AFTER a year of planning and three months of rehearsals the Civic Theatre set up at the Botanic Gardens’ Music Bowl for two special performances last weekend; the magnificent setting and perfect weather were critical elements to the overwhelming success of this event.
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The One Voice Wagga Community Choir was a showcase of choral music and the opening event of Social Inclusion Week in Australia.
The evening started with featured performances by the Riverina Youth Choir, Cantilena Singers, Murrumbidgee Magic, Minor Details and the Wagga City Rugby Male Choir, accompanied by the Groove Factorie.
The performance was a massed choir of over 350 people conducted by the creator of the Choir of Hard Knocks, Dr Jonathon Welch.
Creating a new performing arts event is a little like alchemy.
The theatre staff throw all their experience and skills at an idea and it always seems to bring something wonderful into being.
The One Voice Community Choir was wonderful on so many levels, new friendships were made and beautiful sounds were created. It’s hard to capture the incredible atmosphere of this event so I will share some of the comments we have received from choir members ...
- "Fantastic opportunity to be involved in a choir – amazing experience, so well organised and professional. Learnt about singing, how the voice works as an instrument. Loved the humour and tricks to get us all doing what we needed to do. THANK YOU!”
- “It made me happy. I felt like I belonged.”
- “Have been in may choirs but this one has topped the lot! Congrats to the council employees who organised this extravaganza and to Jonathon for this wonderful opportunity.”
- “I felt the community spirit while participating…overall great!”
- “I really enjoyed rehearsing and singing with the happiest group I’ve met in a while. Peter Casey, Evie and the Civic Theatre team contributed so much to our choir. To have Jonathon conduct us was a thrill. I have never heard of an alto before and now I am one!”
- “…such a joy to share in a love of music together. “
- “I am keen after this to join one of the Wagga choirs to keep up my passion for singing.”
- “…making people feel valued and wanted – no put downs”
- “Getting me out of my comfort zone: doing something completely different with a great community focus. Thank you.”
From Jonathon Welch: “What an honour it has been to work with these fine people in Wagga Wagga! It has truly inspired me to continue to serve my country through music, particularly in regional Australia - the love, gratitude and acceptance I have experienced here in the past four days has filled my heart for a lifetime - and I will never forget this experience. Until we meet again.”
The One Voice Community Choir was the last performance in our main season for 2016.
This means that we’ve gone into full on planning mode for next year.
We’ve been discussing how to “dress the venue” so it has the look of the booklet artwork, which window we’ll put the season artwork on and other very secret discussions that are embargoed until we launch everything in store for 2017.
Brad, the Box Office co-ordinator has been working with our ticketing system so for the first time you’ll be able to select and process your subscription using a fully interactive online selection of the shows.
The 2017 season is launched to existing subscribers on the evening of Tuesday, December 6 with the information being available to everyone else the next day.