General News
28 October, 2023
Silver strings, golden tunes
Entertainment by a few Bendigo Probus members during a visit to Horsham became the catalyst for a new Horsham band. Horsham Combined Probus Club activities co-ordinator Edith Whyatt decided that if the Bendigo members could play the ukulele, so...
Entertainment by a few Bendigo Probus members during a visit to Horsham became the catalyst for a new Horsham band.
Horsham Combined Probus Club activities co-ordinator Edith Whyatt decided that if the Bendigo members could play the ukulele, so could the members in Horsham.
With help from experienced musician Bernadette Delahunty and ukulele player Trish Hogan, the group was on its way, most being new to playing music and knowing nothing about ukuleles.
A call for a name for the new group resulted in The Silver Strings.
Sales of the instrument from Horsham's music shop soared and soon a dozen members were practising weekly.
In the first year the group played at more than 30 venues and functions, including nursing homes, concerts, church events and special occasions.
Then Covid hit.
Practice continued when possible under the prevailing regulations, once using the stage of the Sawyer Park soundshell to allow for the isolation of players.
Now the group numbers about 20, meets weekly, performs when invited and has a repertoire of more than 220 songs, most of which are old favourites that are known to listeners.
It also now includes players of instruments other than the ukulele.
Anyone interested is invited to join the group.
This month Probus South Pacific has been urging retired or semi-retired people to become involved in the organisation, adopting the theme Good Friends, Great Times and New Adventures.