and hear them at the performance.



The Illuminators with great harmony, exciting energy



Next weekend we are issued with our t-shirts on Saturday at the full rehearsal at the Collins Street Baptist Church, followed by the dress rehearsal on Sunday morning in the Town Hall. The performance is at 2 in the afternoon. Your friends can still get tickets on-line although quite a few hundred are already sold. The Town Hall is so big!

Roll on the weekend, it’s very exciting.

Cheers until the next post.
Ros and Sue.

Melbourne Festival of Choirs, 2011

The Festival of Choirs was held over Queens Birthday weekend again this year, and Two Bays Choir was twenty-five strong this time.  The Festival is the brain child of Jonathon Welch and The Choir which he leads was the 'Choir in Residence'.

We stayed in various hotels near Federation Square, since this was the hub of the organisation for the Festival. Of course, it's also the centre for lots of community activities which were a bonus for us as we went between venues.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Jonathon Welch and members of The Choir lead songs around the Campfire which burned on a bed of red sand for the entire weekend at Fed Square as part of the Light in Winter Festival. That was a great start to the proceedings and afterwards, some went on to dinner, others retired to modest but companionable take-home meals and an early night.

Each morning for the three days (Saturday to Monday), there were three workshops in which we worked with three different conductors to learn songs for the massed choirs concert in the Edge on Monday afternoon. Clearly, the magic number is three.

A workshop with George Torbay

Lunches were our own choice and that was easy with so many places nearby at Fed Square, Southbank and the Gallery. One little group chose to eat at the National Gallery cafe with the Exhibition of Choirs to follow nearby in the Great Hall.

A few of us had lunch at the NGV Cafe

What a lovely experience, singing in the Great Hall beneath that ceiling of beautiful colours. There were Master Classes, another Campfire Singalong, and then a special performance of "Moon" for Festival participants. "Moon" was written and conducted by Gordon Hamilton, and performed by The Australian Voices who are so talented and skilled in their performance of this extraordinary and complex work. The public performance followed in the evening.

Master Classes cover particular topics and were conducted by some of the special people present - Jonathon Welch, George Torbay, Gordon Hamilton, and Lucinda Sharp.

Master Class in the Elizabeth Murdoch Hall with Lucinda and Jonathon.

Later we were in a concert at the Recital Centre Elizabeth Murdoch Hall which was quite splendiferous!! We could have whispered the songs and still been heard, such are the acoustic qualities of this fascinating performance space. It was very exciting to be back stage, and all our rehearsals at home in the Senior Cits Club paid handsomely for entry, positioning and exit.

Back stage, we watched the following acts on CCTV

Jonathon and George catch up over a cuppa at the Recital Centre

A little glass of champagne was pleasant at interval, and then the concert continued. A group went to dinner at Bok Choi that evening - great service, wonderful food, good company.

At Bok Choi, Fed Square - cop that pork bun!

On Monday, the morning workshops put the finishing touches to our selection of songs for the afternoon performance. After lunch we gathered in the BMW Edge for rehearsal, getting the logistics right for our large numbers and freshly learned songs.



Jonathon Welch discusses the concert with David Kram.


Davis Kram conducted us in a mighty rendition of the Anvil Chorus complete with frying pans instead of anvils. We sang "Ice Blue" written by Gordon Hamilton for this occasion, and another song called "Lux Auruque" which is very beautiful, especially under the direction of George Torbay. This song is also remarkable in its conception; written by Eric Whittaker for a virtual choir. You can see and hear it on YouTube by following this link   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs&feature=related  It's quite haunting, this 'Light and Gold' so do have a listen.

Massed choirs in rehearsal at the Edge.

Of course, there were a great many thank you speeches, and plenty of high jinks. A glorious moment was when the Sunbury Divas arranged all our conductors and Adam (our consummate accompanist) for a photo wearing their tiaras!

Adam, David, Jonathon, George, Gordon in borrowed finery

The Concert went well and we managed our workshop songs and completed the concert with one song from each of the participating choirs. It was indeed a Long Weekend, and very happy one.

Yours as ever,
Ros.



Rehearsing for Festival of Choirs

Queen's Birthday weekend is approaching and we had a final rehearsal for all the Two Bays people going to the Melbourne Festival of Choirs. It was great to have enough space at the Mornington Senior Citizens Club to move around. We have our positions clear, our order for getting onto the stage, and for leaving the stage which will be the opposite direction more than likely.

Rehearsing at home just before the Festival of Choirs.

Back stage, space is limited and noise travels so we are now well organised and looking forward to the event with Jonathon Welch and the many singers expected to participate.

Singers Festival, Daylesford. 2011

This glorious Festival has been coming around for the last 20 years, and this year was the 21st. Yay!


