By Emilie Ng
MUSIC from pivotal moments throughout history will fill the newly refurbished marble beauty of St Paschal’s Church, Wavell Heights, for a fundraising concert next weekend.
Choir members from two groups at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Chermside, which includes St Paschal’s and St Gerard Majella Church, in West Chermside, will team up with the award-winning Brisbane City Pops Orchestra for this first-time concert on August 29.
Conducted by flautist and globally recognised conductor Neil Flottman, the Score of the Century concert will include popular, folk, jazz and light classical pieces, with a special performance from youth musical group Sempte Voca.
Brisbane City Pops Orchestra’s events co-ordinator Rita West said after seeing the refurbishments with parish administrator Fr Gerard McMorrow, the orchestra was keen to help the parish.
“Fr Gerard took me through the whole set-up here and apparently it has had a huge refurbishment, and that encouraged us to help,” Mrs West said.
It’s always good to support someone who’s doing such a great job.
“We’re always there to help out if we can.”
More than 40 volunteers including doctors, lawyers, teachers, mums and dads make up the orchestra, which last year celebrated its 40th anniversary.
“We do it for the love of music,” Mrs West said.
St Paschal’s projects co-ordinator Geraldine Barlow said the church, which was built in the 1920s, had fantastic acoustics making it the perfect venue for a concert.
“This church is a beautiful church and has sat in Wavell Heights for many years,” Mrs Barlow said.
Brisbane City Pops Orchestra performed at the parish’s Christmas festival last year.
The upcoming fundraising concert will add to the orchestra’s already busy schedule of 10 concerts a year.
Fr McMorrow said the concert would help alleviate the debt incurred from the refurbishments.
“There were also a number of people who donated money to the church, so this will be a way to thank them for their generosity,” he said.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge will rededicate and reconsecrate the church on October 17.
See the Score of the Century concert on Friday, August 29, from 7pm at St Paschal’s Church, 30 Warraba Avenue, Wavell Heights.
Admission is $25.
