STOP PRESS
Last rehearsal this Tues 3 Dec – Open Mic with munchies after the break. Please bring some goodies or a bottle to share. Men's Chorus – reminder to wear concert blacks plus some colour.
Choir event updates
Bayside Carols
Dendy Park, Brighton
Tues 10 Dec 2024 7.30–9.30pm (choir assemble 6.30pm)
Joining with our Mosaic neighbours, we will have a choir of over 100 voices for this iconic event.
The choir will sing six featured items with the Southern Area Concert Band, including My Grown Up Christmas List, which is an original arrangement by SACB Musical Director Andrew Mathers. With the soprano choir of angels in full flight, it blew everyone away at rehearsal last Saturday, and is certain to become signature item for our Christmas doings. The choir will also provide backing the soloists for eight other songs in the program.
The final two rehearsals (on 7/12 and 8/12) are at the Brighton Town Hall (see the Summary of Dates below).
Important notes for Bayside Carols singers
- The final rehearsal on Sunday 8 December is 4.00–7.30pm at the Brighton Town Hall. It is a full cast rehearsal (all soloists), so it's really important to be there to fine tune our numbers. Council will provide a barbeque dinner.
- Dress for the concert on 10 December is choir blacks with your Vocally Wild performance top (or long sleeved black shirt if you don't have one).
- Arrive to assemble behind the stage at 6.30pm — allow time for traffic and parking. Bayside will provide us with parking passes.
- There are also light refreshments for the choir courtesy of the Bayside Council after the fireworks at 9.30pm.
More details at rehearsals.
Vocally Wild Community Carols
Beaumaris Community Centre
Wed 18 Dec 2024 pm 6.00–7.30pm
It's great that we have over 50 choir members performing in our first singalong concert in the neighbourhood.
We are delighted to welcome Jack Raudys as our soloist to help launch the new event. Jack recently completed his VCE with music performance subjects at St Leonards, Brighton. A singer and instrumentalist, Jack is also making his mark as a composer.
As well as featured Christmas items by the choir, there will be a good selection of popular carols and Christmas songs for the audience to sing along. We'll provide song sheets with the words for the audience, and Russel is also trialling projecting words to songs on a screen.
There are rumblings that we'll have a very big turnup from the Vocally Wild friends and family network, obviously all dying to be able to get to sing themselves for a change — so please make sure you've spread the word so yours don't miss this special occasion.
Mayflower Christmas Carols
Mayflower Aged Care, Brighton
Thur 19 Dec 2.00–3.00pm
Another great sign-up to support this event. If you have put your name on the list to join Bob and the team for a good sing, check that you've received Pat's email with all the details. And it's not too late to join in – contact Pat on patlow5@bigpond.com .
 Summary of dates
| 2024 |
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| Tue 3 Dec |
Breakup, with Open Mic |
7.30–9.30pm |
Beaumaris Community Centre |
| Sat 7 Dec |
Bayside Carols rehearsal 3 |
10am–1.00pm |
Brighton Town Hall |
| Sun 8 Dec |
Bayside Carols full rehearsal |
4.00–7.30pm |
Brighton Town Hall |
| Tue 10 Dec |
Bayside Carols |
7.30–9.30pm |
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 |
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| 2025 |
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| Tue 4 Feb |
First rehearsal for Term 1 |
7.30–9.30pm |
Beaumaris Community Centre |
| Sun 14 Sep |
SACB/VW/Mosaic Concert |
tbc |
Kingston Town Hall |
What's on
Summer with the Southern Stars
NG Wishart Hall
964 Nepean Highway Moorabbin
Friday 13 Dec 8–10pm
Our friends at the Southern Area Concert Band don't just rock the Bayside Carols. They have many strings to their bow, if concert bands can have such a thing, including a very cool Stage Band, the Southern Stars.
Their Christmas gig featuries a live 17-piece band, talented vocalists and two hours of swing charts with well-known hits by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Bublé, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and many others! Of course it wouldn't be one of their shows without a surprise or two in the mix!
So bring your friends, dance shoes and supper to celebrate the festive season with a swing.
Pay at the door or book on trybookings https://www.trybooking.com/CHELSEA
Tickets $10 and BYO food & drink.
Discounted tickets when booking a table of 10 (online only).
Plenty of unrestricted on and off street parking.
Big Spring Sing
Billilla Gardens, Hallifax Street Brighton
Sat 14 Dec 2024 1.00–4.00pm
The finale on 14 December will feature the very talented Consort of Melbourne. Several Vocally Widers have been attending the sessions, with glowing reports. Everyone is welcome to join in on the day – attending the lead-up sessions is not essential.
See https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/services/arts-and-culture/big-spring-sing.
The last rehearsal for this event (3–5pm Sunday 8 Dec at Beaumaris Community Hall) unfortunately clashes with the Bayside Carols final rehearsal, which has to work around soloist availability. If you are singing in the Bayside Carols and need to attend the Big Spring Sing session, please just make your way to the Brighton Town Hall as soon as you can after your Big Sing.
ANCA E-News
Vocally Wild is a member of the Australian National Choral Association, and ANCA publishes general choral news and updates of events in each state in their monthly E-Newsletter .
The current edition has details of a Repertoire Reading Day in February which sounds interesting.
NEW! Helen's Hot Holiday Hit List
Musical and choral events in December
Our resident Gig Tragic and Honorary Influencer, Helen Kezilas, is deeply worried that we won't have enough to do musically when we finally collapse from overdosing on carols – so our singing could regress and bits might fall off. She has very thoughtfully put together some recommendations for things musical for the month, especially useful if the cricket is washed out.
(Unconfirmed rumour is Helen was a teacher in another life, and we all know what they're like ? .
We'll let you know if there will be a test on all this at the start of term 1.)
Local events
Roy Orbison meets the Everly Brothers Tribute Show
Issi Dye and Glenn Douglas
Sat 7 Dec 2024
Hampton RSL
25 Holyrood Street Hampton
Check out the Hampton RSL website for other events at this venue.
Merry Christmas Darling: Tribute to the Carpenters
Ruth Templar and Adrian Scott
6.30pm Thu 12 Dec 2024
Arco Bar, Heatherton
Karen Carpenter was a contralto and her brother a composing genius. Bayside City Council offered this show free during Seniors Month at the Sandy Community Centre. Highly recommended. Check out the other shows the Arco Bar has on offer.
Melbourne Bay Courier
For more local tips, check out this digital newsletter which features what's on in Bayside and Port Phillip. Also available at local libraries in the region. Tip: look for our Vocally Wild advertisements for new members in the current edition.
Events further afield
- Tina the Musical at the Princess Theatre, City
- A Christmas Carol at the Comedy Theatre, City – Old Vic production, highly recommended
- Love Actually in Concert at the Arts Centre on 21/12 and 22/12 – almost sold out.
- Handel’s Messiah Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall, 14/12 and 15/12.
- Baroque Christmas 2024 Australian Chamber Choir at Middle Park, 8/12, Macedon 7/12, and Dunkeld 14/12. See ACC website for details.
And for those who just want to stay at home …
Radio
Classic Choir
Wed 6–7pm on Classic Drive ABC Classic
Features Community choirs from around Australia
The Music Show
With Andrew Ford
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