Contributed by Margaret Taylor
MALENY Singers have just performed their 23rd Christmas Concert at Maleny RSL.
The enthusiastic audience was generous in their applause and appreciation of the quality and standard of the performers.
During popular carols and Christmas songs the audience enjoyed joining in with the singing, conducted by Maleny Singers choir mistress Wendy Gleeson. There was plenty of variety including festive features beautifully performed by Vanessa Millar, Viera Keogh and Ian McMaster, accompanied by our dear friend Mavis Benn, and also Jill Boughen and Wendy Turton from Sunshine Coast Chimes who led the choir in Carol of the Bells chorus.
At the close of the evening Margaret Taylor invited Vanessa West (who had previously sung the roles of Santuzza and Nedda with us), and who was in the audience, to join her for the much loved O Holy Night.
The soprano duet was met with enthusiastic acclaim. Representatives from Maleny Rural Fire Brigade were in attendance (along with their brand new fire engine), passing around their helmets for donations.
The total amount of $900 was raised and added to the total of $260 donated by the residents of Vantage Maleny at the Singers concert held on the previous Wednesday, making a grand total of $1,160. Maleny RFB representative, Jared Ashcroft thanked the audience of behalf of the local ‘firies’.