On Tuesday, 2 December, the Forge Theatre shimmered with festive spirit as the Harmony Scholars — a 52-member local senior citizen choir — offered an afternoon of tradition, humour and heartfelt song.
From 1.30-3pm, the audience was gifted a program that blended joy, mischief and melody into one unforgettable celebration.
The concert opened with surprise and wonder: a flash mob rising voice by voice from the audience to sing Do You Hear What I Hear.
This playful beginning set the tone for a program alive with surprise and delight.
Under the direction of musical director Ginny Vincent, the Harmony Scholars guided listeners through seasonal favourites, Aussie Christmas tunes, cherished carols and whimsical songs for the young and young at heart.
Each piece was introduced with warmth and poetic flair, inviting the audience into the story behind the music.
Characters danced across the stage – a singing plum pudding, a towering eight-foot hippo, a mischievous Elf who popped up throughout the show, Frosty the Snowman sparking laughter and even a visit from Santa Claus himself.
These touches of mischief kept the audience smiling and underscored the choir’s gift for weaving humour into songs.
Magic deepened with a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas from a book that glittered like starlight, enchanting children and adults alike.
The last three of the 42 Christmas songs included Auld Lang Syne with the audience and choir in full voice, their arms crossed in unity.
Then came a moment of pure radiance: young guest soloist Gracie Betts leading the choir in This Is My Wish/Let There Be Peace on Earth.
Her clear voice carried hope across generations, paving the way for a finale of a jubilant
We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
The concert’s theme — Believe — rang out not only in song but in a keepsake.
Every guest received a silver bell engraved with the word “Believe”, a reminder that faith, hope and community continue to resonate long after the music fades.
And rather than ending with applause, the choir left the stage to meet their audience at the theatre doors, offering smiles, handshakes, and
festive wishes.
It was a farewell as personal as the performance itself.
More than a concert, the Harmony Scholars’ afternoon at the Forge Theatre was a living testament to the power of music: to unite generations, to lift spirits and to leave echoes of joy long after the curtain falls.
On that December day, every guest departed not just humming a tune, but carrying a bell and a renewed belief in the magic of Christmas.
