Choir to sing Torres Strait stories

A statewide multicultural vocal group will soon bring original and traditional songs from Torres Strait Islander culture to the region this weekend.

Following a metropolitan show tomorrow, The Boîte will showcase a variety of First Nations pieces at The Goods Shed this Sunday as part of the Boîte Voices program, Maiem: Songs of the Torres Strait Islands.

Local performer and Torres Strait Islander Stella Savy is serving as choir director for both concerts.

She said the Ballarat performance in particular is an incredible opportunity to help local people learn more about her culture through music.

“It’s one of the cultures we don’t really know a lot about,” she said.

“We often say the words Torres Strait Islander when we say we acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but down south particularly, there’s not much exposure to the culture and history.

“If you come to the show you’re going to hear not only the sounds but the stories behind the songs and get a taste of Torres Strait history as well as a modern perspective.

“Down south, that’s really important for us to hear and be a part of.”

The Ballarat concert will be preceded with a performance at the Melbourne Recital Centre tomorrow (Saturday, November 30), with a 150-person choir and Torres Strait Islander singer-songwriter Christine Anu as special guest.

The local performance will see 120 singers as well as a three-piece band, with songs presented in a mixture of English, Meriam Mir and Kala Lagaw Ya languages.

“There’ll be stringed instruments, ukulele, uke bass, and percussion,” Savy said.

“We’ll have traditional Torres Strait Islander instruments in there too like a warup drum and a gorr, which is like a shaker seed that’s cut in half.

“The concert will be a mix of traditional songs like Kiapi and Baba Waiar, and a few original songs from the show’s artistic director Deb Lowah Clark, and Luke Captain.”

Both performances are being presented as part of ALWAYS LIVE, a state government-supported initiative aimed at celebrating Victoria’s live music offerings.

Tickets to the local show are $40 adult, $25 concession, and $15 for First Nations attendees as well as children under 18 and can be booked at bit.ly/496Xlws.

The performance will run from 2.30pm.