Letter to the Editor: Choir leader calls it a day

DEAR News Of The Area,

YES, I am retiring!

So it is with some trepidation and regret that I sit down to write this letter.

For those who do not know, the SeaSide Singers Community Choir began after I placed a tiny advert in The Examiner newspaper in February 2009.

So we started with 50 music lovers; some experienced singers, some who had not sung since school and some starting out in retirement on a “Bucket List” of wishes, but all loving the pursuit of creativity and friendship.

We all have to start somewhere and our reference point was that wonderful invention of the internet, searching “How to run a choir!”.

My degree in music wasn’t enough for this big idea!

We needed sheet music,  we needed funds, we needed venues, we needed uniforms and legal documents and we needed the community’s backing.

For those who were with us from the start, I salute you and thank you for your commitment, expertise and love of singing.

I also thank the Port Stephens Council for grants.

I was the President and Conductor and Ron the Treasurer and Property Manager for some years. Assisting was a committee of seven willing helpers elected to help sustain the choir’s vitality, financial management, protocols and procedures under the guidance of Jeanette Antrum.

After about five years we then progressed to the Finale computer program and the Samsung tablet systems, downloading accompaniments, thanks to Jenny Bolton.

How the technical world moves on, even in the arts!

We have consistently had about forty members, some who have discovered their love of music and singing after many years, and now enjoy friendship and fulfillment through a wonderful educational hobby that gives enjoyment through relating to and entertaining the community.

The SeaSide Singers instigated the first Choral Festival in Port Stephens and have since run many successful events and educational workshops, bringing tourism dollars to Nelson Bay.

I was proud to conduct an operetta “I Remember” by invitation of the local composer Vic Marden.

It was about the 100^th anniversary of WWI with David Scrogie as piano accompanist and the magnificent Newcastle Army Band in the High School auditorium.

Then in 2018, a select group of twenty travelled to Japan as part of the Sister Cities delegation.  Each year we celebrate our community spirit by giving free concerts at nursing homes, retirement villages, at the marina and at shopping centres.

The choir has performed at many functions and festivals and has grown in popularity and esteem in the community and been nominated for council and community awards, thanks to our loyal members and capable committee.

I am also gratified by the many strangers in the community who tell me how much they have enjoyed our events.

It also gives me great joy and satisfaction to know that we have touched so many lives of both the singers and the audience here.

So a very big thank you to all our singers, conductors, the local media and audiences.

Please continue to support us!

Regards,
Diana SOUTER,

Corlette.