Yes, Eisteddfod week is almost here! Instruments are polished and tuned, the performers have rehearsed for weeks and the last sequins have been added to the costumes. The Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod begins next Monday 7th August and concludes on Saturday 12th August. The Monday morning program in the Main Hall begins with the Large and Small Ensembles while the Prep age and under classes will delight everyone with their Nursery Rhyme in costume performances. Primary Speech & Drama will be heard in the River Room all day.
The remainder of the week will be filled with Verse Speaking Choirs and Piano on Tuesday while Primary Choirs, Small Schools’ Choirs, Secondary School’s Choirs and Recorders occupy all of Wednesday. Dance begins in the Main Hall on Thursday and continues on Friday and Saturday. The Junior Vocalists appear before the adjudicator in the River Room on Friday while the Open Vocal & Choral performers take to the stage in the River Room on Saturday morning.
The week culminates with the Wine & Cheese Evening in the River Room from 5.30pm on Saturday evening. The evening includes the presentation of major trophies and performances that have been selected by the adjudicators over the week of the eisteddfod. Everyone is invited to attend.
The adjudicators for the week are Margaret Gallagher, Speech & Drama; Kellie Wilson, Instrumental & Piano and Vocal & Choral; and Nicky Manego, Dance.
Margaret Gallagher holds a Licentiate Diploma in Speech and Drama from Trinity College, London – winning a “Top of the State” Award for results in this subject. She also holds an Associate Teaching Diploma from The Australian College of Music in Speech and Drama. Margaret has studied Linguistics and related subjects at the University of Queensland. Margaret was previously a coordinator and teacher of Speech, Drama and Communication in Townsville and Brisbane. She currently holds a position as a private Speech and Drama Tutor and Co-Ordinator at Stuartholme Catholic Girls School in Brisbane. Margaret is the Honorary Secretary of the Communications, Speech and Performance Teachers Inc in Queensland. Her teaching experience is vast having taught students from Prep through to Diploma levels. Margaret has adjudicated at many centres in Australia as well as in Hong Kong over a number of years. She has recently been appointed to the panel of Examiners for Trinity College London.
Born into a musical family on the Gold Coast, Kellie Wilson has always had a love for instrumental music and singing. She has played in orchestras as well as performed on stage for a range of musicals including The King and I (Anna Leonowens), The Sound of Music (Sister Berthe), Les Miserables (Little Cosette), Company (Sarah), Pirates of Penzance (Edith), Chess (principal violin) Godspell (principal violin), Grease (principal violin) and others. Kellie has achieved AMusA in both violin and singing and a Graduate Certificate in Music Studies through the Queensland Conservatorium. She has worked for performing arts organizations including the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Conservatorium, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama, but since having two children of her own, Kellie has concentrated on choral and vocal teaching.
Nicky Manego has been involved in the entertainment industry for many years as a performer, teacher, choreographer, performance coach, event manager and adjudicator. She has toured Australia and overseas in many shows as a dancer/singer and model. Highlights include the Jackie Love Show, Magic Millions Gala (New Zealand & Kentucky, USA), Royal Bicentennial Concert (Sydney), Queensland Day Concert (World Expo), the musicals Evita (Sydney) and Swing (Barcelona), the Australian Film Industry Awards and numerous Corporate Events and television shows.
Nicky trained through the RAD and CSTD Syllabi and also studied at ‘The Ross Coleman Performing Arts Studios’ (Sydney) and ‘Pineapple Dance Studios’ (London). Years spent studying, performing and perfecting her craft has ensured proficiency in all dance styles including tap and musical theatre. As a teacher/choreographer, Nicky has many years of experience teaching and mentoring students of all ages in a variety of dance genres. She has created choreographic pieces for performance teams, duos, trios and solos, National Sports Acrobatics Teams, Fashion and Hair Shows and the ‘Creative Generation State Schools on Stage Spectacular’.
As an adjudicator, Nicky is privileged to have adjudicated numerous Eisteddfods and Dance and Cheer events both nationally and internationally. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as an adjudicator and strives to encourage and inspire all young performers to continue their journey of participation in and passion for the performing arts.
It is so encouraging that students, teachers and parents are travelling great distances to be at the eisteddfod. It is a good time for the parents to catch up and share their daily experiences with each other and for the students to make new friends. The Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod Committee thanks everyone who has been a part of this year’s eisteddfod.
Season passes cost $20.00 for adults and $30.00 for a family. Day passes cost $6.00 for an adult and $2.00 for children over 3 years and a session pass is $3.00 for an adult, $2.00 for a senior and $1.00 for children over 3 years. The canteen will be operated by Shot 2 U.
For more information, please contact the Secretary Judy Dunlop on 0412510949.
