There was music, magic and more than a little youthful exuberance in the air as Jambouree staged its first-ever Showcase Concert before a packed and appreciative audience at 5 Atholl Crescent, Perth.
The historic building, until recently home to a Perth Masonic lodge, provided a wonderfully atmospheric setting for an evening celebrating the talents of a remarkable group of young musicians.
Produced by Eleanor McQueen and directed from the keyboards by Jambouree’s Edna Auld, the concert was a joyful journey through musical theatre, Disney favourites, popular classics and opera, with a delightful piano duet thrown in for good measure.
Above all, it was an evening about giving young performers the opportunity to shine, and shine they certainly did.
A Magical Opening
The evening began on an uplifting note with “For Good”, the touching duet from the hit musical Wicked. Sung by Shannon and Iona, this beautiful song about friendship and the lasting influence people have on one another provided a fitting opening to a concert that was itself a celebration of friendship, encouragement and shared musical experiences. The two young singers made a lovely partnership, setting the tone for what was to follow.
Next came a complete change of mood as Kris took the audience tumbling down the rabbit hole with “I’m Late” from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. This wonderfully playful number, famously sung by the perpetually hurried White Rabbit, brought a welcome dash of theatrical fun. Kris embraced the song’s lively character, reminding everyone that performing is as much about storytelling as singing.
Adriana then transported the audience to the sophisticated world of Breakfast at Tiffany’s with “Moon River”, Henry Mancini’s timeless melody. Made famous by Audrey Hepburn, this gentle, wistful song demands sensitivity and musical control. Adriana brought a lovely sense of warmth to the number, providing one of the evening’s quieter, more reflective moments.
Shannon returned to the spotlight with “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman. This soaring anthem about imagination, ambition and believing in the impossible could hardly have been more appropriate for a concert showcasing young talent. Shannon approached the song with enthusiasm and conviction, capturing its inspiring message.
The first section concluded with another Disney favourite, “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Evelina and Alia joined forces for this romantic duet, originally sung by Aladdin and Princess Jasmine as they discover a world of endless possibilities. Their performance brought a sense of adventure and youthful charm to the proceedings, with the two voices combining in a thoroughly enjoyable musical partnership.
From Opera to the Piano
The next section demonstrated just how varied Jambouree’s musical interests are.
Teenah took on the delightful “I Want to Sing in Opera”, a number perfectly suited to an aspiring young singer with a taste for theatrical expression. It was a welcome opportunity to introduce a touch of operatic humour and personality to the programme, and Teenah rose to the challenge with spirit.
Alex followed with “Caro Mio Ben”, the beautiful Italian song traditionally attributed to Giuseppe Giordani. A favourite of classical singing students, this elegant piece calls for careful phrasing, breath control and expressive singing. Alex deserves particular credit for tackling a work from the classical repertoire, demonstrating the breadth of musical study being encouraged at Jambouree.
There was then a change of focus as Edna Auld stepped out of her accompanying role to join Evelina at the piano for “Romance”, a duet by John Kinross.
This was a particularly pleasing addition to the programme, reminding the audience that Jambouree’s musical world extends well beyond singing. Sharing a piano requires concentration, coordination and close musical communication, and the duet provided a charming interlude. It was also lovely to see teacher and pupil making music together as partners.
Anastasia then brought the audience right up to date with “From the Start” by Laufey, the Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter whose jazz-influenced music has captured the imagination of a new generation. With its playful rhythms and romantic longing, this contemporary favourite offered a refreshing contrast to the more traditional selections. Anastasia brought youthful appeal to a song that requires both rhythmic awareness and a natural sense of style.
Iona rounded off the section with “My Love, My Life” from Mamma Mia!, the ABBA musical that continues to delight audiences around the world. A tender and emotional song about the bond between mother and daughter, it offered Iona the opportunity to explore a more heartfelt side of musical theatre. Her performance brought a lovely sense of sincerity to this touching number.
Dreams, Determination and Disney Delights
The final part of the concert opened with Tatiana singing “My Days” from The Notebook, the stage musical based on Nicholas Sparks’ much-loved romantic novel.
