GALLERY: They’re the voice

St Pius X High School, Adamstown was filled with song for the annual Feeder Primary Schools Choir Workshop and Concert day last Friday.

Choirs from St Joseph’s, Merewether, Holy Family, Merewether Beach, St Columba’s, Adamstown, St John’s, Lambton and St James’, Kotara South came together to take part in three vocal workshops before sharing their prepared songs with each other and singing as one giant super choir. 

I was honoured to be invited to lead one of the workshops again this year alongside vocal coaches Michael Nolan and Marty Worrall.

Students were split into three groups to participate in the workshops, which focused on parts singing, performance, and lyrical interpretation.

Above all, the focus was for students to have fun and enjoy singing as a group.

It was great to see everyone throwing themselves into learning three new songs and for my part I just loved the energy in my workshop as the students learnt movement to apply to the lyrics.

After a delicious sausage sizzle lunch, we all settled down to listen to each choir perform a song. The music ranged from classics including The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine to contemporary songs such as Vance Joy’s Riptide.

It is really exciting to see so many primary students getting involved in their school choirs. It was joyful seeing and hearing all the choirs come together to perform what they’d learnt in their workshops.

To hear more than 200 voices singing together is amazing and it was a truly special occurrence for the families of the students who’d managed to come along for the concert.

Finally, St Pius’ choir performed for us, a rousing rendition of You’re the Voice that had everyone smiling and heading off singing the tune.

Once that tune gets in your head, it’s very hard not to belt it out on your way home.

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Anna Kerrigan Image
Anna Kerrigan

Anna is the Artistic Director of ASPIRE, an audition-based drama, dance, music and creative and performing arts program produced by the Catholic Schools Office of Maitland-Newcastle.