WAIHEKE CHORAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER MAY 2006
Hi everyone
Now that school holidays are over and we have all done our baby sitting duties, seen the Museum ,been to the zoo and seen all the latest films, it’s back to normal for us all.
The concert Mainly Mozart is taking shape and we are more familiar with the intricacies of the music, we have a good attendance at choir practise and a good lineup of tenors and bass, which balance out the sopranos and altos. .Acappella is also doing well and enjoying meeting on Tuesday and being able to stay on for Mainly Mozart. .At least they only need to come out on one night Winter is finally upon us and it is not very nice driving in the dark, especially along the Onetangi Straight which is devoid of lights. Many thanks to Stan Edwards who fixed the outside light at Palm Beach Hall, at least we can now see both coming and going.
The month of May is music month in N.Z. and a celebration of music and musicians is planned. The choir was asked to sing on Saturday May 13th. at the library and Artworks. A beautiful velvet lined roof tent was erected outside the library for various people to perform, but down came the rain in torrents, and it rained and rained and rained. Fortunately the choir performed inside the Library, so we were warm and dry. We also had a captive audience who enjoyed Ave Verum, Canticles of Jean Racine, two lovely pieces from the acappella choir and You’ll never walk alone which was very appropriate to the weather. Then we all ran across to Artworks and did it all again, the small audience following us .Most choir members were available to sing which was great because it was Mothers Day the next day. We all stayed and had a cup of tea or coffee in the Artworks coffee shop and we reprised You’ll never walk alone, for two visitors, just to finish off the day. It was still raining when we all left and a trio of brave artistes were performing under the velvet lined roof.
Artworks is finally finished. I don’t know how many years it has been , but it has had so many patch ups including a make-over by a T.V. show that it is hard to believe .We have performed many shows there and had quite a few hairy moments. It used to flood quite badly in wet weather and the cast have had to walk over duck boards to get on stage. We also had to sweep the water away from the first six or seven rows then use Placemakers huge heaters to dry it out. But the audiences still came in spite of there being no toilets inside ,either for the cast or the audience. Inmates of the four legged variety played havoc with costumes etc. in spite of many efforts to eradicate them and they even ate one cast members new shoes, boy they were hungry. However, that is all now in the past and has become part of the history and folklore of the place and we look forward to many more performances in this much needed facility.(Minus the four legged inmates).
A sub committee has been formed to get the next show ready . There is a lot of groundwork to be prepared so that no time is wasted between shows. It will be a Gilbert and Sullivan show of Iolanthe.
Later on in the year the 30th Anniversary will be marked with a dinner and will incorporate our Christmas function. The actual date of the anniversary is December 13th and the first concert of the new year will be dedicated to this important anniversary. This concert will consist of popular items from previous concerts over the years and it is going to be very difficult to choose the pieces.
We had a great Social evening on May 7th the Golf Club and everyone had a great time. We arrived at 6pm and had half an hour to mix and mingle, then dinner was served. Our voices were nicely lubricated with a few wines and we ended the evening with a selection of songs. Thanks to Sandy and David Alley who started us all off and Marion Andy and Philip were their usual irrepressible selves. “Old Man River” got a great response and sung with great feeling. Looking forward to our next social outing Thanks to Andy for organising it.
Just a gentle reminder that a few subs are still outstanding. You can see Mark on Tuesday nights . It is so easy to forget to bring it ( I have been guilty also) But you can also post it to The Treasurer, Waiheke Choral Society, PO Box 333. Oneroa..We will be getting an up to date phone list as soon as possible. We need a contact number to inform you if choir is suddenly cancelled and an address for newsletters.
We have not got a performance date for the Mainly Mozart concert yet, but rehearsals are on schedule. Sing Waiheke have their concert on Queens Birthday weekend so it will be after that. We are trying very hard not to clash with other performances especially those which involve our members.
Happy Birthday to Freda Blanchard for this month, Hope you had a great day.
Do look up the website all the newsletters are on it including the minutes if you want to know what we have been doing. So log on to www.geocities.com/waihekechoral.
That’s all the news for now Just a thought ! when you are busy doing nothing it’s hard to know when to finish.
Jeanne Mellamphy.
This newsletter is very kindly sponsored by
Harveys Park city Realty MREINZ Ph 3725276