Have you ever had a hankering to belt out some Beethoven, alongside a world-class lineup of soloists?
The Gisborne Singers are inviting songbirds from the region to take part in a weekend choral festival in December, culminating in a full performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy, with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra.
Choir artistic director Luke Severn, who is also the conductor of the orchestra, has assembled widely-adored singers Merlyn Quaife AM, Kristen Leich, Michael Petrucceli and Teddy Tahu Rhodes for the occasion.
Gisborne Singers member Elaine Stacey said it will be a lovely performance to take part in, taking place at the Ulumbarra Theatre on December 10 and 11.
“We’re hoping for other choirs or individual singers to get involved,” she said.
“We’re singing.. a well known piece of music, what we expect is that most people will be familiar with reading music.
“We’ll provide them with the music, we’ll allow them to take part in the Gisborne Singers rehearsals and if they’re too far away to do that, we’ll record the rehearsals and put them up on youtube.”
There is a participation fee to be involved, which includes workshops, concerns, music and midi files, as well as six weeks of practice with the choir – $170 or $150 for concession/students.
“Singing along with those soloists will be a fabulous experience,” Ms Stacey said.
“We’re singing Ode to Joy and I think we’ll bring our participants lots of joy.”
Details: www.trybooking.com/CAGDQ.
Enquiries: www.gisbornesingers.org.au or phone 0408 156 263.
Elsie Lange
