On Sunday, March 24 (Palm Sunday), the South Coast Choral & Arts Society (SCCAS) welcomed Easter week by presenting their feast of music ‘Easter Harmony’.
Anna Watson as compere spoke clearly, looked cheerful and kept the program running smoothly.
Since 1994, SCCAS choir has presented an Easter concert at Newland Uniting Church with great acoustics and since 1950 has sung The Messiah in this beautiful venue .
Commencing with Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for life) from 1992 Olympics words by Andrew Lloyd Webber was an excellent choice with which to begin.
The first half consisted of Just a Closer Walk with Thee unaccompanied with very moving men’ harmony.
Paul McCartneys hit song from 1965, Yesterday, the first verse unaccompanied, the base echo was excellent and Leon Duke’s mellow baritone began Were You There.
An African-American melody written in 1899, the choir singing the last verse unaccompanied was the final song before the interval Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.
A piano duet by Rachel Tuck and Alain Bouchard on the bass in the first half was Zadok the Priest, left of the audience spell bound, but in the second half they played Libertango and then surprisingly they had
changed sides on the piano the audience was fascinated.
One Moment in Time was the first sung by Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Amazing Grace a popular evergreen began with the first verse unaccompanied.
Alan Field was the conductor of the first half and he conducted the audience song Morning has Broken.
In the second half Alan Field transferred to the bass line in the choir.
He has been involved with SCCAS since 1957 and at nearly 90- years-old his talents are still very much revered.
John Wilson a new conductor to SCCAS boasts 50 years of musical experience and took the baton for the second half.
The song Always There was perfect the mellow tones of the flute by Martin Diep a member of SCCAS and a local Optometrist making the song special.
My Land was impressive and we learned that the words Voice Calling Me Home came from World War II and was provoking.
The song Sing An Easter Alleluia concluded the program and Miriam Wilson on the trumpet enhanced the song with spine tingling added extra.
The audience were very appreciative of an afternoon of beautiful music, the program suitable for all music tastes.
A tribute to be paid to Melva Miles first time in 39 years not singing in the choir.
With a voice still clear and note true, standing hastened her retirement last Christmas.
However at 92, she is entitled to sit back and listen .
Thank you Melva for your amazing contribution to SCCAS and the choir.
