SOMETHING wonderful is happening at the UFS administration building on Armstrong Street North in Soldiers Hill.<\/p>\n
People from across the spectrum of Ballarat\u2019s community are coming together to sing.<\/p>\n
Known as a With One Voice community choir, the initiative is a joint effort by UFS and Creativity Australia and Nathan Lange is CA\u2019s Programs Manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things we try and focus on is that loneliness and isolation are becoming growing problems in our society,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are finding less opportunities to connect, especially with people they may not know, or have an opportunity to know.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur choirs are really trying to provide spaces where people from all walks of life can connect and share.\u201d<\/p>\n
Founded by soprano Tania de Jong AM, With One Voice seeks to bring people together through singing.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a model that\u2019s been successful in 24 other places across Australia, including Melbourne, Geelong and Mildura.<\/p>\n
The repertoire is varied, and Mr Lange said that sometimes the choirs will aim for a public performance, although that\u2019s not the ultimate goal of the effort.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also more than just singing, with participants encouraged to take part in a Wish List session, where you can ask anything.<\/p>\n
All that\u2019s followed by a light supper is at the end of each rehearsal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think singing is a really nice way of bringing everyone together,\u201d Mr Lange said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no auditions, everyone just wanders in, you don\u2019t have to be able to sing well, although we think most people can. There\u2019s also lots of studies of neuro-scientific benefits of singing, so it actually helps. It does things to your brain that you can\u2019t get anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n
The With One Voice choir and Creativity Australia sync up well with UFS\u2019 aim of a healthy communities through a number of different approaches. Lynne McLennan is the organisation\u2019s CEO.<\/p>\n
\u201cUFS is a social enterprise and we like to support things that build the health and wellbeing of our community,\u201d she said. \u201c[With One Voice] is a proven concept, it\u2019s a diversity choir, so it\u2019s for all ages, all abilities, and it\u2019s also for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
The With One Voice community choir meets every Wednesday, 6pm to 7.30pm, at the UFS Administration Office, 206 Armstrong Street North, Soldures Hill. Visit creativityaustralia. org.au\/choirs\/ballarat for more information and to register.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SOMETHING wonderful is happening at the UFS administration building on Armstrong Street North in Soldiers Hill. People from across the spectrum of Ballarat\u2019s community are coming together to sing. Known as a With One Voice community choir, the initiative is a joint effort by UFS and Creativity Australia and Nathan Lange is CA\u2019s Programs Manager. […]<\/p>\n