COMMUNITY CHOIR… Some of the members of the Parkes Community Choir who will be on stage for Overture tomor-row night. They are L-R Kaye Lindsay, Don Orr and Malcolm Westcott, Stuart Peden, Bob Strickland, Kerrie Peden, Ros Bell, Bev Rowe, John Jelbart and Michelle Jelbart. (Photos: Robert Shore)
There will be plenty of local Parkes faces to look out for in the massed choir in the Overture performance at the Cooke Park Pavilion tomorrow night.
After many hours of preparation and rehearsals, the Parkes Community Choir will have a strong representation of 34 members on stage for the long-awaited show with Australia’s celebrity stars.
“The whole process has been very interesting, rewarding and an exercise in problem-solving,” said Kerrie Peden, the choir’s director.
Not only did they have to learn the repertoire, but the process started during COVID restrictions and members had to learn to wrangle Dropbox and Zoom, and practise alone and in isolation from other members.
“When COVID restrictions prevented choirs from meeting and singing was not allowed, our members were not daunted and learned the repertoire online using singing resources supplied by the music producers Jessica Westcott, Nicholas Gentile and Harriet Snaith,” said Kerrie. “Gradually, small groups were able to meet with Carolyn Butler, Colleen Leonard, Sherree Rosser and Pam Parkin assisting.”
It has all come together and tomorrow night the choir will support Lucy Durack and Josh Piterman, and the other soloists in a wide-ranging repertoire, including a medley of five ABBA songs.
“It is wonderful for our choir to be part of such a prestigious performance and will undoubtedly create memories that will live on. This achievement has been a team effort and I am extremely proud of our members and the part they have played in bringing Overture to fruition,” said Kerrie.