Despite the rain, carols bring Christmas cheer to Leichhardt
In the end, it went ahead despite two last-minute venue changes and the best efforts of Mother Nature, which conspired to make life as difficult as possible. A sudden downpour meant the months of planning for the 2010 ‘Carols on Norton’ was thrown into a tailspin with just an hour to go before kickoff – but, despite just 45 minutes warning and a move to Leichhardt Town Hall to contend with, the operation ultimately ran to a very slick schedule, a testament to the months of meticulous preparation beforehand.
Indeed, according to Event Co-ordinator Lliane Clarke, organisational planning for Carols on Norton starts in March. The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, led by Artistic Director Michelle Leonard, practices for 10 weeks beforehand – and reflects the style of its leader.
“It’s quite unique because you don’t need an audition to get into the choir – anyone can join, and that reflects Michelle’s philosophy about community music-making,” Ms Clarke said. Remarkably, however, this does not affect the quality of the sound: “Choirs tend to be self-selecting – if people don’t feel they have the capacity to perform adequately, they tend to dip out or keep going, depending on what they’re capable of.”
“Any musical activity is a powerful builder of friendships, community bonds and social capital,” said Ms Leonard. “The aim of ‘Carols on Norton’ is to encourage community interaction through music-making by people of all ages and ability – at the highest level – in a community setting.”
The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus comprises some 80 people drawn from the inner west. They aim to foster new Australian choral music by commissioning local composers, and promote the value of choral music – notably to remote communities and children – through an extensive performance and touring schedule.
ABC1 is set to screen a Compass Christmas special, focusing in part on Michelle Leonard’s efforts in the preparation of last year’s ‘Carols on Norton’, at 6.30pm on Thursday, December 23
