Music by the Lake History

The "Music By The Lake" venue is a privately owned grassy slope that runs down to a small lake. The fall of the land provides an excellent view of the stage, with the lake and the water lilies in the background.

In 1997, the Rotary Club of Samford Valley ran its first "Music By The Lake event"  "Opera by the Lake". Substantial support was received from the local authority, the Pine Rivers Shire Council and the Samford Progress Association. At the time, Rotary International encouraged the club to do something significant for our own community. The Pine Rivers Shire Council encouraged the club to promote culture to our community. "Opera by the Lake" was the result.

Not only did the event bring a magical music experience to the Samford Valley, "Opera by the Lake" was a great social occasion. There are other notable social events in our community, but "Opera by the Lake" was of a style without peer. The success of this first "Music By The Lake" event has ensured that is an annual fixture in Samford's calendar of events.

The "Music By The Lake" events also allow the Rotary Club to nominate a beneficiary to which a significant donation can be made. As a result of the first "Opera by the Lake", the club established the Samford Valley Emergency Relief Fund to assist local residents in the event of an emergency.

The "Opera by the Lake" did feature specialist operatic performers who brought to life the older forms of music....opera, operetta and song. With appropriate costuming in gowns and tails, the performers create a certain "air of the past", yet the style of performance was fresh and light hearted. Creative programming and a high degree of talent by the performers did ensure a wide audience appeal.

Both the 1997 and the 1998 events were a great success. Both evenings were very pleasant, weather wise and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

In 1999, difficulties in arranging sponsorship led to the cancellation of "Opera by the Lake". But in 2000, we changed the format of MBTL event and the result was extraordinary.

In 2000 over 600 people attended a very successful "Music by the Lake". The weather threatened, but our prayers were answered with showers holding off long enough to provide perfect conditions for the open-air event.

Picture of the Entrance, where Samford Rotaractors assist

In 2000 Rotarian and convenor, Rowan Macaulay promised patrons a balmy evening, a pleasant atmosphere, fantastic venue and wonderful music and that was what people got.

Some of the crowd get in early

The students from Brisbane Boys College, the BBC Big Band, and the BBC Strings and the BBC Brass were very good and a credit to their parents, school and teachers, in particular, Director and Head of Music at the college, M/s Bridget Cuyler.

Rotarian Rowan Macaulay gets in the act with the Brisbane Boys College Big Band

The Brisbane Boys College Strings were superb

The Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University Brass Ensemble were excellent and the very talented Lucy, Charlotte and Victoria Francis, "Musica Francis", were delightful.

James Fox, Cara Dickie with the Wings Quartet and John Hemming were also excellent and well received by the audience.

Locals, Night and Day provided the crowd with a snapshot of some honest homegrown talent with a selection of their own original compositions - just great music.

Somewhere in amongst all the fine music and wonderful entertainment, the programme included those clowns of opera, those lovable loonies, those three 'pretend' millionaire tenors, "The Tatty Tenors", one of whom arrived in the great 'aussie gondola', a surf boat, complete with the champion Maroochydore (sunshine coast north of Brisbane) crew. One has to see and listen to "the Tatty Tenors" who amazed and amused the audience with their talent, their humour and their entertainment.

The Tatty Tenors strut their stuff

Samford Rotary raised a significant amount of money from this event, which will be set aside for our proposed youth programmes in our community including several events for young people and ultimately, a community facility; a place where young people can go, which provides a positive and supportive environment promoting the learning and growth of our kids to help prepare them for the community of tomorrow.

In 2001 The "Tatty Tenors" were back performing at this year's "Music by the Lake". Another feature artist who performed was Janie Shrapnel. Janie enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a recording artist and her music evolved from R&B to "songs from the heart". ..."Her heavenly vocals go in search of melodies of the imagination. This was sensual and spiritual music in which the voice rarely has been so naked and so radiant." Janie received the 'Best Songwriter' award at the recent Queensland Recording Association Sunnie Awards.

Helen Lam Winther, a world-class pianist, provided an outstanding rendition of several Rachmaninoff selections and some of the ever popular music of George Gershwin. In the quiet of the evening this beautiful music floated out across the audience. The Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band, the Queensland Conservatorium Trombone Ensemble and the Royal Australian Artillery Band added to the evening and all in attendance agreed that the Rotary Club of Samford Valley had again provided a program to remember.

Proceeds from Music By The Lake are divided between the local community and national and international projects supported by Rotary.

The 2002 program was probably the most diverse selection of entertainment in the several years of Music By The Lake. The evening began with the Ferny Grove High School String Quartet providing pre–concert music. This was greatly appreciated by all those in attendance and reflected well on the young musicians from Ferny Grove High. The opening act also featured the talent of Ferny Grove High with their chamber strings providing one of the best performances ever at the annual event.

"The Workers" - the organizing committee for the 2002 event

Getting ready for the night of the 2002 event

This was the first year that a dancing group had been included on the program. The Cuig Irish Dancers added a new dimension to the evening and their interpretation of Riverdance was well received.

A local group the Star Pickets provided a bright a bracket of entertaining guitar and singing items. These included Under the Broadwalk, Stand By Me and Twist and Shout.

The Star Pickets

The Tatty Tenors arriving

The Tatty Tenors and Helen Lam Winther were return performances from previous years. Both were extremely well received by those in attendance. The evening concluded with Ground Zero Big Band featuring music from Benny Goodman, George Gershwin and Frank Sinatra. There was little doubt from the comments made by the audience that 2002 was the most varied and entertaining program put together. The Rotary Music By The Lake event has now become an appreciated musical evening in Samford and the surrounding district.  The success of Music By the Lake is linked to the generosity of sponsors and to those members of the community who form the audience.

2003 text and photos to come

2004 text and photos to come

2005 text to come

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