About 40 clients from Gracie Dixon Respite Centre were treated to a special performance by Camerata Queensland Chamber Orchestra musicians on Friday at the facility on Woondooma Street.
Coordinator of Gracie Dixon Respite Centre Lyn Frost said staff and clients had dressed up especially for the musical event.
“Today we have gone back to the 1920s,” she said.
“We are very fortunate to have the Camerata orchestra here to perform.
“We have lots of music groups come in and donate their time but this is a very big orchestra, we are very excited.”
Bundaberg Regional Council operates the Gracie Dixon Respite Centre from 9am to 3pm, Mondays to Fridays.
The centre provides an enjoyable social program for its members who are aged or younger people with a disability.
Lyn said the performance by Camerata was so special because of the enjoyment it brought those at the centre.
“For our clients, music is the key to everything,” she said.
“They love the interaction, they love to be able to sing and dance and it sends them home in a beautiful mindset for their carers to look after them.”
Music brings out emotion
Performing without a conductor, Camerata’s players have established a reputation for passionate, exciting performances that engage audiences of all ages, whatever their experience.
Violist Elizabeth Lawrence said she had been performing with Camerata for 10 years and her favourite part of her career was seeing the affect her music had on people.
“Seeing the faces of people change throughout the concert is just one of the most special things,” she said.
Elizabeth and the rest of the orchestra are in Bundaberg to perform at the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre on Saturday night as part of the Camerata Live! regional tour.
The musicians will present a program where the words contemporary and classic sit side by side, bringing together new Australian music with great classical music heroes.
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