Auburn Uniting Church, Hawthorn

The choir was pleased to host the Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir in a joint concert in Hawthorn. They opened proceedings with a lively medley comprising Over the Rainbow, Sing and Top of the World.

Compère John White then welcomed the audience and introduced Musical Director Jeanette John and accompanist Selmo Carreira. The bracket continued with the soulful

Across the Wide Missouri,  then a beautifully sung Calon Lân to the tune of The Rose  and finishing off with an old favourite Wouldn’t it Be Loverly from My Fair Lady.

Replacing the Ladies at the front of the church, Musical Director Faleiry Koczkar and accompanist Lorna Ogilvie led VicWelsh in the Welsh favourite  Blaenwern (Love Divine), the hugely patriotic O Gymru and the classic Amazing Grace. Faleiry turned to the audience to give them a quick rehearsal in the final chorus before the choir marched into the Battle Hymn of the Republic with splendid additional flute accompaniment by Bendigo chorister Nigel McGuckian.

Geelong Ladies came back to stand in front of VicWelsh in order to sing two combined numbers. With Faleiry conducting, Jeanette led the singing on the call and response Senzenina complete with spirited and coordinated stomping  in the final verse. Jeanette then stepped on to the podium to conduct both choirs in the unashamedly romantic Down in the Valley.

After interval it was Geelong Ladies’ turn again  with the energising You Raise Me Up, Y Mae Afon (There is a River), O Llefara Addfwyn Iesu (Speak I Pray Thee, Gentle Jesus) and another African song Sombamba with marvellous clapping and stomping in the final choruses.

The stage area then cleared to reveal Radio Operator Tony Hosemans and Stoker Geoff Roberts as they performed a poignant and highly skilful duet from the musical Titanic, to great applause.

VicWelsh returned then with Ar Lan Y Môr (Beside the Sea), the iconic Working Man confidently led by soloist Barry McMahon, the emotional You’ll Never Walk Alone and the famous Toreador Song from Carmen dramatically led by tenor Drew Hopkins.

For the finale, the two choirs again came together and, with Jeanette conducting and Nigel on flute, dovetailed musically on the powerful Benedictus. The versatile Jeanette then stepped down to take the soprano lead on How Great Thou Art with Faleiry conducting. Both choirs then sang Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau before some sections also simultaneously sang Waltzing Matilda, culminating in the symbolic waving of the Welsh flag by the Ladies’ native Welsh speaker Myfanwy.