The Society has held regular Christmas parties; the first was a picnic at Ball’s Head Park on 20 November 1983, which was followed on 15 November 1985 by a cocktail party and short film at the Goethe Institut. Christmas parties have been held nearly every year since, at the Goethe Institut and other venues, at first with guest speakers and from 2012 with recitals.
Some features of Christmas parties
These have included competitions, raffles, the Wagner market place, the Wagner bazaar and book sales.
Cakes baked by Barbara Brady
From around 1991 until the around 2007, a highlight of the end-of-year parties was the sensational cakes made by Barbara Brady - usually one for the raffle and one for consumption at the party, although one year Barbara was asked to bake four cakes!
A cake made by Barbara Brady [380] for the Wagner Society's Christmas party, around 1993, was about 1 foot square (photo by Leona Geeves).
A cake made by Barbara Brady for a Society Christmas party (photo by Barbara Brady).
A cake made by Barbara Brady for a Christmas party (photo by Barbara Brady).
2001: A swan-decorated cake made by Barbara Brady for the Society's Christmas party in December 2001 (photo by Leona Geeves).
Christmas parties following recitals
2012: End of year recital by Lisa Harper-Brown, Louise Scott and Warwick Fyfe.
2012: End of year recital audience.
2012: End of year recital audience.
2014: Anke Höppner (soprano) with her husband baritone Barry Ryan (on her left) with Members Pauline Holgerson and William Brooks at Anke’s recital at Mosman Art Gallery.
2014: Members celebrating the conclusion of an impressive recital by
Anke Höppner and David Miller at the Mosman Art Gallery and the end of another very successful year of functions conducted by the Wagner Society in NSW.
2014: Members celebrating the conclusion of an impressive recital by
Anke Höppner and David Miller at the Mosman Art Gallery and the end of another very successful year of functions conducted by the Wagner Society in NSW.
22 November 2015: L-R Mikey Curtain, Accompanist; Jane Mathews, President; Soonki Park, Baritone; Laura Scandizzo, Soprano; Jenny Bonner, Soprano - at the Wagner Society in NSW End of Year / St Cecilia’s Day function at the Glebe Justice Centre.
2016: Jessica Harper, soprano, in full flight at the Wagner Society in NSW end of 2016 year function (photo by Pauline Holgerson).
2016: Wagner Society in NSW end of 2016 year function - St Columba’s Uniting Church, Ocean Street, Woollahra (photo by Mailis Wakeham).
2017: Recital for the Christmas party - (L-R) Leona Geeves (Wagner Society in NSW Vice-President), Laura Scandizzo, Rebecca Moret, Sitiveni Talei, and Francis Greep (accompanist) (photo by Barbara Beasley).
25 November 2018: Q&A with Heldentenor Stefan Vinke was followed by the Society's Christmas party at St Columba Community Centre, Woollahra. Past President Jane Mathews is with Stefan.
25 November 2018: Wagner Society NSW Christmas party (photo by Lis Bergmann).
17 November 2019: Christmas concert and party.
17 November 2019: Christmas concert and party (photo by Lis Bergmann).
17 November 2019: Christmas concert and party (photo by Lis Bergmann).
28 November 2021: The Christmas recital 'Ariadne's Christmas Thread' and Christmas Party at the Mosman Art Gallery (photo by Lis Bergmann).
28 November 2021: The Christmas recital 'Ariadne's Christmas Thread' and Christmas Party at the Mosman Art Gallery (photo by Lis Bergmann).
28 November 2021: The Christmas recital 'Ariadne's Christmas Thread' and Christmas Party at the Mosman Art Gallery (photo by Lis Bergmann).
