TH E STORY Many years ago I saw the American senior citizens’ choir, Young@Heart perform in Melbourne. I, like everyone in the audience, was moved and we all laughed and cried and sometimes did both at the same time. I vowed then that I would form a senior citizens’ rock choir that had a small but significant difference in that the musicians accompanying the choir would be music students who are at least two generations younger than the singers. The dream took shape when the headmaster of Girton Grammar School, Mr Matthew Maruff, heard about the vision and encouraged me to make it happen. With a small grant from the City of Greater Bendigo, a space to rehearse (provided by the school) and the generosity of many volunteers who gave their time we were in business. All we needed were some singers! I asked friends to tell their parents’ friends and choirs to tell their members and visited retirement villages to spread the word that we needed singers. I did not believe that anyone
would turn up on the designated day and I was nauseous from nerves. Thirty-six brave people arrived and on the programme were Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’ and Cold Play’s ‘Fix You’. These two gentle songs were chosen to break everyone in gently as I also wanted to introduce the late Amy Winehouse’s beautiful song ‘Rehab’ as well as ‘I Wanna be Sedated’ by The Ramones. The next week saw many singers come back with their friends and so the choir took shape. We are indebted to the many, many people who have enabled us to live our motto of ‘Live, Love, Laugh, Play, Shine’. We are delighted to be Wilde for you tonight. Laura Dusseljee Director of the Forever young Rock Choir
WILBUR WILDE Wilbur Wilde a renowned saxophonist and entertainer. He was a member of the seminal ‘Hey Hey It’s Saturday’ team for 16 years (1984 – 1999) and for the return season in ‘09 and ‘10. His theatre career includes 750 performances playing the characters Eddie and Doctor Scott in ‘The New Rocky Horror Show’ directed by Nigel Triffit. He has appeared as an actor in Coolangatta Gold, Jenny Kissed Me, Dead End Drive-in and Mad Max amongst others. Wilbur performed in the productions ‘Hey Hey it’s Cinderella’ and the riotously entertaining, Glynn Nicholas directed ‘Eurobeat’. Wilbur’s varied occupations include Musician (Sax and Vocals), Actor, Radio Broadcaster, Television Presenter/ Producer/Writer, Master of Ceremonies, Event Producer and Tour Manager, Music Producer/Director, Jingle composer and copywriter. Wilbur rose to prominence with the bands ‘Ol’ 55’ and ‘Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons’. Wilbur, with ‘Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons’ became an ARIA Hall of Fame inductee in 2007. He has performed and/or recorded with Skyhooks, Elvis Costello, Garth Brooks, Tom Jones, Split Enz, Roy Orbison, Cold Chisel, Dire Straits, Lou Rawls, Billy Daniels, Ricky May, James Morrison, Renee Geyer, Joe Camilleri, Glenn Shorrock, Dragon, Billy Thorpe, and Paul Kelly. Wilbur has appeared on TV shows Countdown, The Fast Lane, Flying Doctors, MDA, Logie Awards, Carols by Candle Light, Our Place, This is Your Life, ABC Jazz Series, The Paul Hogan Show, Daryl Somers’ Tonight Show, Flying Doctors, Blankety Blanks, Sale of the Century, Celebrity Squares,
D EREK GUILLE Derek Guille carved out a 28 year career as a broadcaster, including 25 years at the ABC. With his distinctively personable style and good humour, Derek presented the 774 and Local Radio Evening Program for nine years. While his programs had a focus on music and culture, Derek also created a sense of community via talkback. His audience became a regular part of the program, expressing positions and opinions through conversation in a trusted and respectful environment and his outside broadcasts during the Black Saturday bushfires set a benchmark in emergency broadcasting. Since leaving the ABC Derek works as a Master of Ceremonies, Guest Speaker and Narrator.
Celebrity Temptation, MTV, Getaway, Wilde about Golf, A Pub too Far, Postcards, The Russell Gilbert Show, Spicks and Specks and Live at The Basement. Wilbur is delighted to be part of the Forever Young Rock Choir performance tonight!
