The Taree and District Eisteddfod is half way over and some standout performers have already been selected for the Grand Concert at the Manning Entertainment Centre on Saturday, June 5.
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The Eisteddfod is currently having a two-week pause while many of the competitors are involved in NAPLAN testing at their schools.
Still to come are the Piano section, coordinated by local piano teacher Don Secomb, and the Instrumental section, coordinated by Tanya Brown from Bass 'N Blues, who is also working hard to recover from the flood damage to their shop.
However the Vocal and Dance sections are over, and vocal coordinator Deirdre Sutherland, and dance coordinator Julie Edwards, Dance have made their selections of performers for the Grand Concert. These outstanding winners come from as far away as Newcastle and Kempsey, as well as many from our local Manning and Great Lakes.
Among those selected is vocalist Kate Rourke from Wingham who has been singing in the Eisteddfod since she was eight-years-old. Now 19, this is Kate's last year as she heads off to Newcastle next year.
Also singing will be Sam Elmi from Newcastle. Sam was the Open Age Vocal Championship winner and has a leading role in Opera Hunter current production of La Traviata. He will be performing in this opera with PJ Willis, also a former Taree Eisteddfod vocalist.
Dancers for the concert include a lively group performance based on High School Musical by Port Macquarie's La Vive Studio, which won the adjudicator's award for the most memorable group performance. Forster-Tuncurry's Dance Elite Studio have also been invited to perform after gaining first place in the Eight Years and Under Modern Expressive Group performance.
Overall there will be about 30 performances representing all of the sections. The performers are selected for winning championships and/or other highly entertaining quality performances. The concert will be compered by local identity George Hoad.
Major awards of $450 will be presented to one performer from each section. Also at the concert mayor David West will present the big award of $1500, the Roma Liggins Scholarship, to one of the performers.
Unfortunately the Choirs and the Speech and Drama sections were unable to compete this year due to the COVID restrictions which were in place at the time of submitting entries.
The concert will be held at the Manning Entertainment Centre at 2pm on Saturday, June 5. Bookings cost $15-$25 per person. Book at www.themec.com, or the MEC box office phone 6592 5466.
