By Wayne Moloney
ON February 6, 2006, in Wonthaggi, 60 people responded to an invitation to anyone interested in forming a chorale. Now a respected member of the arts community, the Bass Coast Chorale will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a concert at the Wonthaggi Town Hall on June 19.
ON February 6, 2006, in Wonthaggi, 60 people responded to an invitation to anyone interested in forming a chorale. Now a respected member of the arts community, the Bass Coast Chorale will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a concert at the Wonthaggi Town Hall on June 19.
The main item will be the moving and inspiring five-movement choral suite The Armed Man, a mass for peace composed by Karl Jenkins, together with favourites concluding with a medley from Les Miserables, which also wound up the choir's first concert on Sunday, May 20, 2006.
Of the 45 foundation members, 12 remain, including musical director Larry Hills.
Over the 10-year journey of the chorale, Larry has composed three original cantatas:
The chorale is a group of passionate choristers finding inspiration in music and dedicated to contributing to the betterment of the community. During the first 10 years, the chorale has donated more than $27,000 of concert proceeds towards various community projects, including buying palliative care equipment, the Wonthaggi Citizens Band building project, playground equipment at Mitchell House and a major donation to cancer research to honour our loved and departed members.
At Christmas each year, the chorale visits the shire’s seven aged care facilities. It has also performed at fund-raisers for the Wonthaggi Hospital, Moonya and the Rescue Station, and for many years was a guest performer at the shire’s Australia Day celebrations.
The chorale rehearses at 7.30pm on Tuesdays at the Wonthaggi Citizens Band room in Billson Street. New members are welcome. Inquiries: Wayne Moloney 0402 727 364.
"Singing in a choir taps into a basic human need to be part of a group activity. There’s joy and a sense of achievement when, together, you create a beautiful ephemeral thing.
“The Bass Coast Chorale has the added advantage of doing this under the inspirational leadership of Larry Hills, whose creativity and patience make being a member of this choir a total pleasure."
Carol Cox
*****
“I’ve been singing in one form or another most of my life. When Larry started Bass Cost Chorale, I thought this is for me. I think it is only when you get to sing in a group that you realise just how therapeutic music can be. I can go to choir practice feely quite tired but after two hours of singing and harmonising with like-minded people I go home feeling uplifted.
“We get to sing the most wonderful music from Mozart to Rod Stewart (and Larry Hills’ own music, of course). I have made great friends and learnt so much from Larry. I don't read music so rely very heavily on what the conductor is telling me.
“Thank you, Larry.”
Nola Thorpe
Of the 45 foundation members, 12 remain, including musical director Larry Hills.
Over the 10-year journey of the chorale, Larry has composed three original cantatas:
- Starscapes and Visions: Promontory Dreaming, about the Bunurong People and George Bass’s mapping of the Bass Coast
- The Miners’ Requiem, commemorating the 1939 Wonthaggi mine disaster, written for the Wonthaggi Centenary.
- They Went with Songs, commemorating the centenary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli.
The chorale is a group of passionate choristers finding inspiration in music and dedicated to contributing to the betterment of the community. During the first 10 years, the chorale has donated more than $27,000 of concert proceeds towards various community projects, including buying palliative care equipment, the Wonthaggi Citizens Band building project, playground equipment at Mitchell House and a major donation to cancer research to honour our loved and departed members.
At Christmas each year, the chorale visits the shire’s seven aged care facilities. It has also performed at fund-raisers for the Wonthaggi Hospital, Moonya and the Rescue Station, and for many years was a guest performer at the shire’s Australia Day celebrations.
The chorale rehearses at 7.30pm on Tuesdays at the Wonthaggi Citizens Band room in Billson Street. New members are welcome. Inquiries: Wayne Moloney 0402 727 364.
"Singing in a choir taps into a basic human need to be part of a group activity. There’s joy and a sense of achievement when, together, you create a beautiful ephemeral thing.
“The Bass Coast Chorale has the added advantage of doing this under the inspirational leadership of Larry Hills, whose creativity and patience make being a member of this choir a total pleasure."
Carol Cox
*****
“I’ve been singing in one form or another most of my life. When Larry started Bass Cost Chorale, I thought this is for me. I think it is only when you get to sing in a group that you realise just how therapeutic music can be. I can go to choir practice feely quite tired but after two hours of singing and harmonising with like-minded people I go home feeling uplifted.
“We get to sing the most wonderful music from Mozart to Rod Stewart (and Larry Hills’ own music, of course). I have made great friends and learnt so much from Larry. I don't read music so rely very heavily on what the conductor is telling me.
“Thank you, Larry.”
Nola Thorpe