TH E CHOIR Director Mrs Laura Dusseljee Helen Addicoat Moya Anderson Cheryl Axell Gloria Balcam George Ball Carolyn Bartlett Marta Birrell Pam Blake Liz Blundell Liz Cain Robert Campbell Chris Carswell Carol Clymo Elaine Cornish Jan Crowe Lyn Curnow Eril Daenke Gail Daniels Marg Davis Lorraine Day Manfred Dobrow Dennis Dole Richard Dole Helen Dredge
Michael Durant Cliff Ellis June Ellis Julie Ford JJ (John) Fordham Noela Forman Peter Gladman Jan Gledhill Helen Gobbe Pam Godwin Jenny Gosling Christine Haddrick Julie Hartwell Louise Heyden Chris Hobson David Humphreys Pat Jones Jacqui Kennedy Patricia King Bing Lilburne Muriel Lynch Jan MacDonald Marjorie Matthews Helen Musk Mabel Nicholls Esma Pennington
Greg Penno Peter Peterson Geoff Phelps Garth Phillips Trish Potter Laurie Preston Ethné Ramage Trevor Rhoderick Frank Roberts Joy Roberts Frances Russell Sandra Sampson Liz Schroeder Brian Sexton Pam Sexton Wendy Sheldon Bev Smith Liz Spencer Brenda Thomas Carolyn Thomas Pam Towers Pyrene Tromanns Jeannie Turnbull Wendy Turner Merle U’ren Pamela Vine
Maree Wallace Maurice Wild Jenny Williams Joy Wilson David Wright Annie Young
Vale Joan Lyon 18-04-1945 ~ 17-05-2016
THE SONGS LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU
MEDITATION FROM THAIS
WHEN DOVES CRY
SHAPE I’M IN
Words & Music by Robert Williams & Guy Chambers Words & Music by Prince
Jules Massenet
Words & Music By Joe Camilleri, Jeffrey Burstin & Tony Faehse
RUNNIN’ DOWN A DREAM
Words & Music by Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne & Mike Campbell
I’LL SLIP AWAY
GOIN’ HOME
Music by Mark Knopfler
IN THESE ARMS
Words & Music by Sixto Rodriguez
Words & Music by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & David Bryan
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG
Words & Music by Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen & Robert Williams
WILD HORSES
Words & Music by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
SO YOUNG
Words & Music by Andrea Corr, Caroline Corr, Sharon Corr & Jim Corr
TIME AFTER TIME
Words & Music by Cyndi Lauper & Robert Hyman
I WONDER
Words & Music by Sixto Rodriguez
HEROES
Words by David Bowie, Music by David Bowie & Brian Eno
DON’T DREAM IT’S OVER Words & Music by Neil Finn
ON THE PROWL
I WANNA BE LIKE YOU
Words & Music by James Manzie
Words & Music by Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman
BORN TO BE WILD
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
Words & Music by Mars Bonfire
Words & Music by Harry Vanda & George Young
BARCELONA
Words & Music by Freddie Mercury & Mike Moran
INTERVAL
FOREVER YOUNG
Words & Music by Bob Dylan
STRING ORCHESTRA
CONTRABANDD
Director Mrs Cally Bartlett
Director Mr Ben Gibbons
Dale Baker (Year 12) Lily Begg (Year 10) Ruby Fletcher (Year 7) Grace Falconer (Year 9) Sita Jhaveri (Year 12) Braeley Jones (Year 12) Sunday Lam (Year 12) Noah Lawrence (Year 7) Iona Marsden-Sweeney (Year 11) Alessia McCaig (Year 7)
Jason Mekel (Year 11) Haydn Musgrove (Year 12) Nellie O’Shea-Carre (Year 12) Eliza O’Sullivan (Year 7) Benjamin Pignataro (Year 11) Victoria Savage (Year 12) Ruby Shirres (Year 11) Emma Sin (Year 7) Simone Stephens (Year 8) Annabel Weiss (Year 12) Daniel Worthington (Year 9)
Nelson Beks (Year 10) Reuben Roessler (Year 12) Caleb Ellis (Year 11) David Russell (Year 10)
J A CO B M C K E N Z I E
GRACE PHILLIPS
HANNAH HOLMES
Jacob MacKenzie is twelve years old and is in Year 7 at Girton Grammar School. For such a young performer, Jacob already has a swag of experience and is a very familiar face around the Senior School Music Department.
