Paladino triumphant at the launch of Music Foundation

WARM and wonderfully engaging, Silvie Paladino sang her way into the hearts of Ballarat as she performed at the launch of the Anglican Cathedral’s Music Foundation on Saturday.

Paladino is a gifted singer, known Australia wide for her performances at Carols by Candlelight, which she has been performing since she was 16.

On Saturday she weaved her personal story of growing up in an Italian family, wanting to sing like Barbara Streisand and Whitney Houston and then becoming an international and national music theatre performer, admired and respected worldwide.

Paladino’s singing was sublime and it was evident that she is able to truly express herself through her music, which from a very early age has been her life.

David Cameron accompanying Silvie on piano and guitar complimented her vocal dexterity with great sensitivity. With her clear dictation, her singing of “You Raise Me Up”, “Abide With Me” and “Memory” went right to the very soul of the audience and a standing ovation was indeed the appropriate response to such a passionate performance.

At the official launch of the Foundation, following Paladino’s performance, the Chair of the Foundation Andrew Greenwood summarised the significance of establishing a Foundation to ensure the ongoing sustainability of a choral music tradition, so important to the health and vitality to the Cathedral.

This was reinforced when the Cathedral choir, with musical director Lyndall Allen, performed three a cappella pieces to demonstrate the beauty and versatility of the human voice.

As Founder of the Foundation, the Rt Rev Bishop Garry Weatherill thanked the Trustees for their commitment, as now the hard work was about to begin of approaching philanthropic trusts, governments, donors and sponsors to support the Foundation in its aim of providing scholarships and bursaries to young people with an aptitude and understanding of choral music.