Songs of joy
Local
A family that plays together stays together. That’s the advice of Arthur Siow, choirmaster at Holy Cross Church, Goodwood, who sings with three of his five children at Sunday Masses, and at special events in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.
On December 18 the family will join the Cathedral Choir and friends in a free concert featuring music from the Church’s treasury of Christmas songs.
Arthur said Christmas was a “fantastic time of the year” for his family.
“I am so fortunate that our children are willing to be involved in liturgical music. So many kids don’t have the chance to participate,” he said.
“They are cradle Catholics in the true sense of the term. From a young age, they have been keen to go to church and they love participating in the Mass, especially through music ministry.
“It’s so much more joyful to be part of the liturgy if you do it together as a family.”
Jonathan, 11, and Jacqueline, 9, are members of Young Adelaide Voices and recently sang with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana as part of the Festival of Orchestra at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
Earlier this year, Jonathan had a solo role in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a production by the State Opera of South Australia at the Adelaide Festival.
Older brother, Alexander, 13, who is also a member of Young Adelaide Voices, prefers to stay out of the limelight and is happy hitting the low notes with his deep bass voice.
All three children learn piano from their father. Alexander and Jonathan play the violin and Jacqueline plays the cello.
Younger sisters, Samantha, 7, and Serafina, 4, have started piano lessons and are likely to join in singing with their siblings soon.
Their mother, Archie, has sung in music ministry for much of her life, including a stint in the former Cathedral Associate Choir.
Arthur began playing the organ at St Joseph’s Church, Brighton, at the age of 14 whilst a student in the special interest music program at Brighton Secondary School.
He took up the position of choirmaster at Goodwood almost 21 years ago and has been directing the choir there ever since. A long-time director of the Flinders University Chamber Ensemble, he has developed a passion for building community through music-making.
Arthur said he hoped his children’s involvement in church music would inspire other youngsters.
The Cathedral Christmas concert, which will include such classics as Victoria’s O Magnum Mysterium and Australian carols written by James and Wheeler, starts at 7.30pm and will run
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