Wow - a big day for Freedom Train & the Logan Ukulele Club (LUC) & our sister choir Mixed Beans. What stars!
First FT/LUC members arrived at Talbarra to rehearse at 9:45am, then performed over an hour's worth of music at our sponsor Talbarra's 5th Birthday event.
The set list:
Happy Birthday Talbarra, Amazing Grace (both Trad & the Sam Cooke version), Morningtown Ride, Nero's Expedition, Children of the Universe, Wild Mountain Thyme, The End of the Line (LUC), Jamaica Farewell (LUC), Thapelo, All You Need Is Love, The Tide Is High, Come Along My Friend and Kubill Jagan/Choongarrah.
Many then went on to South Bank to perform with Mixed Beans at The Australian Voices Festival of Aussie Choral Music @ The Conservatorium's Ian Hangar Recital Hall, South Bank in the afternoon.
There we went into a slightly unexpected rehearsal with TAV and two other choirs performing at the festival to learn "Kalkadunga Yurdu", the massed choir piece that would finale the festival.
Following this we witnessed the Hear & Say Centre's very young choir members conduct TAV - so beautiful and inspiring. Great to watch how Gordon empowers these tiny kids to conduct a grown-up professional choir!
We had 15 minutes to rehearse our own set together - many thanks to Susan for donating "her room" for this purpose - and then the concert was starting!
TAV opened with their stunning choral music. Hard act to follow but these two beautiful community choirs from Logan did themselves proud.
Mixed Beans & Freedom Train took to the stage singing "Kubill Jagan (Beautiful Country) / Choongarrah (Pelican)", two short chants in Yugambeh language, followed by "Inanay", also in indigenous language. Sounded beaut.
Then, whew, we could relax and enjoy the other two guest choirs, All Saints Anglican School choir and the amazing "On Wings Of Sound" choir, featuring hearing-impaired children from the Hear & Say Centre, followed by the awesome TAV. Their performance of pieces from MOON never fail to me goosebumps.
Both children's groups were inspirational! The Hear & Say kids were particularly adorable being so tiny and dressed in glittery butterfly wings. Huge "Awwwww" factor!
Back on stage all choirs joined together to sing "Kalkadunga Yurdu" by William Barton & Gordon Hamilton. What a blast!
Thank you to all my choir members for putting in such huge energy to make a successful day's singing, playing & performance.
Special mention must go to new FT members Stuart, Milly & Eileen as well as Jessie who has just re-joined FT after a long break.
You performed over an hour's worth of music at Talbarra with a very short time to learn your parts. What a fabulous show of dedication & support for your choir. On ya guys!!!
Very new MB members Cherie & Amy came to the Con performance - you are amazing! It was a treat to have founding MB members Sue & Massah back in the ranks on the day.
Thanks to
~ Jay for setting up the sound at Talbarra
~ Stuart's wife Gwen Rayner for taking pics
~ All who worked together to support our new members, and to organise car-pooling, etc.
~ Thanks to TAV for inviting us to sing at their festival
Pics of the Talbarra performance are at this link on the choir's Facebook page.
From Logan Mayor Pam Parker:
"How proud you must be of Mixed Beans and Freedom Train. I know I certainly am. They always sound world class to me. Love to all and thank you for being such great ambassadors for Logan."
Facebook comments
Gordon Hamilton (Artistic Director and conductor of The Australian Voices):
"Great job yesterday, Freedom Train! It was wonderful having you in our concert! Woo hoo!"
First FT/LUC members arrived at Talbarra to rehearse at 9:45am, then performed over an hour's worth of music at our sponsor Talbarra's 5th Birthday event.
The set list:
Happy Birthday Talbarra, Amazing Grace (both Trad & the Sam Cooke version), Morningtown Ride, Nero's Expedition, Children of the Universe, Wild Mountain Thyme, The End of the Line (LUC), Jamaica Farewell (LUC), Thapelo, All You Need Is Love, The Tide Is High, Come Along My Friend and Kubill Jagan/Choongarrah.
Many then went on to South Bank to perform with Mixed Beans at The Australian Voices Festival of Aussie Choral Music @ The Conservatorium's Ian Hangar Recital Hall, South Bank in the afternoon.
There we went into a slightly unexpected rehearsal with TAV and two other choirs performing at the festival to learn "Kalkadunga Yurdu", the massed choir piece that would finale the festival.
Following this we witnessed the Hear & Say Centre's very young choir members conduct TAV - so beautiful and inspiring. Great to watch how Gordon empowers these tiny kids to conduct a grown-up professional choir!
We had 15 minutes to rehearse our own set together - many thanks to Susan for donating "her room" for this purpose - and then the concert was starting!
TAV opened with their stunning choral music. Hard act to follow but these two beautiful community choirs from Logan did themselves proud.
Mixed Beans & Freedom Train took to the stage singing "Kubill Jagan (Beautiful Country) / Choongarrah (Pelican)", two short chants in Yugambeh language, followed by "Inanay", also in indigenous language. Sounded beaut.
Then, whew, we could relax and enjoy the other two guest choirs, All Saints Anglican School choir and the amazing "On Wings Of Sound" choir, featuring hearing-impaired children from the Hear & Say Centre, followed by the awesome TAV. Their performance of pieces from MOON never fail to me goosebumps.
Both children's groups were inspirational! The Hear & Say kids were particularly adorable being so tiny and dressed in glittery butterfly wings. Huge "Awwwww" factor!
Back on stage all choirs joined together to sing "Kalkadunga Yurdu" by William Barton & Gordon Hamilton. What a blast!
Thank you to all my choir members for putting in such huge energy to make a successful day's singing, playing & performance.
Special mention must go to new FT members Stuart, Milly & Eileen as well as Jessie who has just re-joined FT after a long break.
You performed over an hour's worth of music at Talbarra with a very short time to learn your parts. What a fabulous show of dedication & support for your choir. On ya guys!!!
Very new MB members Cherie & Amy came to the Con performance - you are amazing! It was a treat to have founding MB members Sue & Massah back in the ranks on the day.
Thanks to
~ Jay for setting up the sound at Talbarra
~ Stuart's wife Gwen Rayner for taking pics
~ All who worked together to support our new members, and to organise car-pooling, etc.
~ Thanks to TAV for inviting us to sing at their festival
Pics of the Talbarra performance are at this link on the choir's Facebook page.
From Logan Mayor Pam Parker:
"How proud you must be of Mixed Beans and Freedom Train. I know I certainly am. They always sound world class to me. Love to all and thank you for being such great ambassadors for Logan."
Facebook comments
Gordon Hamilton (Artistic Director and conductor of The Australian Voices):
"Great job yesterday, Freedom Train! It was wonderful having you in our concert! Woo hoo!"
Trudie Marshall, staff member at Talbarra:"Just wanted to say Thank You! You guys did a great job and the feedback received from those who attended has been very positive. Good Job!"
Natalie Steinhardt, member of TAV:
"Your guys sang brilliantly yesterday! I bet you're so proud of them :)"
I sure am and blessed too, to "play" with such beautiful people who sing for joy.
Natalie Steinhardt, member of TAV:
"Your guys sang brilliantly yesterday! I bet you're so proud of them :)"
I sure am and blessed too, to "play" with such beautiful people who sing for joy.