
Dolly Diamond in full swing at Federation Square.
Federation Squareâs amphitheatre played host to a choir made up of With One Voice members from around Victoria on Friday, 23 October.
The choir, supported by Neighbours favourite Alan Fletcher, and interactive experience from DekDrumâs David Kirsner, treated the audience to a sneak peak of the gala event, With One BIG Voice, to be held at Melbourneâs Town Hall on Sunday, 8 November. Master of ceremonies Dolly Diamond delighted those in attendance and kept them in stitches as passers-by were treated to such favourites as âThe Lion Sleeps Tonightâ, âSinginâ In The Rainâ, and a Beatles medley to name but a few.
The hour-long performance offered a taste of what guests can expect at the Town Hall, which also acts as the climax of Sing for Good campaign.
With One BIG Voice Gala Concert
Sunday 8 November, 3.00PM – 5.45PM
Melbourne Town Hall, cnr Swanston & Collins Streets
Sing for Good aims to get communities singing for joy in every postcode of Australia and beyond. Families, workplaces, schools, sports teams⌠everyone is welcome. Donations raised help people in need through Creativity Australiaâs With One Voice program.
Every week, Creativity Australiaâs 14 With One Voice choirs inspire people from more than 40 nationalities, aged 9 to 90, to sing side-by-side. Age, race, language, religion, disability and disadvantage fade away. Everyone is welcome.
Creativity Australia believes unleashing a communityâs collective creative potential can achieve incredible social and economic outcomes. When diverse voices sing together, people can more easily connect to whatever they need in life… friends, mentors, wellbeing, new skills, self-esteem, employment and more.
Those in the audience at Fridayâs Federation Square singalong were heard to comment that the choir sang âwith such a beautiful spiritâ, and that âitâs events like these that make Melbourne the worldâs most liveable cityâ. While many joined in with the singing, even those that couldnât stop commented on the abundant joy and passion in the voices.
The With One Voice program builds bridges of understanding between diverse people, and complements specific intervention programs of other charities and organisations.
âNeuroscience proves singing connects the neural pathways in the brain differently and releases endorphins, making people healthier, happier, smarter and more creative. From this position, people are more capable of asking for, receiving and giving help,â Founder and Chair, Tania de Jong said.
âEmpowered individuals and supportive communities are better placed to solve societyâs big challenges, such as cross-cultural integration, unemployment, mental illness, low economic productivity, skills shortages, loneliness and isolation, family fragmentation, homelessness and more,â she said.
âThis is why weâre the passionate leaders of a singing movement… to strengthen communities, improve wellbeing and change the world, one voice at a time!
Creativity Australia is a charity. All donations are fully tax-deductible.