STOP PRESS
Vocally Wild performance shirts: last chance to order this week 23 July!
Updates
New singers
Lovely to see lots of new faces coming along to check out the choir for the start of term 3.
Please make them feel welcome and help them find their way around the songs. We have arranged for copies of Emma's tracks to be available on USB to help new singers hit the ground running.
Thanks to everyone who chatted up friends, handed on information or emailed brochures to their networks. Something certainly seems to be working.
New (or refurbished?) committee
Vocally Wild AGM
7.30pm Wednesday 24 July
Sandringham Tennis Club (behind Beaumaris Community Hall)
Come along to find out what's cooking with the choir and lend your support – or join the crew!
New home for teaching resources
VW website update
Lots of people have commented on how useful the extra resources have been for learning the songs, especially the studio choir recording of our arrangements.
The resources are now available all in one place at Members/Teaching Resources – click here to check them out.
You'll see that there are now one-click links to watch the great studio choir recordings on You Tube for Drift Away, Hallelujah, Do You Hear the People Sing and Both Sides Now:
If you are having any issues with accessing, playing or downloading Emma's tracks, or using the other resources, chat to Derek or Clint or email Clint at learnwks@bigpond.net.au .
Coming up: Beaumaris Probus Candlelight Dinner
Wednesday 7 August 6.30–8.30pm
Sandy by the Bay (Sandringham Football Club)
Really good sign-up so far for Derek's Dinner – singers especially motivated, no doubt, by the free drink :-)
To join in the fun at the footy ground, add your name to the sheet at the membership table at rehearsals. Singers to wear concert blacks, with a Vocally Wild shirt if you have one. More details at rehearsals.
New event: Sing-a-long at Mayflower
With musician Bob Hook & Patty's Gang
2.00–3.00pm Friday 16 August
Enter via 12 Grant Street, Brighton
Come along, sing and entertain the Independent Living Residents at Mayflower for an hour followed by afternoon tea. Bob will supply his popular pop classics and oldies songbook – don’t worry, it’s so easy to sing-a-long with him. The Independent Living Residents love Vocally Wild’s visits, so if you can come it will delight everyone and you’ll certainly have fun! Bob is a great entertainer and Patty’s group really swings! Part singing’s not necessary, but do it if you want!! Anything goes!
Pop your name on the sheet at rehearsals and Pat will be in touch with further details. Part singing’s not necessary, but do it if you want!! Anything goes!
Spring is in the Air
Vocally Wild Annual Community Concert
Beaumaris Community Centre Hall
3.00pm Saturday 31 August
We've arranged for Spring to arrive a day early this year to bless our concert. Make sure your family and friends book early – we're expecting the concert to fill quickly.
Challenge: Bill instantly reported an error in the brochure – can you spot it?
Announcement: Undiscovered talent on show
Vocally Wild Open Mic
After rehearsal Tuesday 17 September
Back by popular demand, here's your chance to do your stuff to an adoring, completely uncritical and wine-affected audience. Solos, duets, skits, monologues, men's choruses – anything is possible. All you need is some gullible friends and a plan. We have rumours that a couple of big production items are already in preparation, if not rehearsal!
Use the Open Mic fill in sheet at rehearsals to book your gig. And then try to get your act together.
Preview: Vocally Wild Community Workshop
Seniors Festival, October
Arrangements tba
Helen is working with Bill on a proposal for the choir to run a participatory workshop which would include members of the audience joining in to learn and sing a song or two in SATB style. She'll welcome any thoughts and suggestions. We've been wanting to try something like this in the community for some time.
Bayside Carols
December 2024
Arrangements tba
This week Bayside City Council will announce the results of the tender process to appoint new event managers for the Carols. We are hoping this marvellous event, and the key role of the choirs, gets the love and care it deserves this year.
Stay tuned.
Summary of 2024 dates
| Term 3 |
|
|
|
Tue 16 Jul
Wed 7 Aug |
First rehearsal
Beaumaris Probus Dinner |
7.30–9.30pm
6.30–8.30pm |
Beaumaris Community Centre
Sandringham Football Club |
| Sat 31 Aug |
VW Spring Concert |
3pm (concert starts) |
Beaumaris Community Centre |
| Sun 15 Sep |
Connor’s Run |
tba |
Middle Park |
| Tue 17 Sep |
Last rehearsal (Open Mic) |
7.30–9.30pm |
Beaumaris Community Centre |
Reports
Festival of Voices
June-July 2024
Hobart
Gleeful, fabulous, liberating, AbFab, inspiring, super, embracing, wonderful, friendly, fun, exciting,
uplifting, great, joyful, memorable, super, vibrant , enriching … just some of adjectives used by Vocally Wilders about their Festival of Voices 2024 experience.
No-one needs a reason to visit beautiful Hobart – this city is spectacular at any time – but the Festival of Volces in winter sunshine must surely be the most rewarding one. Here is a summary, but with little space for a full blow by blow description, you may wish to button down any member of the tour group and they will willingly, I know, fill in any gaps!
Hobart was alive with the ‘sound of music’ (sorry!) and the towering Mt. Wellington the perfect backdrop when 33 excited Vocally Wilders, after several weeks of tireless preparation, commenced our Programme, singing our first gig at the statuesque St. David’s Cathedral. (Peter Connell has some interesting historic insights into how this church was named!). What a beautiful, atmospheric and heavenly space at which to start! A hurried rehearsal, followed by a brief warm up in the ‘green room’ (now museum, once a chapel) then up we floated – where we belong! Emma in place at the piano, Bill leading us and the community!
