Community & Business
9 September, 2024
Queens of Song bring music royalty back to life at Cultural Centre
Musical group Queens of Song brought the musical ‘queens’ of the late 20th century back to life in a breathtaking performance at the Oakey Cultural Centre last Friday night.
Helen Keddy, the Seekers, Mama Cass, Peter Allen Olivia Newton-John, and the band Queen themselves all featured as part of Bucholz and Kiddle’s performance.
The pair spoke of how they had reunited in the last two years, after going into music/music teaching in careers after leaving high school in South Grafton.
Mel played on an electric piano with a grand facade made by local Oakey resident and Empire Theatre employee Lucas Kummerow.
The facade was constructed with a hollow timber frame, made light and compact for easy transport in an SUV and coated with an automotive finish.
Parts including the music stand base, and the brass lid fittings were 3D printed at home by Mr Kummerow over the course of 50 hours.
Aspiring musical talent Dom Withers from Toowoomba along with five young saxophonists made the trip to Oakey, having performed at Clifton the night before.
The crowd was perhaps a little disappointing, numbering a few dozen hard core music lovers, however, it’s hoped that the local Arts Council will be able to drive the next performance.
Members of the local choral group Oakey Voices, along with conductor Daphne Webster OAM, Hennette Kalitz and Jondaryan’s own singer Pepper Jane (a.k.a. Jacqueline Evans, who now lives in Gatton but still performs at venues in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs)
It’s not the only performance Mrs Webster has been preparing for, with members of the choir with which she practices in Toowoomba readying themselves for a big performance
“On Saturday, 7th September at 2.30pm, the members of the Toowoomba Choral Society, under the direction of conductor Shane Tooley, will be presenting a program of ‘light’ themed music in St Luke’s Church, Toowoomba,” she said.
“The major work of the concert will be Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” –Eternal Light.
"This will be accompanied by guest artist of the choir, Edwarda van Klinken on the magnificent organ of St Luke’s, which has been undergoing maintenance and repairs in recent months.
“Tickets for the concert are available at the door or via trybooking.com “
Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for students.
“It will be an afternoon of great music to ‘lighten’ the soul and heart,” Mrs Webster said.