About twenty of us from Two Bays went to Daylesford, some for the umpteenth time and others (yours truly) for the first time. Considering that there were rising waters all around Daylesford, many folk took rather circuitous and imaginative routes to get there. The early birds who were travelling from Woodend had only passable water over the road to contend with. The Daylesford Lake spillway was flowing very fast and the Blowhole close to Hepburn on the road to Newstead was B***** Spectacular. Even the viewing platform was inundated and the decking lodged on the bank some way down-stream.

The water spouts 20 metres into the river between viewing platforms

It's not so surprising that Sea Shanties were the topic of one workshop given by a favourite singer, Danny Spooner. In the end, we all arrived safely without needing flotation devices.

Sharing dinner, conversation and good wine on Friday night.

The accommodation bears some comment. Those in a cottage discovered a ghost. Those in a motel offered shelter to those with no home for a night. Those in a tent went to a cabin for fear the wind and the deluge would have trees fall on them in the darkness. Those in a van took it all in their stride. On Friday evening, we gathered at Suzy and Irena's cottage for rehearsal, a shared meal and good company. One of the delights of these events is getting to know our fellow singers a little more.

From Geoff: Friday night concert at the Town Hall. I'm enchanted by the cavernous interior, the wrap-around balcony, the vaulted ceiling and oh that sound! What a treat to sing in such a space.The various workshop presenters strut their stuff, and make my decisions on what to learn over the week-end even more difficult. So much talent, experience and enthusiasm to share.

Danny Spooner et al performing a Sea Shanty

The Festival was great fun, with wall to wall workshops, about four concerts, new and familiar music and musicians. Many of us from Two Bays look forward to the Melbourne Millenium Chorus this year after attending workshops by Dani Fry and Stella Savy who will be the Directors for MMC 2011. Bring it on!



  

Dani Fry and Stell Savy. Great Gospel and Soul workshops.

Our part in the Concert of Choirs went pretty well. All the songs are favourites and a couple were recently performed over the Christmas period - Amen Alleluia and One Morning Soon. Waka Nini Yana is a lovely indigenous lullaby written by Lou Bennett.

Geoff again: Saturday night and it's time for Two Bays to hoist its' colours at the Town Hall in front of a very giving audience of fellow Shower Sops and Bathroom Baritones. I think we nailed it...even Sue looked relaxed!

We are sitting together during the Concert of Choirs awaiting our turn.

The weather become finer on Saturday and moving from venue to venue was eaier as the rain receded. The finale was a concert of the songs learned in the workshops, including a great performance from the kids who attended the Kids' Program. What a great idea this is.

Fay White leads her workshoppers in the Finale

The Kids perform their music and special acts

 So ends another Singers Festival. If anyone has other photos that would add to our little blog-world, let me know, send me a copy, and please add comments to make this our place.

Geoff has the final word: I'm deeply moved by the closing ceremony. My sense of community and the power of music is reaffirmed.

Thanks for your lovely company.
Smiles,
Ros and Sue.

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

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.

Christmas in Mornington, 2009

Red and green made the Christmas colour scheme, and smiling faces went with the familiar and the new melodies for Christmas in the Main Street.

Singing for Christmas, 2009



Out in the sunshine to sing



Millennium Chorus, 2009. Our Land Our Home

What an energising experience - again - to be part of the Millennium Chorus.

The Melbourne Millennium Chorus, 2009

One of the songs that was great fun was "Singing For Rain" which begins with the rain starting and becoming a thunder storm. As you look at the YouTube video below, watch the grinning faces while the action unfolds. What an appropriate topic for our poor drought affected country-side.

For those who know us at Two Bays Choir, there are lots of familiar faces.



I would add a comment as your Resident Blogger, who was not around for the 2009 event, that the songs on the CD are great and it's a great pleasure to listen to them for inspiration.

Miles of smiles,
Ros.

Centenary of Women's Suffrage, Victoria

In November, 2008, women from Two Bays Choir helped to to celebrate 100 years of Womens Suffrage in Victoria. The Victorian Women's Trust held a forum which closed with the Women's Anthem, "Love and Justice" written and conducted by Kavisha Mazzella. Our choir members joined the 400 strong women's chorus for this moving rendition at the BMW Edge, Melbourne.




Two Bays Choir members in their Love Justice Equity T-shirts


If you'd like to hear this song which is so strong and up-lifting, see it on YouTube, and make sure your speakers are switched on...

Mornington Food and Wine Festival, 2008.

Two Bays Choir took its share of the air space at this community event with great gusto. Enjoy the photos and imagine the good vibes.





2007 Millenium Chorus

In August 2007, 35 members of Two Bays Choir joined with 300 other singers from around Melbourne, to sing as the Melbourne Millenium Chorus. The concert was a 10 year retrospective of the MMC and was held at the BMW Edge in Feration Square in Melbourne. 

The afternoon concert at the BMW Edge

The lighting makes the evening concert eye-catching

The choir working with indigenous artists in the program