Our Newsletter

Good afternoon bel canto singers,

PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT HOME

bel canto singers committee are asking all members past and present if you have any equipment, uniforms, music or any other items belonging to Bunbury Bel Canto singers please return the items to the committee at Tuesday night rehearsals. If you are aware if anyone that may have bel canto equipment please as, them to contact the commitee or bring it along to practice. 

Thank you for your co operation 

bel canto committee 

 July2023                                                                                                                                                                                        issue 1

BUNBURY BEL CANTO SINGERS NEWSLETTER

Welcome Bel Canto singers and welcome to our very first newsletter for the new financial year!

We have had such a successful trip to Melbourne taking part in the Melbourne International Singers Festival brought to you by Play it forward. The choir of 28 that made the trip has learned some tips and methods from some of the best in the industry, learning from Jonathan Welch and Paul Jarman. Memories have been made, bonds and new friends have been made. We all have learned a lot and we look forward to sharing our learning with the rest of the choir. We would like to once again thank everyone for their hard work in getting us to Melbourne, while we were in Melbourne and the things that we have learned will be with us for a life time. Thanks a million, to Play it forward and the amazing team in their mammoth efforts on running this amazing event and we very much look forward to heading back next year!

NOTICES

AGM:
The AGM will be held on the 29^th of August 2023 at 6pm for a 6:30pm start before practice. Notice of meeting will be handed out in the coming weeks please keep this date free, we need as many members as possible to attend this meeting. It gives you the best opportunity to have a say. So please come along.

SUPPER:
We normally hold a supper here on the first Tuesday of the month after practice, this is a fantastic way to get to know your fellow choristers and to make amazing friendships. Please feel free to bring a plate to this event. Details on this will be posted in the next couple of days.

FEEDBACK:
The committee loves to hear your feedback, please feel free to come and have a chat with any of the committee members if you have any feedback, suggestions, or concerns. We are all here to help support you in the best way we can.

Keep your eyes peeled in the next half of the year there are some amazing things to come!!

Yours in music, Bunbury Bel Canto Singers Committee

It has been a while since I have put up a newsletter and my apologies for that.  With Covid-19 and everything else going on in my and the choir's life it has been a difficult time.

We are back to face to face rehearsals and we are adhering to COVID guidelines with regard to social distancing and cleaning so if you wish to return to rehearsals we would love to have you.  However, if you feel you are not quite ready to return to face to face rehearsals we have received a grant to purchase live streaming equipment which we now have. So please stay tuned and we should be able to share our rehearsals with you online through our website.

Since our return we have been busy.  We recently performed at the South West Festival of Japan performing both "Sukura" and "Sukiyaki Song" on two days over the event.  I am immensley proud of the choir our Musical Director and Accompanist for pulling this together.  Feedback is that it was wonderful.

Coming up we have the Live Lighter Southwest Filipino Community Arts Festival 2020 where we will be performing the National Anthem, the Beatles Medley and a Filipino song Katakataka.  The Festival lineup is great so come along and join us in the wonderful event.

Carols and Christmas are coming up fast so stay tuned for our next news event.

Please stay safe and well and for those members who are not doing so well we are thinking and praying for you and hope you get well soon.

Lorraine English
President
Bunbury Bel Canto Singers Inc.

It is coming up to two year’s since I joined Bel Canto Singers and a year as the President.  I took on this role because in my first year I felt the fellowship and community spirit within the group was something that should not be lost by the choir folding.

It has been a very steep learning curve and there is still so much to learn, especially still being relatively new to the choir and not knowing a lot of the history behind it.  This is something that we are working on and a documented history should be on our website in the near future.  

Our Musical Director Suzanne tripped off to Melbourne in January to attend some “Conductor’s Workshops” and she came back filled with some new fun ideas.  We are all the beneficiaries of this learning each week with her quirky moves and vocal gymnastics, I personally don’t know where she gets the energy.

2019 has been a very busy year so far commencing with the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on the 2^nd of March which was a long weekend and the weather was just beautiful so our team of volunteers were kept very busy all day long.  The end result was we had lots of laughs with a lot of work and raised a considerable amount for the choir.  Thank you to all those volunteers for such a successful day.  I think we will need to learn some BBQ songs because we got asked to sing a lot.

How proud are we all of the Knitting and Craft Group who travelled to Perth in April to donate Easter beanies to King Edward Memorial Hospital premmie baby unit.  They meet on Tuesday’s at the Koombana Bay Caravan Park making wonderful teddy bears and clothing items supporting the NF (Neurofibromatosis) Group, Women’s Refuge, Grand Families Day and of course King Edward.  Please keep up your great work.

Also in April, Suzanne and Louise led some of the choir members in singing for the City of Bunbury’s Grand Families Day at Big Swamp Wildlife Park.  Through people’s generosity and hard work, and a few additional voices the feedback I received was that a great time was had by all and the knitted teddies were greatly appreciated by the children in attendance.  It was relatively short notice and I applaud the members for doing such a great job.

