TIDES OF WELCOME - 20th ANNIVERSARY

7/31/2023

WAYNE JURY 2020 +

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THOUGHTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BEING A CHOIR DIRECTOR.

2020, in the midst of the Covid lockdowns, was a challenging time to start my directorship with the Tides of Welcome choir. As the choir members will attest, conducting a choir via zoom from 20 or more locations with varying internet speeds is not ideal. However, we made it through and here we are about to celebrate a 20th anniversary. I think the main reason we sing in choirs is because we love singing together, we love sharing the human condition, our pain our joy, our fear our excitement and sharing the beautiful sounds we make together helps us (despite our differences) to feel a part of a community and that we are not alone and are supported by those around us. It’s a privilege to be one of the facilitators contributing to this community. While the music is important, the social aspect of the Tides of Welcome Choir is the heart. To me it seems that this is the place this choir began 20 years ago (an idea from the heart) when Carolyn Williams and Jude McCudden approached Sarah Carroll to be the first director. While the quality of performance is always on my mind, I should never lose sight that the feeling of unity and social connectivity is most important to the members of the Tides of Welcome Choir.

ONE OR TWO OF THE FAVOURITE SONGS YOU DIRECTED.

At the moment my two favourite songs are firstly “When I go away” because it’s a more complex arrangement that the choir members were prepared to work on and I know they love to perform it as it’s quite emotive. Secondly one of my songs “Paint a Picture” because I learned to just get out of the way and let the choir do their thing, the thing that they do so well.

MEMORABLE OR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES.

I haven’t been involved with many performances with the Choir but I think the most memorable and rewarding one was at the Uniting Church as part of the Queenscliff Music Festival 2022. The audience and the Choir were engaged and connected and the feeling in the room was very uplifting. Choir and audience left the concert hall with smiling faces and warm hearts.

7/31/2023

ANDREA ROBERTSON 2015 - 2020

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THOUGHTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BEING A CHOIR DIRECTOR.

I kind of "fell into" the role of Choir Director, although I had quite a lot of experience performing and working with groups, I had never formally led a choir group, and it wasn't even on my radar. However, a few people messaged me out of the blue, to let me know they had seen the position advertised and had just "thought of me" when they saw it, and my curiosity was piqued. So, I enquired about the role, met up with the executive, did a trial, and it all seemed to fall into place beautifully. I loved the challenge for working with around 30 people, various levels of experience and ability, and creating something that sounded so beautiful collectively. When we hit the "sweet spot", or a new song really came together, or we just nailed a performance, it was so exciting and everyone seemed to feel very connected.

ONE OR TWO OF THE FAVOURITE SONGS YOU DIRECTED.

This is a very hard one to answer! I'd have to say "A Time For All Things" because it was the first song I ever wrote for the choir (when I found out I got the "Job"), and it always sounded so beautiful. I also loved doing Well, Well, Well and Archie Roach's Little By Little was terrific too. My original song, Lighthouse, was pretty special too.

MEMORABLE OR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES.

Over the 5 1/4 years I was choir leader, some of the highlights include performances at QMF, particularly joining Mama Kin & Spender, Paul McDermott & Steven Gates, and of course, the Djarimirri experience of Gurrumul's magnificent works. But we had some truly wonderful performances of our own, and sometimes our rehearsal nights were just so much fun.

7/31/2023

TIFFANY ECKHARDT 2010 - 2015

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TIFFANY ECKHARDT 2010 - 2015

THOUGHTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BEING A CHOIR DIRECTOR.

I was very honoured to be asked to apply for the position of tides choir director way back in 2010. The work I did with this wonderful bunch of humans set me on a course which I still enjoy today, being involved with community choirs.

ONE OR TWO OF THE FAVOURITE SONGS YOU DIRECTED.

Favourite memories include our performances at the QMF and at the Queenscliff Uniting Church....and recording our album 'Let Your Little Light Shine!'

MEMORABLE OR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES.

Mostly though for me it was about being a part of this very special community and sharing our love of music and getting together every week, singing and laughing and sometimes crying, in the beautiful community house room overlooking the water.

7/31/2023

ROSE BYGRAVE 2010

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THOUGHTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BEING A CHOIR DIRECTOR.

The highlights for me often happened on a weekly basis. Seeing everyone learn the parts and then seeing the joy when each song came together was magical. Listening to everyone singing as one is amongst the greatest pleasures we can share as musicians. We know when we have nailed the parts because it’s written on the faces of everyone involved, everyone listening. Then when the songs are performed, that joy and awe and recognition of the work, spreads into the community.

ONE OR TWO OF THE FAVOURITE SONGS YOU DIRECTED.

I loved hearing the choir singing the classic song of Sam Cooke , You Send Me. It’s fun and cheeky with a couple of winks and nods in the lyrics. It was also very humbling to have some of my original songs performed. One of the songs, Erarerama is a song where the central word comes from the Arente language from central Australia and means ‘to long for that which is lost ‘. It’s a gentle song and sweet sound of the voices singing with me was very moving.

MEMORABLE OR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES.

There have been two concerts that I’ve really loved. I’m sure that each performance has a unique spark because each one is a bit different, even when singing the same songs over and over, something always happens to add a little bit extra. It might be the audience, the venue, the weather or even something that doesn’t go quite to plan. The choir always performs with good humour and full generosity. Those special concerts for me were at the Uniting Church when beautiful Sarah Carroll and I shared the event as directors, and a concert at the QMF marquee where there were a couple of other directors- the lovely Tiff Eckhardt being one. Dave Steel and I sang Dylan’s I’ll be your baby tonight backed by the choir. Great version

7/31/2023

SARAH CARROLL 2003 - 2010

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THOUGHTS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF BEING A CHOIR DIRECTOR.

The Tides Of Welcome was my first crack at being a choir director! I recall the first session where we all sat and told our stories to each other and I confessed to being a novice who hoped to learn on the job and bring everyone along for the ride. I still feel so honoured and fortunate that there was a sense of faith and willingness in the group which enabled us to achieve a tremendous amount in our first 7 years.

ONE OR TWO OF THE FAVOURITE SONGS YOU DIRECTED.

I always loved singing the gospel and work songs I found and arranged for everyone which featured solo vocals as well as the choir. Janine McGinness-Whyte wrote a beautiful song about the choir which was a huge favourite with everyone.

MEMORABLE OR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES.

Every QMF gig was wonderful! I remember a really hot Tranquillity Fair gig once when half of us had heatstroke afterwards...also the Choir Festival we did in Hawthorn one time where we got to see all the different Victorian community choirs in action...fascinating! I was proud to stand in front of the Tiders every time and can't wait to do it again!

Tides of Welcome celebrate 20 years of Community Singing!!!!!!

Tides of Welcome choir celebrates 20 years!
Based in Queenscliffe Neighbourhood House, Tides of Welcome was lead by Sarah Carroll back in 2003 and known as The Ripchords.
Since then the "Tiders" have had enormous success with five choir directors adding their own personal flavour to the songs performed at various events ranging from community gigs, our annual performances at the Uniting Church and the Queenscliff Music Festival and right through to even wedding proposals and special festivals such as the "Mouth to Mountain".
In our 20th year, we're really looking forward to, not only singing for the community, but especially catching up with as many former members during this significant year.
Hear what our former choir directors have to say and add a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

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