Grace has been part of Girton for 13 years and is involved in various Drama and Music co-curriculum activities.
Hannah has loved performing from a young age. She began singing in choirs, at age seven, with the Bendigo Youth choir and since has been involved in a number of Girton’s various choral groups.
2015 was a particularly big year for Jacob. He played the role of young Ned Kelly in NED - a new Australian musical, which premiered at the Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo followed by the title role of Aladdin, in Girton Grammar’s Production of Aladdin Jnr.
She is quite experienced when it comes to the stage, both at Girton and beyond. She played the major role of Cinderella in Girton’s 2014 production of Into The Woods. In 2015, Pamela Edwards from The 39 Steps, and more recently, Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast. Grace was also an ensemble member for NED - a new Australian musical in June 2014.
Jacob has also enjoyed success in various choirs, including being accepted into the prestigious national Gondwana Choir and performing at the State Theatre in Opera Australia’s 2016 season of La Boheme. He also sang this year in Opera Australia’s regional season of Marriage of Figaro.
Grace describes the Performing Arts Department at Girton as her “hub”, stating it has supported and guided her to be the performer she is today. “Girton, has helped me tremendously in developing my individuality both as an actor, singer and overall as a person,” she said.
Jacob studies Voice and Piano at Girton and is thrilled to perform with the Forever Young Choir. Tonight, he will perform “I Wanna Be Like You” from the classic Walt Disney film The Junglebook.
Grace wishes to pursue her passion for the Performing Arts after Year 12 and is hopeful about the future. She encourages younger students to look beyond the boundaries of a doubtful mind and pursue what they love.
Hannah’s love of singing has manifested itself in her numerous solo and group performances over the years. These include Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods, Annabella Schmidt in the 2015 play The 39 Steps and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Rehearsing and performing with the Forever Young Choir has been a rewarding experience for Hannah, and one for which she is grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part. “There is something intensely gratifying about performing a piece to a live audience – it is the culmination of hours of hard work, and for a few short moments you have the capacity to entrance a room full of people – to take them along with you in a shared musical experience” Tonight Hannah is delighted to perform the operatic ‘Barcelona’.
THANK YOU Forever Young Rock Choir is grateful to the many people, organisations and groups who make it possible for us to continue performing each year. We could not manage without the ongoing support and encouragement of Mr Matthew Maruff, Headmaster of Girton Grammar School who encourages us to use the school’s facilities, students and staff. These include: •
Mr Steve Vine, Head of Music, for his encouragement and support
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Mrs Jacqui Vine for her beautiful playing and general support
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Mr Ben Gibbons, Director of the band, Contrabandd
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Mrs Cally Bartlett for her gorgeous arrangements of all the songs. Tonight the string orchestra is also performing under her baton!
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Mr Nigel Vernon for his support on the night
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Instrumental teachers at Girton Grammar School. Without your skills and talents none of this would be possible
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Mr John MacMillan for all manner of technical support
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Mrs Anne Begg, Miss Rachel London and Dr Michael Lichnovsky for beautiful playing. You add such value to what we do.
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Mr Martin O’Rielly and his band of merry men who set up our rehearsal space, make props and generally put everything in place so that we can function
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Mr Mark Beever, Mrs Kristen Beever, Mrs Kristi Mitchell and Ms Alex Fisher for all manner of support and promotion
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Mrs Marg Keech for her constant and continued support . You really are extraordinary!
The Forever Young Rock Choir also wish to thank our ongoing supporters and family and friends who support us every year.
Graeme and Helen Campbell
foreveryoungrockchoir.org