STOP PRESS
The big 70!
This week our membership passed 70 for the first time since the COVID shutdown. We wish lots of choral joy to our recent new (or renewed) members — Glynis, Christina, Bev, Judy, Doug, Carolyn, Mary, Margaret and Julia. You have boosted the choir and our spirits. We should probably organise an appropriate honour for our indefatigable Membership Secretary Derek Skues while Charles is in the hood.
Not again!
In breaking news, there are reports that the acclaimed Vocally Wild Men’s Chorus is in secret rehearsals for a specially commissioned classical work for the Open Mic session at the end-of-year festivities on Tuesday 3 December. If confirmed, this development would of course throw down a serious challenge to other sections (or parts thereof), without mentioning any names, to get their act together and make a contribution to the show. And to fill in the sheet. Just saying.
On the list
Emma's tracks for Grown Up Christmas List have just been posted on the website. See Teaching Resources below for more details and more new goodies.
Choir event updates
Bayside Carols
Dendy Park, Brighton
Tues 10 Dec 2024 from 5.30pm (choir call TBA)
The program is taking shape although the songs, song order and solo artists have not yet been finalised. The Southern Area Concert Band (SACB) and the combined Vocally Wild/Mosaic Choir will have a stronger and clearer role in the program this year, performing four confirmed stand-alone items:
- Hallelujah Chorus
- My Grown-Up Christmas List
- Silent Night
- Joy to the World.
The choir will also provide vocal backing for soloists in up to seven other songs. A finale of We Wish You a Merry Christmas with everyone in the show on stage is also in discussion. There will be a run-through of these items during the lead-up rehearsal sessions.
We knew that
The concert has long been Vocally Wild’s most visible and significant regular event in the community. This year the organisers have acknowledged that the massed on-stage choir distinguishes the Dendy Carols from other similar local Christmas events, and needs to be featured accordingly. For all the production razzamatazz and fireworks, it remains a public choral experience not to be missed.
Check out the rehearsal dates in our Summary of dates below. We know it’s a busy time of the year – just plan to come to as many rehearsals as you can. Although there can be some time waiting for things musical to get sorted, the actual singing experience with the band combining with the two choirs in these sessions is terrific.
Unless you simply must be in your Paris or New York appartement on Tuesday 10 December, please commit to support the choir and add your name to the sign-up sheet on Tuesday.
Vocally Wild Community Carols 2024
Beaumaris Community Centre
Wed 18 Dec 2024 pm 6.00–7.30pm
Support for our new community concert and singalong in our hall is building. We have applied for a grant to promote the event and cover running costs.
The concert will provide a more personal and relaxed environment for us to sing and bring out our SATB harmonies, as well as to sing Christmas favourites not included in the Dendy program, and invite the audience to sing along. It’s a great way to round out the year.
Some features in the works:
- words of songs to be projected on screens for the audience – and the choir!
- outside speakers so families and picnickers can tune in
- opportunities for young soloists, sourced through school music programs in the local area.
Don’t forget to get it in your calendar and add you name to the sheet at rehearsal.
Beaumaris Concourse Christmas Event
Beaumaris Concourse (street singing)
Fri 29 Nov (details TBA)
We are keen to support this very local event again and it comes blissfully early, well before the Christmas rush. Details are still being worked out with the organisers. For any queries talk to Helen Kezilas hmkezilas@gmail.com .
Check the sign up sheet.
Mayflower Christmas Carols
Mayflower Aged Care, Brighton
Thur 19 Dec 2.00–3.00pm
Bob Hook has once again kindly agreed to lead a singalong at Mayflower, so if you would like to join in for this Christmas-themed event, you will be made very welcome by Patty, Bob and all at Mayflower.
A sheet will be at Choir rehearsals for you to indicate your interest. It is, of course, a busy time and the day after our Community Carols at Beaumaris, but if you are able to spare an hour or so, it would be very much appreciated.
You will be familiar with all the Carols and songs, and Russel has kindly offered to arrange projection of the words on a large screen for all to see. Joy to Russel!
Check the sign up sheet.
Any queries contact Pat on patlow5@bigpond.com
Note: with the busy program and scheduling issues, regrettably we will not be participating in our familiar events in the Black Rock shopping centre and the Hampton Cricket Club this year.
Other choral events
Big Spring Sing
Billilla Gardens, Hallifax Street Brighton
Sat 14 Dec 2024 1.00–4.00pm
Good reports from several Vocally Wild singers who have registered and attended the sessions. The last practice session (Sunday 20/10) was to be held in our hall. We are hoping the program may lead to more membership enquiries for Vocally Wild from people turned on to the choral experience by the Big Spring Sing program.