In May we had the Rottnest Holiday for some of the choir members and friends.  I understand “what happens on Rottnest – stays on Rottnest” so, as I could not attend I cannot tell you much about that, but if we go by the photos it looks like everyone had a fantastic time.  Huge thanks to Barry and Joy for organising it and I hope it is something that continues in the future.

In 2018 we entered the Bunbury Eisteddfod and to our surprise we won.  It may have had something to do with us being the only entry but I am told that the adjudicator at the time would not have awarded a place if we did not deserve it.  This year on 21 June 2019 we had competition at the Eisteddfod and we won again with a wonderful score of 90/100.  It was wonderful to see long time members and new members on stage together accepting the award – a very proud moment.

2019 is not over yet and we have some big things happening.  Our annual concert "Beatles to Broadway" is being held on 22 September 2019 at St Augustine’s.  Suzanne has our music sorted and will be working us hard between now and then and the Committee will be looking for lots of helping hands to make light work of the preparations.   So please let your friends and family know that it is on and tickets will be for sale at the door.

Finally I wish to thank Suzanne and Louise for all their hard work and support, all the current Committee members for stepping up when needed and always being there when things got tough and the choir members for your assistance each week, your fellowship, your fun personalities and wonderful voices.

The AGM is over and we have a new Committee for the coming year.  I am proud to be re-elected as President and look forward to working with our Committee to make the year a wonderful one.

Lorraine English
President
Bel Canto Singers Inc.

 

What a whirlwind life can be. 

After 24 years living and working in Bunbury and raising four children with my wonderful husband George, I found myself at a bit of a loss when they left home.

Twelve months ago I took the step of phoning Judyth Salom former President of the Bel Canto Singers to find out more about it and to see if I could come along and see if it would suit me.  I have had no formal singing training, I did learn acoustic guitar as a child but regretfully did not keep it up but I have always loved to sing whether it be walking around our farm as a child, through choir at school or just singing along with Sherbet and Skyhooks record albums. 

Now I find myself the new President of the Bel Canto Singers and leading a fantastic new Committee that will excite, engage and grow this wonderful community choir into the future.
Having a whole new committee can have its own challenges and I am sure we will have some in the coming months but by working together toward the same goal of a successful flourishing community choir we can achieve some great things.

We have a new Musical Director – Suzanne Leclair who is bright and bubbly and always has a smile on her face.  She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and a sense of fun that lends itself to a most enjoyable evening of song.   She has managed to get more out of us as a choir than even we thought possible and we are sounding great.

Louise Bradford is our new young talented Accompanist who is a joy and we are so lucky to have her.  Her musical ability is second to none and she gets so excited for us when we hit those perfect notes.  She stretches our voices in warmups sneaking us up a little higher or down a little lower each week.

If you are someone who loves to sing come and try us out.  You are entitled to three visits before deciding if it is for you.

We are a non-auditioned choir who love to sing, perform and socialise together.  We hold practice every Tuesday evening from 7-9 pm at St Augustine’s Church hall, 119 Mangles Street Bunbury.
I can be contacted on 0428 214 345 or you can speak with our Secretary Anne on 0438 089 392 for further information.

Lorraine English
President
Bel Canto Singers Inc

“The only thing better than singing is more singing.
Ella Fitzgerald”
 

It has been a challenging year. When Rosalie took on the MD position 2 1/2 years ago she did it on the understanding she would job share with Leonita, which didnt quite go to plan, and unfortunately Rosalie faced a number of health challenges during her time.
Which meant Ivan D’Rosario, Sue Norminton and Marg Duce were required to step up to assist with conducting, Marg took charge for weeks at a time and brought great joy and harmony to the choir.
Elena our esteemed accompanist, also faced health challenges and we are grateful for Daisey Harries tinkling the ivories at several practices.
During thisdifficult period Choir members have been empathic, tolerant and wonderful in their acceptance of the situation. I think the shared challenges built a closer bond between everyone.
Our membership and attendance has remained stable throughout the period. The Committee has continued its great work and maintained regular meetings with solid outcomes e.g.
Website Installed and functioning well in terms of information storage (eg minutes, new member info, attendance, music recordings for home practise.
Concert coordination – Raffle, tickets, posters, banner update, publicity
Performances – Carols at Woolworths Plaza and Eaton Fair at Christmas, supported BMOS in the Men Against Domestic Violence concert , HAD A BaHai celebration our May 20^th Anniversary concert plus Bunbury Eisteddfod.
When Rosalie and Elena gave their notice that they would leave their positions after the May concert, plus most of the executive committee they wouldnt bve continueing in their roles after the AGM, the choir was looking a bit shaky, Suzanne and Louise saved us musically and we have the making of a functional committee, still a couple of positions to fill though.
Suzanne Leclair and her daughter Louise Bradford Joined us after our concert in May, eeryone is very happy with the outcome, Suzanne brings the same happy joyful singing attitude as Rosalie and Lousie is fantastic.
It was with Suzanne that BelCanto entered the choir section of the Bunbury Eisteddfod where we were awarded first prize in our section, a great result.

