Another eisteddfod of epic proportions has celebrated excellence in performing arts in the North West.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 51st Mount Isa Irish Club Eisteddfod took place over nine days at the Mount Isa Civic Centre.
“The objective of an Eisteddfod is not to win a prize or defeat a rival, but to pace one another on the road to excellence.”
Prizes are always nice though, and we eagerly await the final results for all categories, to be published in the next week.
Dance started the festival off right with Highland and Irish dance taking centre stage on Saturday May 27, adjudicated by Kathy Ferguson.
Other dance competitions in jazz, ballet, and tap took place on May 26 and 28, adjudicated by Amanda Jane Pearson.
Speech and Drama stars performed over two days on May 29 and 30, including competitions for speaking choirs, adjudicated by Maree Clancy.
Music was arguably the star of the eisteddfod, adjudicated by Ruth Bonetti and taking up a massive five days of performances from Wednesday May 31 to Saturday June 3.
Ruth Bonetti also hosted two confidence workshops for performers on Sunday June 4, ‘Habits for a confident performance’ and ‘Present with a confident voice’.
All sessions took place at Mount Isa Civic Centre and photography and video was strictly prohibited.
Spinifex State College was proud of its participating students including The Spinifex Band, Mount Isa Concert Band, and Spinifex Strings who all performed on June 3.
“We were very blessed to have instructional teachers Ms Pattison and Ms Moore working with around 70 students this year,” Principal Phil Sweeney said.
“Spinifex is intensely proud of our wonderful school band who under the direction and tutelage of Ms Pattison took out first place this year.”
St Joseph’s Primary School took out both verse speaking and choir aggregate trophies.
The school had a junior and a senior choir in both the verse speaking and the music choir sections, and all four choirs were awarded first place.
Acting Principal Peter Donelan said it is a testament to the school’s performing arts programs.
“Such an achievement received glowing comments from the adjudicators, showing the school works at supporting children’s interests in performing arts.”
“The school deliberately focuses on speech and music as we see this as a way of enriching children’s learning experiences that benefit a child’s holistic development,” Mr Donelan said.
St Joseph’s music teacher, Kate Hartley, provides a sequenced music program across all classes on a weekly basis.
All children in Years 2 – 6 are also encouraged to participate in the school Verse Speaking Choirs that focuses on developing articulation, deportment and confidence with public performances.
Full results from the 2017 51st Mount Isa Irish Club Eisteddfod will be published in The North West Star this week.
In the meantime, check out our full photo gallery thanks to Jemloco Images and Leonie Winks Photogtaphy.