This was a charming start to our 4 day programme which featured 8 performances: 5 where we performed our complete repertoire, 2 at the popular and ‘compulsory’ Singers’ Lounge where we sang 3 items each night, with Bill including the very musical audience with gusto (their 5-part clapping and singing was great fun) and 1 Super Sing at the Saturday Salamanca Market where, after one short rehearsal with several other choirs the morning before, we surprised the large crowd as we “sway jazz marched” and sang Chris Blain’s ‘Get Movin’ from Salamanca Square through the Salamanca Market, on to the docks – ”Doo Doo Do – Pull harder to the right - We ain’t gonna make it if we don’t get movin!” Who will ever forget that?
Other interesting performance venues included the 1830 Merchant’s House, Narrynna, (the country’s oldest folk museum) at Battery Point, the City Library, the historic IXL Jam Factory on the waterfront, with its convict-built stone walls, and our final performance showdown at the popular ‘Voices at 5’, Hobart Town Hall, where ‘All God’s Creatures got a Place in the Choir’ was added as our finale! The Town Hall was the perfect climax; Emma and Bill lead us magnificently in this ‘grand’ performance – with a grand piano to boot!
All concerts were well attended with appreciative audiences; we watched and listened to other choirs, in awe of their differing and unique talents. We followed Brighton choir ‘Cadence’ on one occasion and were several times followed by the always popular ‘Men in Suits’, who always drew a large crowd.
Vocally Wild looked resplendent in our new-look shirts; Emma was professional and amazing as she adapted to each situation with aplomb, and what can I say about Bill? He led us charmingly, entertainingly, perfectly and cheerfully, including the audiences in all that we did. How grateful we are to Bill and Emma for all their time and efforts, persevering at our rehearsals and practices and for emphasising the importance of timing – we loved singing all our pieces and definitely gained much satisfactIon in nailing ‘Both Sides Now’. Yey!
Our last supper, in a room upstairs at the New Sydney Pub, was a fun night prior to the next day’s homeward bound for most, leaving a few hardy souls behind who continued on with workshops, bravely singing solo at the Singers’ Lounge (Wow! Claude, Sarah and Ann!), souvenir shopping (Jill!), and sightseeing.
It was a very busy few days, with just enough time to walk the interesting, scenic city, meet for lunches/coffees in warm, atmospheric cafes/restaurants, check out a few shops. However, most of our time was spent singing or being entertained!
Thanks indeed go to Bill, Emma and loyal Lazar. Also to all who planned this amazing trip, many who helped each other along the way and those who booked our fun-filled dinners and activities. The trip had so many happy vibes, an abundance of camaraderie and much joyful, tuneful singing.
Pat, July 2024.
Bob’s Singalong
Mayflower 10 May 2024
Bob Hook and his ‘all-star’ line up (Patty, June and Robbie), together with 9 colourful, tuneful and cheerful Vocally Wilders, created very happy ‘vibes’ at Bob’s Singalong.
Bob is the ultimate entertainer/musician; his talent shone as he plucked songs from his comprehensive songbook of popular classics, from “Save The Last Dance Me”, via “The Road To Gundagai, to “Proud Mary”, with many memorable pieces in between. Such talent!
It was a real pleasure to witness the residents thoroughly enjoying the musical afternoon, with many joining in. Resident ‘Grainne’ was invited to take the microphone and she proudly sang her beautiful rendition of ‘Danny Boy’ backed by the all-stars – a precious moment.
Thank you to Bob, Patty, June, Robbie and our Vocally Wilders – it was fun. Thanks also to Heather, Mayflower, for organising the welcome cuppa and scones! Patty says, “Mayflower will always welcome Vocally Wild into their midst!”
Pat
What else is on?
Bags of Love
Vocally Wild Choir Members
with Pat Lawry
Sewers or colourful material wanted – for Bags of Love
Do you have a stash of unwanted material (cottons, etc.)? Have you been thinking about sorting it out at some stage? Better still, are you a sewer, with a little bit of time?
Bayside based group “Impact for Women” creates hampers for women fleeing domestic violence and it is of great concern that they need 3,000 by Christmas this year. This is a staggering number.
I’m involved in making ‘draw-string’ toiletry bags. These form part of the emergency supply hampers for women who need to escape violence in a hurry, and any offers of help will be much appreciated. The bags of love are absolutely essential; they contain many of the necessary toiletry items women need when leaving home suddenly.
If you’re willing to donate material, but can’t help in the bag-making, I would be happy to collect it. However, if you can spare a few hours, there is a simple design, with measurements, and I’m very happy to forward this to you. I feel it important that the bags be as well-made as possible, as this could be the only item with women have for some time. No need to line them. I did this at first, but space in the hamper is limited, so a simple unlined, drawstring bag is fine.
Please contact me on patlow5@bigpond.com if you feel you can help. The Impact for Women group is amazing. (If you happen to know anyone or any company who could donate new toiletry items for these bags, this would be wonderful too!)
I’ll bring along some sample bags to choir. It would be fabulous if we could donate a wonderful pile of them from Vocally Wild!!!
Russel will have 2 metre lots of fabric available at rehearsal on Tuesday 23 July:
New offers of help welcomed – contact Pat patlow5@bigpond.com.
|
|
