The Hills Hub in Emerald will come alive with songs of harmony on Sunday, 21 September, as local choirs unite for a free community concert to mark the International Day of Peace.
The event hosted by the Lyrebirds Community Choir from Cockatoo is part of the global ‘Sing for Unity’ movement and will feature performances from Sweet Sassafras Community Choir, The Colour Notes, and Emerald’s own youth group, Tune In – Group Music.
Lyrebirds’ musical director, Dalys Mithen, said the event is about more than just music.
“Being a part of the global Sing for Unity movement feels incredibly special,” Ms Mithen said.
“We create so much joy by singing and connecting together as a group, and to share that experience with other choirs at the concert we are hosting will spread that connection and joy to expand across the Hills.”
“To be part of a global movement singing together at the same time spreads that feeling of connection and joy across the world. We are very honoured to be a part of this.”
The concert will open with an address by Monbulk Member Daniela De Martino, before each group performs their own set of songs and after afternoon tea, generously provided by the Emerald and District Lions Club, all choirs will unite on stage for a grand finale performance.
Ms Mithen said singing is a powerful way to bring people together.
“When people sing together they breathe together – this alone aids well-being and deep connection. Singing has been proven to produce feel-good hormones in the body. When this is done in a group of people, and our sound waves are resonating at the same time, those amazing feelings are amplified,” she said.
“Singing and music give people from very different walks of life a reason to come together and connect, where they might never otherwise. We have around 50 Lyrebirds members – aged from 20 up to late 70s.”
“I can’t think of another experience that enables such varied people to connect so intimately. Music breaks down societal barriers.”
The event is the result of months of collaboration between choirs, local organisations, and community members.
“Hosting a multi-choir event was something we’d talked about doing over the years,” Ms Mithen said.
“When one of our committee members, Elise Turnedge, saw an ad for Sing for Unity she jumped on the opportunity to create this event.”
“Through her connections to the Bendigo Bank and the Lions Club we were able to receive some sponsorship to help out. One of our members works for Ranges First National so she helped out with the billboards. Through the beautiful network Community Music Victoria has created, we have connections with many other choirs across Victoria.”
This will be the first time the Lyrebirds share the stage with The Colour Notes Choir, a collaboration that came about through the Dandenong Ranges Music Council.
“We’ve performed with Tune In and Sweet Sassafras before, but this is the first time with The Colour Notes, which is exciting,” Ms Mithen said.
Among the performers will be Ms Mithen’s children’s group, Tune In, a program she created for kids of all abilities to learn singing in small groups.
“Some of the kids performing on 21/9 only started this term and have never been on a stage before – so it’s a really big deal! We’ve also been lucky enough to work with the incredible Gülsen Özer on some choreography,” she said.
“I’m so excited for the kids to experience the power of singing together with around 100 other people.”
As for the music itself, Ms Mithen said audiences can expect songs filled with meaning and hope.
“The songs we will sing all together are Harbour by Anna Tabbush and Lingmarra by Balang T.E. Lewis. Harbour is a song about providing refuge for people when they need it – the chorus says: ‘For our door is always open, and our hearth is always warm. When you need a place to shelter, we’re a harbour in the storm,’” she said.
“We sing this song to promote peace in a world that is experiencing so much war and unrest.”
Lingmarra literally means ‘We all come together’ in Kriol, an Indigenous language from Arnhem Land.
“We sing this song to strengthen and promote community, and unity with people across the globe,” Ms Mithen said.
The event runs from 2pm to 4.30pm, and entry is free.
Attendees are encouraged to simply show up and enjoy an uplifting afternoon of music, community and connection.
When asked how she hopes people will feel as they leave the venue, Ms Mithen replied, “Full of joy and hope for the future.”
