SINGING SENSATIONS

SINGING in front of an audience is an experience that many people find daunting.

However, a group of Townsville primary school students did not let this stop them when they sang in three languages in a spectacular concert for parents and friends at the end of last term. During the final week of school, students from state schools across Townsville were offered the opportunity to participate in a choral workshop with visiting conductor Dr Debra ShearerDirie. The workshop, held annually at The Willows State School, is organised by the Townsville and District State School’s Music Council.

This year, students came from many state schools across the city, including Annandale, Belgian Gardens, Cranbrook, Currajong, Hermit Park, Kirwan, Magnetic

Island, Mundingburra, Railway Estate, Weir, Willows and Wulguru.

Dr Shearer-dirie has been a university lecturer in music, and is currently the musical director of a number of choirs and vocal ensembles, performing all over the world. As well as serving as editor and reviewer for choral publications, Dr Shearer-dirie spends much of her year guest conducting and adjudicating at choir festivals and eisteddfods in Australia and New Zealand.

Her wealth of experience exposed the students who worked with her to many vocal skills and techniques over the course of four days.

Six songs were prepared by the students for performance at the culminating concert.

Students enjoyed the challenge of singing in French for the song Ton Thé, which featured accompanying teapot actions. The French theme also shone through in a song named Waking up Jacques, based on the traditional Frere Jacques.

The challenge of singing in a foreign language continued as the students performed Kusimama and Allunde Alluya, both pieces in traditional African language.

Finally, students performed a repertoire in English. The song Moko was a beautiful piece evocative of the ocean, and the concert closed with a bluesy, humorous piece which was the favourite of many, Harvey the Human Dog.

The students who participated should be commended on achieving amazing results in a very short space of time.

Students left the workshop with improved choral skills that they can bring back and share with their own school choirs.