The Annual Gala Concert, staged in the Uniting Church Auditorium on 2 November, lived up to expectations as the highlight of the Serenata Singers concert year. This year’s theme was “I’m Gonna Sing” and featured a program that emphatically demonstrated the many different styles and moods of choral music. It included medleys of songs from the legendary American song writers George and Ira Gershwin; hits from the classic Broadway musicals West Side Story and Oklahoma; some Gilbert and Sullivan favourites; the music of John Denver; sacred music by Cherubini and Fauré; popular tunes from Disney’s The Lion King; and the traditional African-American spirituals Down to the River to Pray and I’m Gonna Sing. The last, a particularly joyous and rousing number, provided a particularly appropriate title for the concert.

The choir’s repertoire was complemented by outstanding solo performances by students from The Gap SHS music program. Ava Zoete performed a marimba solo Sea Refractions by Mitchell Peters. Maya Sherwood performed Tchaikowsky’s Oktober Herbstlied (from The Seasons Opus 37) on the piano. Chloe Riley on the saxophone, accompanied by Ros Dargusch on the piano, performed Valse Venite by Rudy Wiedoeft. The final solo performance was a beautiful piano rendition of Joe Hiasaishi’s One Summer’s Day by Chloe Riggien.

Rev. Rod Fisher of The Gap Uniting Church reprised his role as compere for the evening, once again demonstrating his wit and aplomb as a host. The choir was led by Jenni Mersiades (first half) and Lois Cutmore (second half), and accompanied by Prue Gibbs. This was choir director Lois Cutmore’s final gig with the choir for awhile as she is taking a well-deserved break for 2020. The choir is deeply grateful for her outstanding contribution and wishes her all the best.

As usual, the concert is co-sponsored by the choir and Ashgrove/The Gap Lions Club, with proceeds aiding the choir and the Lions Medical Research Foundation.

Enjoy below photos of some of the wonderful decorations devised and created by choir members to grace the auditorium during the performance.