Duelin' Pianos show: Saturday 19th October 2013

It was a smoky Saturday afternoon in Burrawang as 140 people descended upon the School of Arts for the return sellout show of Duelin' Pianos. Performed by two world class pianists/singers and a swinging drummer who sang up a storm performing songs over 8 decades of popular music, they had everyone singing and dancing away for over 2 hours!

The first half of the show we were treated to all number of hits and the second was filled with requests from hundreds of songs over many decades to choose from.

Kids danced up the front, Trish was serenaded to, Deidre was up on the stage making sure she left her hat on, a special rendition of Fire and Rain for Steve Horton and the RFS boys and a full conga line at the end of the evening all proved what a great success it was. Fun was had from age 2 to 92 and we can't wait to have them back again next year!

Cellists Concert - 24th August 2013

On Saturday 24th August at 5.00pm – The Burrawang School of Arts presented “Cellists of the Sydney Symphony in Concert”. And what a concert it was - with 175 people filing in to the Hall, collecting a glass of wine – generously donated by the Lorentz family of Cherry Tree Hill - before taking their seats.

Burrawang Village has been particularly fortunate to have the opportunity yet again, this year bringing about the 4th concert. Concerts have been held over the past 8 years (since 2007) held bi-annually. The opportunity to see and hear some of these wonderfully renowned and talented artists has truly been a privilege for all who’ve attended. 

We’re also very fortunate to have people in the community – and on the committee - who donated their time to set the Hall with lighting (Graham Harper), stage work (Gary Johnson), flowers (Sal Heath) assisted by villagers who donated flowers from their gardens and time to help cut and store. Most importantly, none of these concerts would have ever occurred if it wasn’t for Elizabeth Hewgill. 

Our magnificent Hall seems to provide very good acoustics to hold the sounds that flowed from the cellos. This year’s artists featured:

• Catherine Hewgill 
• Kristy Conrau 
• Fenella Gill 
• Leah Lynn 
• Timothy Nankervis 
• Elizabeth Neville 

The audience was entertained with their works by Bach, Piazzolla, Villa Lobos & Vivaldi. A pin could have been heard to drop as the audience sat transfixed and enthralled by the sounds produced. Our new crimson stage curtain was the backdrop and urns filled with red rhododendrons framed the artists beautifully as they played.

As a note of interest - Catherine Hewgill, is the principal cellist for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and will adjudicate the Finals of the 2013-14 Australian Cello Awards.

We’ve certainly had a mix of events this year…….. Saturday, 19th October we will be going to the other end of the scale of music with the return of ‘Duelin Pianos’ – featuring piano players Hughie Scott-Murray, Michael McGlynn and dummer Peter Clarke. Last year they played ‘requested’ songs – ranging from Pink to Louis Armstrong. Get ready for lots of fun & loudness!!

Saturday 27th July 2013: "Dear Liar" A play reading by Jerome Kilty

Dear Liar Told the story of a 40-year romantic saga between the famous Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw and a colourful London actress, Mrs Patrick Campbell.

Starring our very own talented ‘Rosalind Muir-Smith’ and ‘Nicholas Lidstone’.

‘99’ people in all attended the evening – a mix of locals and their friends, along with a few who travelled up from Goulburn and Canberra after seeing the advertisement at the Pub a few weeks ago!

A glass of ‘champagne’ on arrival set the scene, before everyone was asked to take their seats, to watch the story unfold………...

An entertaining banter of romantic correspondence, back and forth, between two people from very different worlds - sometimes with endearment, other times with anger and outrage - ultimately leading them both to utter despair.

Upon completion of the show - theatre goers made their way across to the Pub, the Café or home for dinner.  A great night out in the village!

Burrawang Ball 2013

On Saturday the 8th June guests at the annual Burrawang Ball were treated to the first warm ball we can remember in quite some time! With the central heating in the main hall warming us all and the hall decorated in a unassuming, elegant manner, the atmosphere was set for a fabulous evening of dining, wining, dancing and of course fund raising for the School of Arts.

Ella's Holiday, a local Southern Highlands band, provided a fabulous soundtrack to the evening starting with jazz and ending the evening with plenty of music to dance to. The food, delicious as ever, provided by John & Vicki Maugher and lots of fabulous auction prizes on offer kindly donated by local businesses.

