2001, History and other events
The Messiah, Purcell and Bach sandwiched a rewrite of G&S's first collaboration: The Sorcerer. With circus performers and allusions to drug dealers it was colourful and topical. DVS donated $6000 to charity, a total of $74,800.
The Wiltons
The Wilton family has been involved with the Diamond Valley Singers since July 1995. Two of our daughters (Suzie and Louise) had their first onstage appearance in HMS Pinafore. This was when Suzie and Louise were Buttercup's (Diane Morgan) little helpers as she entertained the sailors as they were on shore leave. From there, Catherine joined in with her first show as a baby in a pusher with the Bankers of Penzance (Pirates of Penzance) in 1996. The girls then continued in various Diamond Valley Singers shows as they worked alongside Lucas and Ben Richter, and later Ashley Richter. They continued to enjoy their acting career in Orpheus in the Underworld, The Mikado, Merry Widow ot Bluegum Creek, The Sorcerer, Merry England, Brigadoon, and most recently, Oklahoma. Catherine and Suzie's favorite show was The Merry Widow of Bluegum Creek, and Louise's favourite being The Bankers of Penzance.
The DVS team have been very encouraging to our children over the years, and it has been a wonderful experience to do so many shows together as a family.
The girls will go into 2006 in The Hobyahs, a pantomime supported by the DVS, and quite proudly hold their own auditioned part.
Malcolm and Anita Wilton
Following the show there was a Classical Cabaret at the Morgans' home to celebrate Ian Lowe's 60th birthday. This was used as a fundraiser for Eastern Metropolitan Opera, with Ian choosing all and rehearsing most of music. Diamond Valley Singers sang, the orchestra played and he'd organized several chamber groups as well. It was a very entertaining afternoon with over and 100 attending. There were excerpts from Sorcerer and Purcell performed by members of DVS, who had also rewritten "I've got a little list" for the occasion. Ian's two daughters had also composed a song in his honour which they sang a cappella.
Towards the end of the year EMO finally died, and Diamond Valley Singers was able to take over their storage facility in Croydon, finally getting out of the old chook shed.
At the annual Eisteddfod Lesley Walton got an equal first in the musical comedy with a Sun Aria finalist, while Lynne's daughter, Esther, came second in the Novice Section in which Dianne Richter's son, Lucas, got an honourable mention.
The following week a number went down to Mornington to see Lesley reprise her role in The Merry Widow of Blue Gum Creek, and she did well.
Graham conducted the carols at the end of the year and had over thirty involved. We sang these at Sacred Heart in Diamond Creek, on the Ivanhoe Boulevard and at Grassy Flat Road.