Learning to speak Ukrainian is hard enough.

But trying to sing in the language is a whole other degree of difficult.

When the Island Harmony Singers decided to perform the Ukrainian national anthem at their upcoming August 14 concert, member Terry Norquay says they had to change their tune.

“We’re also singing songs in Italian and French for the concert and so we decided that was enough to get our heads around so we’re singing the anthem in English,” Terry says of the tribute to the Ukrainian war.

“It has become a phenomenon around the world for choirs to put the anthem in their repertoire so we tried to learn Ukrainian but it’s very difficult.”

The August 14 concert – 2pm at St John’s Uniting Church in Cowes – is the first concert for 2022 and will include a range of songs from Europe, from Jewish peace songs to Hungarian dance.

And it will be the first concert for their new conductor Cecily Woodberry, who replaces long term conductor John Perrin, whose retirement last year was marked by an end of year concert.

Conductor

Cecily trained in England and at the Conservatorium of Melbourne. She has performed as a soloist and ensemble member in operas, most recently with Melbourne Opera Company, and on the concert stage.

Terry says Cecily has a holiday house on the island and she approached her to be the conductor of Island Harmony Singers after Cecily’s Melbourne choir, Singularity, last performed in Cowes.

“She agreed and officially started in February. Cecily is a fireball, full of energy and enthusiasm,” Terry says.

John Perrin was the original and only conductor the Island Harmony Singers have had, from the time the group first started 17 years ago under the umbrella of U3A.

Covid

Terry says the August concert will be momentous given how the group has emerged from Covid.

“We hung in there during the last two years and there was no gap except for lockdowns when we weren’t able to meet.

“When we were able to get back singing we’d be 1.5 meters apart, wearing masks and with the doors open.”

The group rehearses every Tuesday at 1.30pm at St John’s with more than 20 members.

Terry says after the concert they will open to new members.

There are no auditions and members are not required to read music “but it helps”.

“Especially if people are familiar with four-part harmony singing for soprano, alto, tenor and base.”

He says the choir performs all styles of music from classic to folk, opera to gospel and “ballads to the Beatles”.

“We are prepared to challenge ourselves with new music all the time.

“It’s a broad spectrum, that’s why the choir has kept going. Not everyone wants to do Gilbert and Sullivan and members are able to suggest songs.”

The group draws members mainly from Phillip Island and as far as Tooradin, is generally for 50+ age, but is open to anyone.

“We always need more men” he says.

Aside from rehearsals and concerts, they also perform to aged care homes around the island.