John Deveraux Delights at Deakin Sings

September 5, 2012

Creativity Australia’s Program Manager, Kathlin Mayer, conducted an interview with John Deveraux, Executive Director of Student Life at Deakin University Burwood, discussing the recent launch of the newly formed Deakin Sings choir. Thanks to John for taking the time to chat – we hope to see you having a sing soon!

Why did you choose to set up a choir at Deakin Burwood?
Having seen Creativity Australia’s choirs rehearse and perform at Melbourne Sings, I saw it as a great engagement opportunity to enhance and expand student to student, student to staff and staff to student relationships. We have a variety of community building programs at Deakin and saw this as an interesting and exciting opportunity to build upon what we already offer. There are also clear benefits for students who do not speak English as their first language.

What attracted you to engage Creativity Australia?
I was impressed with Creativity Australia’s professional approach, their access to conductors and overall expertise. Primarily their philosophy matched our objectives of creating connections and coming together with one voice around singing. We like it that Creativity Australia is not aiming to establish elite choirs, rather to create an opportunity for people to establish and strengthen relationships.

What would you see as a successful outcome of the program?
It will be important to maintain and grow the number of members, expand the breadth of participants to include a broad spectrum of students and staff, and eventually to open the choir to the general community.

You can see Deakin Sings in action here!  Join them on Mondays, 5:00 – 6:30pm at Deakin University Burwood Campus, Richard Searby Room HD2.006, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood.

Deakin University really loves their choirs – Geelong Sings rehearses at the Deakin University Waterfront Campus!