They remembered how Bill loved to teach the world to sing

Much-loved and respected teacher and musician, the late Bill Duncan, was given a spirited send-off at a concert in his memory last week.

The Daylesford Singers, along with a host of other local musicians, performed some of Duncan’s favourite pieces at the Daylesford Theatre.

The concert, the first of three, began with a jubilant rendition of Bye Bye Blackbird, included a stirring version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, Rowan Vickers’  amusing enactment of I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick and a skilled rendition of Chopin’s Fantasie-Impromptu by Margaret Fox. Lisa Maule also made an entrance with her giddy rendition of Spanish Brandy on clarinet.

Between songs, the master of ceremonies Dr Philip Jones shared stories of his own and those he had heard about Bill during his years living in Bermuda.

Duncan first came here in 1969 as a talented organist, pianist and music teacher. He died of a heart attack in December last year.

Jones told how Duncan would think up odd jobs his students could do for him to make money to help them in their studies.

“He must have had his living room walls painted five times in one year,” he laughed.

Many of the stories encapsulated Duncan’s dedication to music and to sharing his vast musical knowledge with the world.

The evening aptly concluded with an uplifting rendition of I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in which the audience was sinvited to join.