2004, History and other events
In this year we performed Carmina Burana many times, with several other choirs and orchestras, and started our run of Broadway musicals with Brigadoon, the only one having many solid four-part choruses. It was a very busy year. We donated $5000 to charity, raising $83,300 so far.
Another BBQ was held in the Morgans' beautiful garden, which was very pleasant and, as usual, the show committee met again to discuss what to do following Brigadoon, and recommended Oklahoma for the following year.
We were invited to take part in the Montsalvat Choral Festival in May, and prepared some choruses for this. Serendipity also contributed a bracket and enjoyed the experience. The day was very successful and the idea good, though the function made a loss for the organizers. The experience of getting together, performing with and listening to other choirs was something we don't do very often, and gave us the seeds of an idea for our own open day.
The AGM brought more changes with Lynne and Sharon stepping down and Maxine and Jennie taking their place, Jennie reluctantly taking on the role of publicity officer. This meeting concluded with a combined birthday party with four of our members turning 50 and one 40 - another pleasant social occasion.
The Eisteddfod, on the Cup Day weekend, was another successful event with Lucas Richter winning the Novice Section, and Lesley Walton and Diane Morgan second and third in the Musical Comedy. Adjudicator John Dingle, from Opera Queensland, paid us a very welcome compliment and said this was how Eisteddfods should be run. It certainly has provided opportunities for many of our singers to excel in their field.
At the end of November, many attended the wedding of Paul Dernelly and Susanna Wailes, who had met doing Merrie England. Susanna returned to conduct the end of year carols, but with school commitments, ended up missing half the rehearsals. We had about twenty-five involved with this, and the first rehearsal had seven basses, six tenors and three sopranos. For one rehearsal Susanna had emailed Graham saying that she wasn't available, and he wasn't either, as a committee meeting had been arranged. Michael arrived, looking rather tentative, having received a request to take the rehearsal that morning! The music was supposed to arrive with Susanna's husband, Paul, but Gerard arrived to say that Paul had hit his head on some steel, and wouldn't be there. Somehow Michael managed. They performed at Greensborough and Diamond Creek, where the accompanying band seemed unable to play the music straight, so the audience were unable to sing along. The performance at Grassy Flat was cut short when it started to rain. The Ivanhoe Boulevard performance, however, went well.