New opportunities

Amother-daughter duo will perform on stage together for the first time as part of a revamped program set to breathe new life into this year’s Wimmera Music Eisteddfod.

Horsham’s Clare and Tamikah Petering will bring their voices together in a family groups section, one of seven new categories at the event, from July 26 to 28 at Horsham Town Hall.

The Wimmera Music Eisteddfod provides musicians from across western Victoria an opportunity to compete in 52 categories, including piano, strings, guitar, woodwind, voice, choir and city bands.

Mrs Petering, who performed solo in the 2017 eisteddfod, said the family group section gave Tamikah and herself the opportunity to do something special together.

“We’ve never sung together, this will be the first time, so it’s something different,” she said.

“We’ll do training with Tamikah’s singing teacher Lisa Thomas and go from there.

“We both just love singing, so we’re going to give it a go and see what happens.”

Organising member Venetia Elbourne-hobbs said the new program provided more opportunity for people to be involved, as they put the musical competition ‘back on the calendar’ following a 2018 absence.

“We really want to create an eisteddfod that is not only interesting and exciting to be involved in, but also gives the audience a fantastic and varied experience,” she said.

“This year we have added an open choir section and a city band section, with the hope of getting groups of people to participate in an eisteddfod who normally would not.

“Another new section is the family groups, which can be any number and any instrument, including voice. The focus of this section is fun and flair.”

Mrs Elbourne-hobbs said 2019 changes would help break down barriers for performers and the perception of an eisteddfod being ‘somewhat formal, scary and a little starchy’.

She said the musical competition was a key platform for performers to showcase their talents, build skills and receive feedback, and would continue to require help from sponsors to support promising performers.

“Eisteddfods are a really important tool for the development of aspiring performers,” she said.

“We are still in need of sponsors to get on board to help us with this event, particularly for the two major prizes awarded to the most promising vocal and piano students.

“We’re very willing to work with local businesses so that they can be promoted to those visiting Horsham to attend the eisteddfod.”

Both Clare and Tamikah will also perform in separate categories, and Mrs Petering encouraged Wimmera musicians, from the experienced to first-timers, to take a chance underneath the spotlight.

“I absolutely encourage people to have a crack if they’ve never done it before,” she said.

“It is nerve-racking, but have a go. It’s a chance to get up and support what is available, which is the reason we do it.

“Get involved in as much as you can, that is what it is all about. And support the event, we lose it otherwise.”

People can enter the eisteddfod online at www.stardom.com.au.