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 1st August and concludes on Saturday 6th 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 trophies and performances that have been selected by the adjudicators over the week of the eisteddfod. Everyone is invited to attend.
Olivia Hill is the Speech and Drama adjudicator for 2022. For 25 years, Olivia has run a very successful theatre school where thousands of children have been trained in speech and drama, singing, classical ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop dance as well as acrobatics, musical theatre and performance. Past students are employed worldwide as well as playing lead roles in Australian musicals and theatre.
Olivia has adjudicated at many eisteddfods throughout Queensland and New South Wales. She has prepared students for performances including concerts, eisteddfods, pantomimes and professional gigs. Olivia has also toured with students around Australia, the UK and USA where they have performed and taken part in classes. Olivia has trained through Trinity College London, Queensland University of Technology, Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing and Royal Academy of Dance.
Wendy Rolls is the Vocal and Choral adjudicator and she enjoys working with singers of all ages as a teacher, conductor and performer. She currently divides her time teaching singing between Brisbane Girls Grammar School, All Hallows’ School and her private studio.
Wendy has extensive experience with choirs of varying skill levels and has been involved with auditioned and un-auditioned choirs in community, church, and school settings. She currently directs an auditioned middle school chamber choir. She taught classroom music for twelve years at Clayfield College, Brisbane, where she also conducted choirs for students ranging from Year 2 to Year 9. Prior to that, she founded and conducted community choirs for both children and adults during her time in Goondiwindi.
Wendy has performed in a variety of settings, including with her a cappella quartet and in community theatre. She has been Musical Director for community performing arts productions and was a foundation member of the Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod committee, where she served as president and secretary.
Wendy is committed to helping others to sing with ease and enjoyment for a lifetime. Her students explore a range of repertoire as suited to their age, voice qualities and interests including musical theatre, contemporary commercial music, jazz and classical music. Some have gone on to tertiary study while others continue to sing for the enrichment of their everyday lives.
Born into a musical family on the Gold Coast, Kellie 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), Les Miserables (Little Cosette), Company (Sarah). Pirates of Penzance (Edith), Chess (principal violin) Godspell (principal violin) and Grease (principal violin).
Kellie has achieved AMusA in both violin and singing and a Graduate Certificate through 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.
The Dance adjudicator is Bev Parker. During her dance training Bev was fortunate enough to study under the very best teachers in Australia in all facets of dance. Although she enjoyed being a member of the Queensland Modern and Contemporary Dance Company, Miss Parker’s passion was Commercial Dance. She travelled extensively performing in various shows and venues nationally working with inspiring choreographers like Ross Coleman, Ronnie Arnold and Graeme Watson.
Teaching dance then became Bev’s career path and by the age of 21 years was fully qualified with COMDANCE (3 Diplomas) and the ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE (Registered Teacher), and was the director of her own dance studio in South-East Queensland, which successfully operated for 42 years. Many students have been successful in the dance industry under her tutorage.
Such was her passion with teaching, she was encouraged to train to become an “Examiner” for COMDANCE (CSTD), an examination syllabus that covers Classical Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical & Acrobatics.
Adjudication is another facet of dance that Bev enjoys. She’s been fortunate enough to adjudicate at many dance competitions in the past. Competitions encourage dancers to strengthen their performance skills and confidence and she has seen many dancers ‘grow’ as performers over the years.
Bev considers herself very fortunate to work in such an enjoyable occupation, as a teacher, examiner and adjudicator, feeling it is very important to assist and encourage students at all stages of their dance development.
There are approximately 800 entries over all disciplines with the greatest number of entries in the dance sections.
It is so encouraging that students, teachers and parents are travelling great distances. 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 on most days by Shot 2 U.
For more information, please contact the Secretary Judy Dunlop on 0412510949.
