Songfest at Palm Lake Resort Tea Gardens raises money for Local Red Cross Myall Coast Myall Coast - popup ad Myall Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 1, 2023 Tea Gardens Red Cross Secretary Jenny Kelly, Treasurer Elisabeth Fenton, Viva Voce Conductor Jill Davies, and Musical Director John Davies. SONGS from the heart reverberated around the Promenade at Palm Lake Resort (PLR), Tea Gardens, as the first ‘Songfest’ since the pandemic was held on Tuesday, 10 October. The more than 120-strong local audience was graced with the choral strains of TG-PLR’s local choir ‘Villa Voce’, and a special guest appearance by Lake Macquarie-based all-male singing group the ‘Rathmines/Wangi Singers’. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “It was an unbelievable rollup, fantastic voices all around, and RWS’ newly-acquired pianist Peter Cummings was excellent,” Allan Anton, a former member of the Rathmines/Wangi Singers, and current member of Villa Voce, told NOTA. “The visiting choir had all-live music and whipped up a storm with fun-filled performances, inviting very willing audience participation.” All of Villa Voce’s music had also been put together by their Musical Director, and PLR resident, John Davies, of ‘Old Spice’ fame. Attendees were asked for a simple gold-coin donation at the door, which was collected and later presented as a cheque for $400 to Tea Gardens Red Cross on Monday, 23 October. Red Cross Treasurer Elisabeth Fenton and Secretary Jenny Kelly accepted the cheque and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the singers. Villa Voce, which is currently conducted by Jill and musically directed by John Davies, has 27 members with an average age of 75 years, and rehearses every week. “We like to have a repertoire to go to the community, having performed at various concerts at Estia Health, Dolphins Community Group, Biggest Morning Tea for Cancer Research, and Christmas Carols around the Village – another recent event was singing at Peter Sinclair Gardens on Sunday 8 October,” Mr Anton explained. “Joining a choir and singing is phenomenal for the brain and socialisation, it’s easy, costs nothing to do, and it is believed that Villa Voce is the only SATB Choir between Newcastle and Forster in this age bracket.” Villa Voce hopes to continue their ‘Songfest’ next year, and will be dazzling audiences at the upcoming Lions Christmas Festival on 15 December. By Thomas O’KEEFE The Boys of Rathmines-Wangi Singers. Villa Voce at Songfest.
