by Gabriella Vukman
It won’t just be the wind whistling on the longest night of winter. Three choirs and a ukulele group will be performing a joyful winter solstice concert on Sunday June 23 at 2pm.
The choirs, comprised of the Sweet Sassafras Community Choir, the Cockatoo-based Lyrebirds choir and the Vokallista are all non-auditioning choirs, made up of Hills locals who love to sing along.
The Kalulu Ukulele group is also compiled of local light-hearted learners and skilful players.
Upwey local and member of the Sweet Sassafras Community Choir Judy Wollf said, “I joined about a year ago. I just wanted to get together with other people and enjoy singing.”
“Going right out of my comfort zone singing all sorts of unusual songs with a great choir director who is very enthusiastic,” Judy said.
“It’s amazing how you become this one, unified organ when you sing. It just lifts your spirits.”
From Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ to Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Let’s call the whole thing off’, the concert’s eclectic mixture of music means that there is a song and a style for everyone.
Judy said, “I would describe the music as ‘lively.’
“The concert is just a joyful outing on a Sunday where we can come together and see what other people in the community are doing as a form of social connection,” Judy said.
“Apart from being scheduled on the deepest day of winter, the date of the concert is the third anniversary of the huge 2021 storms. Some people are still not even back in their own homes. That memory is still raw and we acknowledge that as a result of that it is important to foster community connection,” Judy said.
The concert is funded by the Yarra Ranges Council’s Small Grants program and will take place at the Olinda Community House next door to the Olinda swimming pool and all are welcome.
Donations upon entry are encouraged.
Judy said, “We are really pleased to also have financial support for the concert from State Member for Monbulk Daniele De Martino.”
“Singing is a mindful experience. All the troubles around you disappear when you sing joyfully together. You just feel like one organism.”
“The concert is about the joy of coming together.”
