Choral Productions Tasmania Inc.

In April, 2009, all three choirs in Choral Productions Tasmania Inc presented an Anzac Day Concert in the CityWide Convention Centre in Mornington, on Hobart’s eastern shore, to a capacity audience of 500 and standing ovations. Tears and laughter were the order of the day, with cries of ‘more, more’ after the finalé and demands for this to be an annual event.

Items depicting courage, bravery, hope and joy in war-time situations included

1. •‘Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears’ by Ireland’s Brendan Graham, telling the story of the first Irish girl to enter America’s Ellis Island Immigration Centre
   

2. •‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’, in 7 parts, with a 35-pce high school band
   

3. •the ‘Skye Boat Song’ from Scotland, depicting Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape to France
   

4. •‘In Flanders Fields’ where poppies grow....
   

5. • Bette Midler’s ‘From a Distance’ - from space earth looks peaceful, but closer ...
   

6. • John Farnham’s ‘You’re The Voice’ asking us to work together, rather than fight
   

7. •‘The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B’ - the Andrew Sisters in WWII
   

8. • and 18 other items.
   

Guest artists included the Hobart Men’s Barbershop Harmony Club, and actor Pip Tyrrell, who presented ‘Christmas in the Trenches’.

Margot sang Eric Bogle’s ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ the story of Gallipoli, with guitarist Vin Howe.

The next Anzac Concert is planned for Easter Monday next year, 2011, and the performance repeated the following Sunday in Launceston.

Another joint performance :

All three choirs will present John Peterson’s ‘The Wonder of Christmas’ - a one hour Christmas cantata with soloists, on Saturday afternoon, December 11, in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Harrington St, Hobart from 2.30pm. Tickets $10, available at the door from 2pm. A delightful way to begin the Christmas season.

Joint Performances