Young singers from seven to seventeen gathered at St Patrick’s on Sunday afternoon, 22nd September, to take part in the 2019 Broken Bay Diocese Children’s Choir Games.
As they arrived they were divided into three groups, given brightly coloured scarves to show which choir they belonged to, and then the Choir Games Director, Michaela De Souza, set to work teaching them songs for the competition later in the day.
They learned music and movements, and got to know each other, talking and playing games,
and enjoying breaks together.
After two hours of intensive workshops and rehearsals, they were ready to perform in the 2019 Choir Games, in front of a wildly enthusiastic audience of parents, friends and parishioners.
The Games concert opened by a performance by the whole gathering, directed by Michaela, followed by the host choir, the combined children’s choirs of Kuringgai Chase Catholic parish.
The Gold Choir, led by Helena Cullis, was outstanding for their sweet sound and the split-second timing of their actions to the spiritual, ‘Walk Together Children’.
and their action song, ‘Look Around You’.
David Mooney directed the Blue Choir
in a dramatic performance of ‘Changed My Name’
and achieved beautiful harmonies with his group singing, ‘Don’t Hide Your Light’.
But the winning choir by the narrowest of margins was the Green Choir, directed by Luke Massa. They gave a very moving performance of ‘Be With Me, Lord’,
and impressed the audience and adjudicators with their signing of ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ using Auslan signs for the hearing-impaired
This year’s 5-Minute Skills Challenge involved the three directors standing aside and surrendering the baton to a younger member of their choirs to direct ‘Rejoice in the Lord Always’ with actions and dancing, with only five minutes to prepare. With no preparation or warning, three young directors, Alison Dalton
Leah Alwis
and Rachel Massa
did a brilliant job resulting in three extraordinary performances.
While the Adjudicators considered their decision,
Kuringgai Chase parish’s Select Choir performed a beautiful arrangement in three parts,
of ‘And I Will Love You’. This choir of older members of the Children’s Choir has been singing together for seven years and regularly presents Advent and Lent reflection evenings for the parish.
One of the highlights of the day was the parish’s newest choir, the Cherubs Choir, for 4 to 7 year-olds, who have only been singing together for six months.
The Cherubs delighted everyone with their singing and their enthusiastic actions.
Finally the Adjudicators announced their decision to an impatient audience
Special guest, Diocesan Administrator, Fr David Ranson, thanked the children for their wonderful work and distributed prizes to the winning Green choir
and their director, Luke.
After a final song from the combined choir of participants, everyone gathered in the courtyard for afternoon tea.
Congratulations to all those involved, singers, directors and helpers!