A very generous of $1000 was offered for Skye Leckie to get up and sing, and then a further $500 donated to make her stop(!) saw the fundraising efforts off to a great start.

All of the silent auction items went for great prices, and whole ticket books were sold for a hamper. A special thank you to the following businesses/people that donated goods for auction:

Diamond Creek Estate Winery
Ink & Weave Teatowels
Steve Horton
Jim & Joan
The Hill Family
The Allen Family
Colin Munro Furniture
Dhimbalee Organic Produce
Zanerobe
MJ Bale
Paddock Pieces
Burrawang Village Hotel
Empire Cinemas
Twentieth Century Fox
Endota day spa
Crown Casino
Bowral Gold Club

Another special thanks to the President Simone Joseph for all her work, Kelly Macnamara for her work gathering prizes and the Ball committee: Brooke Munro, Beth Macdonald, Fiona Rodger and Tanya Lobban for doing a wonderful job creating such a special and fun night for us all.

Official opening for the heating of the hall

There were a few in the Village who braved the cold and dreary conditions yesterday morning for the monthly morning tea on in the School of Arts. Whilst the morning teas are always a great chance to catch up with neighbours and community members, as well as sampling some of the excellent food on offer, yesterday's was also the official opening of the heating of the hall which was attended by Paul Stephenson the chairman of the Veolia Mulwaree Trust, Gareth Ward MP and Juliet Arkwright Mayor of the Wingecarribee shire.

The School of Arts committee members Beth Macdonald, John Symons and Gary Johnson were successful in their application last year for a grant of $10,000 from the Veolia Mulwaree Trust to complete the long anticipated central ducted heating for the hall. We have been working on fundraising for this heating the past few years through all of our various functions so we can utilise the hall in a better way through the cold months of a Burrawang winter.

From left to right: Beth Macdonald, John Symons & Gary Johnson (committee members) Juliet Arkwright (Mayor) Gareth Ward (MP) and Paul Stephenson (Chairman Veolia Mulwaree Trust)

Paul gave us all a bit of an insight to the work that the Trust does giving back generously to small communities and community groups like the School of Arts. He was not only impressed with the application that was lodged, and the timeliness in which the project was completed, but the excellent way in which the Burrawang School of Arts is run and maintained. He said it was one of the best small country halls he has seen.

Juliet spoke of her admiration for the Burrawang village and the model of the School of Arts which is run by community members and owned by community members. The way in which we "roll up our sleeves and get on with it" was something that she tells many other Southern Highland communities should model their own small halls on and was a credit to us all.

The switch was flicked and the hall heated up in no time!

Paul Stephenson and Burrawang School of Arts President Simone Joseph

The School of Arts committee would like to thank everyone for all their contributions at various fundraisers for the heating over the past few years, and of course to Veolia for their generous grant. This asset will be enjoyed by us all - long may we all enjoy a warm hall in the many cold winters to come!

If you haven't been to monthly morning tea in a while it's a good reminder to come along. It's a great chance to catch up with other members of the village whilst enjoying some old fashioned country cooking and tea and coffee! Make sure you come along next month.

Trivia Night 2013

We had our biggest night yet for the Annual Trivia Night held at the School of Arts on Saturday night with over 160 people in attendance. 20 tables sat down and got stuck into the 10 rounds of questions on offer from the quiz master Geoff Goodfellow.

There were some great impromptu performances as well as a fabulous gourmet hamper that was raffled off. It was a close call with just one point getting the winners over the line at the end!

Thanks to everyone that attended and supported this great community event - we look forward to doing it all again next year!

Upcoming Event: Trivia Night 9th February 2013

The annual School of Arts Trivia Night is fast approaching so be sure to book your tickets and tables now! It's always a great fun, filled with fun impromptu performances, great questions and prizes. You can read about last year's event here.

Quizmaster Geoff Goodfellow will be back as well as prizes for 1st & last places, best impromptu performance and best table name and of course raffle and lucky door prizes.

Saturday 9th February 2013

Burrawang School of Arts

7.00pm for a 7.30pm SHARP start

Tickets $20 per head for tables of 8

BYO drinks & nibbles (don't forget your wine glasses)

Bookings essential! Register online here or call Cath on 0405 151 651 or Simone on 0417 407 092