THEY’RE young, lively and they’ve won a major song-writing competition.
They are members of St Joseph’s, East Maitland Youth Group Band.
The band recently won the 2002 Youthforce Christian Rock Eisteddfod Song Writing Competition, run by the Bible Society.
The theme had to be in line with the story of Noah and the Ark.
Some of the band members got together over a weekend, dredged up a song written 12 years ago, updated it, modernised it and wrote the accompanying lyrics.
The group’s manager Amanda Tocci said she heard about the competition on the local Christian radio station, Rhema FM.
‘We had no idea we were going to win. I asked the organisers good naturedly if we were the only ones who entered,’ she laughed.
The band is made up of musicians and singers between the ages of 15 and 40-something, most of whom are also members of another St Joseph’s parish band called Embyr.
‘We all come from different parishes but work under the East Maitland banner because we all live quite close to the church,’ said Amanda.
She said some people in the band Embyr never go to church.
‘So it’s great to see them taking an active role and they’re such a fantastic bunch of people,’ she said.
Embyr was formed last October and performs at Mass once every six weeks.
‘It’s amazing because every member of the band has been playing since day one and they do it for free, just to see young people enjoying Mass and being happy,’ said Amanda.
Their winning song is called The Promise.
‘We went through the Bible and had a look at what the Noah and the Ark story was all about,’ said Amanda.
‘It’s from the Old Testament so we had to work hard to get modern lyrics and a message into the song.
‘But it’s a very upbeat, pop/rock song.’
There are 16 people altogether in the band, but 11 performers.
Instruments include three synthesisers, drums, electric guitar, clarinet and violin with four accompanying vocalists.
The band will perform live on May 18 at the Hills Centre in Castle Hill, Sydney at the Youthforce Christian Rock Eisteddfod.
They will be backed up by a 400-member choir in front of an audience of 2000 people.
‘We’re the final act of the evening and, as the winners, ours is the theme song for the whole eisteddfod,’ said Amanda.
The band is hoping to have the chance to record the winning song on CD and is looking for support for the trip to Sydney.
