Gillyèe: "It's my fondest wish come true to be able to present a quality show to the residents of retirement villages, hostels and the general public; loving what we do and presenting it with love, at the same time."

Tony: "This is exactly what I always wanted to do. I've known for a long time that real success doesn't come from trying to make it on your own: it comes from sharing the journey with others and helping people, even total strangers, all along the way. And that's exactly what we do, side by side. Recently, when a lady in the audience saw us enter wearing our beautiful costumes, she turned to her companion, and said, 'Oh God, not Opera!' She was expecting two incredible singing voices, but as soon as we opened our mouths, we proved her wrong! Oops, I don't think that came out right!"

Gillyée: "It's a good name for the group, because so much of what we do is based on Side By Side's unique way of blending songs and instrumental music in ways that haven't been seen or heard before. It also describes the way we work together."

Tony: "When it comes to orchestrating the songs, people have told us, we break all sorts of musical 'rules' to make the best music they've probably heard in a long time." Producing shows in languages other than English, however, was an unexpected development in the short history of the group. Tony: "When we explain to people what we're doing: first of all, they're stunned, completely amazed that we would even think of attempting something like this. And after they get over being stunned, the shock turns to genuine admiration."

Well-known Italian favourites, e.g. "Funiculi Funicula", "Come Back To Sorrento" & "Non Dimenticar";
Dean Martin hits, in both English & Italian, such as "That's Amore" & "Volare";
Modern hits, like Tina Arena's "Burn" in Italian, "Ti Voglio Qui"; and, direct from Italy, Ciro's "E Mi Va";
Plus some wonderful surprises, all specially arranged by Side By Side, all packed into one wonderful hour.

Gillyée and Tony are very confident.
"We love a challenge, and we love learning songs in other languages," enthuses Gillyée.
Tony agrees wholeheartedly. "And there's definitely a need out there."

Tony: "Languages have often become barriers to communication. Side By Side is building bridges out of barriers!"

Mari Palfrey, Paola Silla, Frank & Sheila King, the Italian-speaking community of Golden Bay, & Shirley Oliver and all the staff and residents of Villa Terenzio.