Manly Warringah Choir member Naomi Roseth says there’s more to the Northern Beaches than sun, surf and swimming – there’s also been a rich tradition of choral and classical music for half a century now.
Naomi, who was the choir’s president for six years, says it caters for people in and around our area who don’t want to travel far to hear beautiful music. She says that while the Opera House is a stunning venue and experience, it is fraught with difficulties for mature lovers of music wishing to attend.
The Manly Warringah Choir began in 1975 as the Warringah Symphony Society. Its purpose: to bring classical music to the Warringah Shire. Initially, it was an amateur orchestra but later the Warringah Symphony Choir was established to jointly perform choral works. The orchestra disbanded in the 1980s but the choir continued. It was around this time that Mona Vale’s Judy Weir joined as a soprano. She had grown up singing in Melbourne choirs with, among others, Judy Cox, who later became Judith Durham, from The Seekers.
“We had just moved here and I knew no-one in Sydney,” she says. “I saw an ad in the paper and went along to Dee Why RSL to join. Dr Steve Watson was the conductor. In those days there were more in the choir than the audience! We rehearsed and performed in the auditorium at the RSL. We even had a tea lady at rehearsals in those days, named Sylvia.”
Judy, who is now 81, has many wonderful memories of her time with the choir including performing at the first rugby test match between the Wallabies and the Springboks after the end of apartheid. Glenn Mitchell was the conductor at the time. “We were told to run off the field as soon as the last note had finished because the players would be running on!”
The choir has withstood many challenges to reach the 50-year milestone, the Covid pandemic by no means the least of these. “For two years there were no concerts,” Naomi says.” A few times I thought ‘this will be the end of the choir’.”
But it endured, bound together by the strength of music. “We all have a love of choral classical music – such as Bach, Mozart and Brahms,” Naomi says. “There are also great social connections. I have made some very close friends who I know that if I was to leave would remain. These people understand your stresses and your worries, give you a big hug when they see you, and support you. It’s a very special community.”
Another constant challenge is attracting men. A common complaint for choirs in general. This year seven new female singers joined the choir but only one male. “Not sure why men don’t want to sing,” she queries.
Nowadays, the group rehearses every Thursday night 7.30-10pm at a local primary school in Brookvale. “We come away exhausted,” Naomi says.
More than two years ago the choir moved its performances to Waterford Hall at St Paul’s College, across the road from its former digs at Cardinal Cerretti Chapel. The move was comfortable, the hall easy to access. “No steps, fantastic views and good music,” Naomi said.
Special mention must be made of the current conductor Carlos Alvarado. He has been at the helm for 22 years. During this time the choir has thrived. Carlos is Colombian-born but studied at the Moscow Conservatorium. He is revered for his musicianship and gentle manner. “He is kind and nice as a conductor, he doesn’t single anyone out if there is something wrong with the music,” Naomi says. “As a choir, we respond to this.”
The choirs next concert Stella Natalis – the final in its Golden Anniversary Year – is on December 7. Performing Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Karl Jenkins’ Stella Natalis and Holst’s Christmas Day.
Tickets are limited for the December 7 concert. Please visit manlywarringahchoir.org.au