A deeply emotional song about love, memory and the passage of time, it requires a singer to communicate a story as well as a melody. Tatiana approached this demanding contemporary musical theatre number with commendable commitment, showing a willingness to tackle material of real emotional depth.
The programme then took an international turn as Blandyna performed “Nie Opuszczaj Mnie” — meaning Don’t Leave Me — bringing a welcome Polish-language contribution to the evening. It was wonderful to hear a song in another language, adding cultural richness and variety to an already wide-ranging programme. Blandyna deserves warm praise for bringing her own musical identity to the stage and sharing it with the audience.
Elsie followed with “Almost There” from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. This infectious, jazz-flavoured number is sung by the determined Princess Tiana as she dreams of opening her own restaurant. Its message of hard work, perseverance and never giving up on one’s ambitions made it another particularly appropriate choice for a young performers’ showcase. Elsie brought energy and character to the song, capturing its infectious optimism.
One of musical theatre’s great duets came next, with Teenah and Eleanor performing “I Know Him So Well” from Chess, the musical by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with lyrics by Tim Rice.
A song of heartbreak, understanding and shared affection, it requires two singers to work closely together, balancing individual expression with musical harmony. Teenah and Eleanor made an engaging pairing, and the performance was a lovely reminder of the emotional power of a well-crafted musical theatre duet.
Finally, Evelina brought the concert to a fittingly cheerful conclusion with “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved song, with its memorable list of life’s simple pleasures, was the perfect way to end an evening filled with so many favourite musical moments. Evelina’s performance sent the audience away with a smile and provided an uplifting finale to Jambouree’s inaugural showcase.
A Triumph for Young Talent
What made this concert particularly special was not simply the variety of music on offer, impressive though that was, but the opportunity it gave each young performer to step into the spotlight.
For some, appearing before a packed concert hall may have been a familiar experience; for others, it may have represented a significant personal milestone. Whatever their level of experience, every performer deserves enormous credit for the preparation, courage and commitment involved in presenting a song to a live audience.
From the theatrical excitement of Wicked, Aladdin and The Greatest Showman to the gentle sophistication of Moon River, the classical elegance of Caro Mio Ben and the contemporary appeal of Laufey, the programme demonstrated a refreshing openness to different musical styles.
Special praise must go to Edna Auld, whose musical direction from the keyboards was central to the evening. Accompanying young singers requires much more than simply playing the right notes. It calls for sensitivity, patience, flexibility and the ability to provide reassurance and musical support, particularly when nerves inevitably make an appearance.
Edna’s contribution, both as accompanist and as a performer in the piano duet, was a reminder of the vital role that dedicated music teachers play in nurturing young talent.
Equally deserving of congratulations is Eleanor McQueen, whose work as producer brought the entire occasion together. Organising a concert involving so many performers, musical styles and backing arrangements is no small undertaking. The resulting showcase was a credit to the care and enthusiasm behind the scenes.
And, of course, the warmest congratulations belong to the young musicians themselves: Shannon, Iona, Kris, Adriana, Evelina, Alia, Teenah, Alex, Anastasia, Tatiana, Blandyna and Elsie, each of whom contributed something distinctive to the evening.
A New Musical Tradition for Perth?
There was something especially appropriate about staging this inaugural concert in the historic surroundings of 5 Atholl Crescent. A building with a long-established place in Perth’s community life found itself filled with a new generation of musical voices.
The packed hall was itself a wonderful endorsement of the work being done by Jambouree and of the support these young performers enjoy from families, friends and the wider community.
But perhaps the greatest achievement of the evening was the atmosphere of encouragement and shared enjoyment.
A showcase concert is not about perfection. It is about progress, confidence, discovery and the excitement of making music in front of others. It is about giving young people the chance to discover what they can achieve, and allowing an audience to share in that discovery.
On all those counts, Jambouree’s first Showcase Concert was a resounding success.
If this inaugural event is anything to go by, Perth has every reason to look forward to many more evenings of music from Jambouree’s talented young performers.
And as the final notes faded, one thing was abundantly clear: this was not simply the end of a concert, but the beginning of something rather special.