Register your interest and get the materials here .
For all Earthkind
Federation Square
Sat 2 Nov 2024 1.00–4.00pm
A community music project aligned with the UN Climate Summit. It includes the mass singing of the theme song Tomorrow's Sun in Melbourne and Sydney simultaneously in November.
We will not be participating as a choir, but you can register as an individual and download the resources to learn the song https://4allek.org/phase2-participation-resources/ .
 Summary of dates
| Term 4 |
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| Sat 2 Nov |
For All Earthkind |
1.00-4.00pm |
Federation Square |
| Sat 23 Nov |
Bayside Carols rehearsal 1 |
TBC (am) |
Brighton Town Hall |
| Fri 29 Nov |
Beaumaris Concourse Carols |
TBC |
Beaumaris Concourse |
| Sat 30 Nov |
Bayside Carols rehearsal 2 |
TBC (am) |
Brighton Town Hall |
| Tue 3 Dec |
Breakup, with Open Mic |
7.30–9.30pm |
Beaumaris Community Centre |
| Sat 7 Dec |
Bayside Carols rehearsal 3 |
TBC (am) |
Brighton Town Hall |
| Sun 8 Dec |
Bayside Carols rehearsal 4 |
TBC (pm) |
Brighton Town Hall |
| Tue 10 Dec |
Bayside Carols |
from 5.30pm |
Dendy Park |
| Sat 14 Dec |
Big Spring Sing |
1.00-4.00pm |
Billilla Gardens, Brighton |
| Wed 18 Dec |
Vocally Wild Community Carols |
6.00–7.30pm |
Beaumaris Community Centre |
| Thu 19 Dec |
Mayflower Christmas Carols |
2.00–3.00pm |
Mayflower Aged Care Centre |
|
|
|
|
| 2025 |
|
|
|
| Sun 14 Sep |
SACB/VW/Mosaic Concert |
TBC |
Kingston Town Hall |
Vocally Wild resources
Go to Members/Song Library
Or click here.
Emma’s tracks for all these new term 4 songs are now available in the Song Library:
- NEW Grown Up Christmas List (all parts now available)
- A Tribute to Queen
- Die Nachtigall
- Va Prospiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves)
- Go Down Moses
And also:
- Drift Away
- Hallelujah Chorus
Go to Members/Teaching Resources
Or click here.
There are spunky new support resources for Va Prospiero:
- Italian and English lyrics as per the score, plus a literal translation (so you can appreciate how much is lost in finding English to fit the timing).
- A stunning You Tube guide to pronunciation by James Boag – the yogi one, not the beery one. (Risky, this: the richness of the poetry and the sheer beauty of the Italian, not to mention James, could have people running off to Mysore instead of Beaumaris.)
If you missed Bill's email this week and (like me) were not familiar with Grown Up Christmas List, you can now listen to Emma's tracks, catch an SATB version and hear Kelly Clarkson doing her thing.
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 .
Reports
Great Romantics Competition
Recital Centre
Sun 22 Sep 2024
Congratulations to Jamie Miles (Bill’s son) for being one of just 10 young Australian musicians chosen as the finalists to compete in this year’s ‘Great Romantics’ competition.
A group of us from Vocally Wild joined Bill at the Recital Centre for a super treat across the afternoon of Sunday 22 September. Like others, my husband Trevor and I were delighted by the whole afternoon. It was such a pleasure to watch and listen to each of the finalists because all were such accomplished players.
From the program we learnt of the significant achievements and recognition each musician had made and been recognised for from their musical studies and their past performances in both Australian and international competitions. Even so, to be present at the concert was special because all in the audience knew how important the event was for each of the participants.
The repertoire we heard was very exciting. I assume the music choices were made with the three competition judges in mind, so each piece was complex, varied and very demanding from the following Romantic period composers: Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Ponchielli, Schumann and Tchaikovsky.
We heard from a string quartet, 2 pianists, 2 violinists, 1 violist (Jamie) and an oboist. Pianist accompanists were provided.
The three judges definitely had a difficult job for which no-one in the hall would have felt any envy. The winner was Shen-Yuan Lynch, a pianist from Tasmania.
Thanks Bill for providing us with the opportunity to enjoy such musician excellence from each of the competitors. It was a great afternoon.
Trish Mundy
Altos
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