A Great Soiree

The Sounds Live Choir gave its first public performance recently in Bathurst at the local stages soiree. It was a wet and cold night in Bathurst (I had to wear gum boots!). I thought "nobody will ever come out in this weather", but they did. The rain eased off as I arrived at the venue and the bell ringers were making beautiful sounds in the Carillion. A magical setting of light rain falling in the town and the bells ringing lifted my mood for the performance to come. There were already heaps of people in the venue and the choir members looked awesome in their black and red colours. We sang six songs (a 20minute set) and even got an encore. At one stage I turned around to look at the choir and every one of the choir singers was smiling. A great feeling and a great night. Here we are.

It's Time

After 10 weeks of weekly rehearsals and 2 singing workshops, the Sounds Live Choir is ready for its inaugural performance on Wednesday 18 Aug at the Local Stages Soiree in Bathurst.
More than 30 singers have gathered weekly to bash out notes and find their voices for this performance. Many of us have battled with winter illnesses (this winter in Bathurst has been harsh), unexpected heavy rains (flooded creeks and rivers have forced the closure of major roads), freezing cold temperatures (we could feel the snow in neighbouring Orange) to make it to rehearsal each Thursday night. Because when we get there and sing, everything seems better.
We had a final rehearsal on Sunday and the sound is great. Invite your friends to join us at 9pm (arrive early) in the Wattle Foyer at BMEC for our first public performance.

Red, Black or Red and Black

These are the colours for the Sounds Live Choir. A very casual discussion of choir colours and loose reference to a logo have determined choir members will be dressed in red, black or red and black. We're not going to enforce black trousers and red lipstick...we won't be that strict. We'd really like the choir members to show their individuality through costume. Could be red shoes or black tie...could be a red beret (i've got one of those!). I wanted to do an historical and cultural snapshot of each colour in fashion, however Glynis Traill-Nash in the Essential Style of the Sydney Morning Herald has already done it for me. Thanks Glynis and I'm a huge fan of the Style pages. So here's what Glynis has to say about red (SMH, July 29th 2010, page 20)

"No other colour is as striking, as evocative and has as many contradictory meanings as red. It is said to represent (and, at times, incite) passion and has long been associated with women of ill repute and Satan. On the flip side, it is also associated with divinity, seen in biblical painings showing Jesus and Mary swathed in red robes. It is said to bring good luck in some cultures - Indian brides wear it on their big day and in China it is a most auspicious colour, representing health, happiness and prosperity, among other things. It is said that in 17th-century France, it represented power and Louis XIV liked to strut around in scarlet shoes to show off his shapely legs. Red's earliest dyes were created from the cochineal bug found in Mexican cactuses. Its great expense meant that only the wealthiest, most powerful and noble could affort its charms."

I hope the Sounds Live choir members take some inspiration from these words in choosing their shades of red to wear for our inaugural performance at the Local Stages soiree on Wednesday 18th August.