Getting ready to perform at the Sunshine Coast Choral Festival. Cool Harmonies joined six other local choirs for an afternoon of singing featuring Hot Ginger Chorus, New World Rhythm, Crystal Waters Community Choir, Sunshine Statesmen Barbershop Chorus, Global Harmonies and Tapestry. Photos: Hari Kotrotsios
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Four of our Cool Harmonians experienced the Big Sing in the Desert on the June long weekend, a four-day choral camp near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. "It was a fantastic cultural and musical meeting between 77 'white fellas' and around 70 Indigenous singers," said Barb. "We were fortunate to learn many Indigenous songs as well as two excellent African songs which we hope to share with our choir. We climbed mountains, yarned and sang our hearts out - it was a really wonderful experience."
The Uniting Church hall was filled to capacity at our Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. Photos: Chris Whitton
What an awesome outcome at our Biggest Morning Tea, raising $1,870 for the Cancer Council! More than 60 guests attended today's fundraiser, which featured entertainment by Girls with Pearl, Cool Harmonies and the Off Beats marimba and drumming group. Congratulations to the lucky raffle winners and thanks to prize donors Marcoola Community Bank Branch (1 x $150 account, 1 x $100 account and two golf umbrellas), and Coolum Theatre Players (1 x family pass to their upcoming pantomime Puss in Boots). There was an equally abundant selection of morning tea treats on offer! Photos: Hari Kotrotsios
Our choir director Yvonne has returned from another "inspiring, humbling, exciting, exhausting and heartfelt" visit to Uganda.
"We sanded and painted school walls in the slums and the training academy, held zumba sessions in 18 workshops and 3 school demonstrations, delivered bags of knitted sweaters and rugs to Sanu babies home, bought new bunk beds and linen for the dormitory, sang at a gospel church and school concert, competed in a game of soccer, visited families in the villages," she said. "We hugged, laughed, danced, smiled and cried with all the beautiful children. I'm feeling enriched and grateful for such an experience." Yvonne and members of the KwaYa group also met the African Children's Choir kids (pictured below) who will be visiting Australia from July-August, including seven days on the Sunshine Coast. In addition to singing at the Marcoola celebrations, some of our members also showcased their artistic talents outside of choir. Photos: Hari Kotrotsios
Inspired by a request to support indigenous singers from remote Central desert communities to attend the Big Sing in the Desert 2013 event, Cool Harmonies is sending a $250 donation, raised through a bucket collection over the past three weeks.
The donation will contribute towards the costs of transport, accommodation, food and workshop fees for Indigenous singers, with some travelling more than 700km to attend the workshop at Ross River Resort, an original homestead near Alice Springs. Choir members generously contributed additional funds to top up the initial $100 donation from our community chest, which sits at the front door. Each week the chest is filled with donations from the choir, their friends and family, members of the public, local businesses and paid performances. "Money raised through this community chest, along with money we make at fundraising events throughout the year, allows us to donate to a variety of community projects, both locally and further afield," said choir director Yvonne Corstorphin. In 2012 choir members raised $9,078.70 through various fundraising activities, just up from $7,740.50 in 2011. "Our members are equally passionate about spreading harmony throughout the community; with a generosity of spirit in everything we do, we enjoy sharing our gift of song with others, as well as our friendship, support, care, kindness and time." What amazing workshop sessions with Dr Jonathon Welch AM, director of the Choir of Hope & Inspiration (formerly Choir of Hard Knocks). Jonathon was in Coolum Beach on Sunday to run a master class session for our choir, followed by a public workshop, with money raised going towards the African Children’s Choir Tour 2013. Cool Harmonies is hosting the Sunshine Coast visit from 26 August – 1 September. Photos: Chris Whitton.
Our Bass member and Master Artist Clive Holden has unveiled his portrait entry into this year's prestigious Archibald Prize. Clive began the massive painting last year after watching a rehearsal by Jonathon Welch’s Choir of Hope and Inspiration (formerly the Choir of Hard Knocks) in Melbourne’s Federation Square. “I was blown away by the choir’s enthusiasm and energy,” he said. “I was so inspired I asked Jonathon if I could paint him and the choir for the Archibald.” The portrait is Clive’s second entry into the Archibald Prize. Last year he submitted a controversial portrait of Julian Assange, titled ‘Everyday Hero’. Jonathon viewed the portrait during his visit to Coolum Beach at the weekend where he conducting two music workshops at the Coolum Civic Centre on 17 February. Photos: Hari Kotrotsios
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