Any accolades for touring in September can sometimes be lost in the preparations for the busy Christmas season – with this in mind let us congratulate the 42 choristers and six support staff who few out of Melbourne at the start of the Term 3 school holidays to perform to local audiences across Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Atherton Tablelands.
In Rockhampton, the touring choristers performed with Rockhampton Musical Union Youth Choir and enjoyed the local sights and hospitality offered by their hosts. On the way to Yeppoon, the tour group stopped in at Capricorn Caves for exploring and an impromptu sing within the acoustically beautiful Cathedral Cave. Mayor Bill Ludwig and several Councillors attended the NBCA’s appearance at Yeppoon’s Morning Melodies as well as an audience in excess of 300.
As the days raced by, so too did the performances – Mackay Entertainment Convention Centre, Townsville Choral Society Hall and St Monica’s War Memorial Cathedral in Cairns.
All honours, however, belong to the final performance of the tour when our choristers were rewarded with a standing ovation from a sell-out audience in Atherton.
It’s the positive experiences – for both host families and tour boys – that stick with the tour group each year and the group was humbled to receive feedback from their Rockhampton hosts mid-tour: “. . . It was a beautiful concert – loved it all and everyone is raving about it this morning. Our hosts are happy too. The boys are treasures!”