I wish BelCanto well for the future and hope and trust the choir continues in joyful harmony.
some thank you's before i go:
Ian for being secretary.  I have never been president of any organisation before and Ian has been patient, thorough and professional, always respectful and supportive.
Sue for the movement and glam that makes our choir different.  Sue and Ian negotiate with shopping centres for paid work at Christmas. Sue is in charge of uniforms, organises and packs the raffle, takes a “pastoral care” role checking in on our people, . She choreographs knock out items when on holidays, she plans catering and listens.
Colleen for putting her hand up for design and printing and anything else needed to be done.
Lyn for always being there.
Jenny for being treasurer and keeping such order in our finances.
Lesley for being jenny’s back upand doing a great job with the suppers.
Janet for heading up the music team and generosity with her flower arranging skills and decorating talents.  
Barry and joy – while not committee members, they are on the music selection team with sue, they organised the last few holidays to Rottnest, produce the stunning slides as backdrops to our concert, and share their wisdom in difficult situations.  Sort of like the grandparents.
Thank you and big hugs to all of you, Terry and i both value your friendship and we will keep visiting!!!

Judyth Salom
President
Bunbury BelCanto singers 10/7/2018

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT NOVEMBER 2^ND 2017 

The best news is the most recent. Tuesday of this week saw the return of Rosalie Pederick our MD from her holiday in Hawaii. Rosalie had a fantastic holiday and kept well! So well that she is returning to us for the foreseeable future.

The highlight for the last month was our performance at the Bahai celebration.

The perfect fit between the songs chosen by Marg Duce, relieving MD, were a perfect fit for the occasion focussing on unity and building world peace. Our audience joined in the choruses and took their lead from the choir to hold hands and raise them high while singing. To say we struck a chord would be an understatement, we were perfectly in sync with the values and beliefs of the Bahai’s and it was a wonderful feeling like we were “the icing on the cake” bringing a celebratory tone to cap off an intention of creating an inclusive, peaceful world.

It’s been wonderful how choir members have maintained their solid commitment to attendance and enjoyed the practices with Marg. There have been some delightful moments in “the sweet spot” as we produced soul-full harmonics in a circle. Thank you Marg and choir members. A big thank you also goes to Sue Norminton and Ivan de Rosario for supporting Marg by conducting when needed.

We have welcomed three new members and received calls from a couple of others who intended to come and hopefully will before long. Life member and past MD Roy Hanson has begun singing with us and we welcome him.

The teddy bear sewing bees have resulted in about 30 teddies being stitched up and stuffed (not necessarily in that order). Given that quite a few of us have gathered twice for a couple of hours (maybe 32 hours of work) to achieve this it is amazing that Janet last year produced 50 teddies by herself. Thanks go to the Koombana Bay café who donated the morning tea and made us so welcome.

As we move towards Christmas it is great that we have 3 bookings at which to sing carols. Thank you Ian, Sue and Lyn for helping to make the carol singing bookings happen.

Lastly I acknowledge Ian without whom our choir would not run so efficiently. I so appreciate your organisational skills, computer abilities and your understanding and patience.

Judyth Salom

President

We received very positive feedback following our participation in the Men Against Domestic Violence concert. It was wonderful to be a part of this show as it gave us a focus for practice, provided an opportunity for mixing with other choirs, and we shone.

Thank you Rosalie and Elena for your professional support. Terry also added something unique with his digeridoo for “Kakadu”.

Following the concert Rosalie announced she would take leave until she returns from Hawaii late October, a total of 8 weeks. Her health situation remains troublesome and she wants to be able to enjoy her holiday so taking a rest from BelCanto will hopefully help with her healing.

The Ba’Hai celebration on 21^st October is providing a focus for learning new songs and we are looking forward to this performance. Thank you Margaret for your wonderful support conducting.

Thanks go to Ivan and Sue for supporting Margaret who because of her health challenges does not want to conduct the whole 2 hours of our practice session.

At our meeting today we will work out dates for Christmas carols at Bunbury Plaza during December. Through Lyn Teede’s partner Peter we have been offered paid gigs which will provide a further performance focus to work on Christmas carols. This focus is most helpful as it feeds motivation and will help our finances. Thank you Lyn.

Some of our members will attend the Dunsborough Songfest in November.

Thank you to everyone on the committee and in the choir for your steadfast attendance and support for the choir during these challenging times.

Judyth Salom

President