A NEW choir is making quality choral education accessible to children of all backgrounds across the city.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Voices has been created to cater to young people between the ages of nine and 15 who are passionate about singing but may not have access to a choir at their own school.<\/p>\n
Co-directed and conducted by Lyndell Allen and Brooke Johnson, the ensemble rehearses once a week at the Ballarat South Community Hub, with the support of accompanist Wendy Rechenberg, and tutor Sebastian Allen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our initial stages of development, we\u2019ve been billing it as after school sport for singers, providing a unique opportunity to build teamwork skills and develop their passion for what they love,\u201d Mrs Allen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is not just to build performance and singing skills, but to develop their oral skills, musicianship, and music reading skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
The choir has also been designed as a post-COVID means of bringing kids together, whether they go to a local primary, or independent school.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the last two years and the disconnect amongst young people, this is a chance for them to connect with like minds from across Ballarat.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes there\u2019s only one or two children at a primary school with an interest in singing, but if you can bring those together, they\u2019ll realise there are more kids like them who love singing, and that\u2019s awesome,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about finding your tribe, and opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Allen said singing together also has a positive impact on people\u2019s mental health and wellbeing, increasing endorphins in the brain and breath capacity, and reducing stress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s also a connection amongst people that sing together where heartbeats can align, and their breathing mimics each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a physical connection by touch, but it happens by us all doing the same thing together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Voices will perform at community events and celebrations, and could be a springboard for ensemble members to take part in programs including Gondwana Voices, a national children\u2019s choir for treble singers between the ages of 10 and 17.<\/p>\n
Mrs Allen and Ms Johnson have a goal to offer free workshops in schools to get more children excited about singing, to help schools develop a choir, and link more young people to Ballarat Voices\u2019 offerings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW choir is making quality choral education accessible to children of all backgrounds across the city. Ballarat Voices has been created to cater to young people between the ages of nine and 15 who are passionate about singing but may not have access to a choir at their own school. Co-directed and conducted by […]<\/p>\n