The Yeppoon Choral Society was formed as a community choir in 1964. Its first first major production was Oklahoma in 1965. To provide quality entertainment for the local community
b. To encourage and support developing musicians and actors. Regular vocal workshops are held and ongoing help provided throughout the year’s activities. A yearly bursary in memory of past president, the late Lt. Tom Wa
hlin Retired, is presented for school choral excellence at the Rockhampton Eisteddfod. To provide substantial donations from charity concerts to local charitable organizations in return for community support. d. To provide support to other organisations when requested. (eg. RSL ANZAC Day)
From Small Beginnings
A history
When a group of CWA ladies decided to form a singing group in 1964 with Mrs K Howe as their President, they had no idea where it would lead. Little did they know it would grow to be the respected and well-loved producer of major musicals and charity concerts that it is today. To begin with, under the Musical Director and pianist, Leila Goodwin, the group functioned only as a singing group until the local Anglican Minister, Father Stan Hassey, noted their talent and suggested that they try musical comedy. The group decided to take up the challenge and in 1965 OKLAHOMA launched the Yeppoon Choral Society into the public arena. Since then it has staged a major production each year as well as charity concerts. Productions have included most of the Gilbert and Sullivan collection, works by Rogers and Hammerstein as well as Franz Lehar’s Merry Widow, Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon and My Fair Lady, Bock and Harnick’s Fiddler on the Roof and Irving Berlin’s Call Me Madam. Our repertoire includes choral items from classical to modern. Members come from all walks of life and a range of ages, from school children to those in their eighties. All come from the local area as well as Emu Park and Rockhampton to enjoy singing. Many friendships have been forged in the process. The society has encouraged local talent by including young people’s choirs, dance and drama groups as well as the community orchestra in their productions. At our concerts we have had the pleasure of performing with the Capricorn Silver Band, the Salvation Army Band, the Rockhampton Youth Orchestra, and Yeppoon State High Band. Numerous local charities have benefitted from the contributions of the Society. Over $40,000 has been raised by annual charity concerts. The choir also leads the singing at the Anzac Day ceremony in Yeppoon. Of the original group, Mrs Shirley Green is still an active member. She sang in the choir and the stage shows before becoming Musical Director. For many years now she has been a stalwart of the society contributing not only to musical excellence but to costume design and sewing and production management. In 2011 the society performed the first production in the new Yeppoon Town Hall, where history repeated itself as OKLAHOMA was produced yet again. and Arthur Lawn and Brian Dorey, original members of the first Oklahoma, returned for the 2011 performance.
