Charity concert a real winter treat for music lovers

July 14th, 2010
Review by David Armstrong

A packed house of music lovers were treated to both quality and variety from local musicians at the annual charity concert at the Motueka Uniting Church on Sunday. In the process, the audience of over 100 raised almost $1500 for the Short Term Accommodation Trust, which runs the Motueka Night Shelter.

The event, which is fast becoming an annual treat in Motueka's music calendar, boasted items ranging from opera to country blues. The quality of the performances was in part a tribute to Motueka's recently adopted musical maestro, John Rimmer, who put together the programme and himself took part in several of the items.

Motueka Municipal Band kicked off the concert with a tightly arranged medley of French favourites. As always, the band played with assurance and easy balance. Later principal cornet player Ross Hall gave a stirring rendition of the popular Nessun Dorma.

Nelson mezzo soprano Barbara Grant offered expressive and passionate treatments of two opera pieces and one more modern song. A special treat was young Filipino pianist Paulo Meria who played three difficult items without sheet music, with flair and excitement.

He was followed by Motueka's Sisterhood, a tight-knit female barbershop quartet who debuted two new items with consummate easy. Their Grapefruit Diet song about the problems of getting older and rounder evoked many hearty chuckles (mainly of recognition).

For many the highlight of the afternoon was the set of "South Island Road Songs" from guitarist Ralph Bennett-Eades. A consummate story-teller, he had the audience enraptured and often laughing with his musical tales, including the rapid-fire Heaps of Creeks from Hoke to Hope, naming bridges on the road from Hokitika to Nelson. Way more fun than the old Kiwi classic I've been everywhere, man

Bill Buck played Suite do premier ton on the organ with his usual mastery, and the Motueka Choir rounded out the afternoon with four pieces exhibiting the high quality of their delivery.

Night Shelter spokesman Malcolm Garrett was very appreciative of the funds raised by the concert, as some of their funding has been cut off due to changes in government policy.

Barbara Grant

Ralph Bennett-Eades

Ross Hall

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