Creativity Australia News

The Results Are In: Swinburne Research Project

February 27, 2015

In partnership with Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Social Impact, and funding support by beyondblue and the Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, Creativity Australia has undertaken an evaluation of the With One Voice Program. This research forms the baseline for a more in-depth independent analysis, potentially to be completed with the assistance of an ARC Linkage Grant.

Click through to read the findings about the impact of the With One Voice program for participants.

Read the Summary Report
Appendix A: Full Survey
Appendix B: Interview Schedule

Start a choir with NEW MyChoir toolkit

February 11, 2015

Do you want to start a community choir?
Or re-energise an existing choir?

You are warmly invited to be part of Creativity Australia’s With One Voice network. Depending on your needs, we can offer quick tips for success, a suite of resources and/or ongoing consultation.

Download the MyChoir quick start guide.

A choir is an amazing way to empower individuals and build supportive communities. With a good toolkit, you can help change the world… one voice at a time. (Plus, it’s just great fun!)

CHECKLIST
Here are the key things you will need to build a successful choir. Our MyChoir resources will guide you step-by-step!

• conductor
• venue
• supper
• participants
• performances
• volunteers
• local support
• fundraising

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Social inclusion and giving to others is central to the With One Voice program. To be part of our network, your choir must:

• welcome all people
• have a shared supper
• share the Wish List

Download the MyChoir quick start guide or contact us to find out more.

Scaling impact: from start-up to sustainability

February 4, 2015

In March 2015, Creativity Australia’s With One Voice program celebrates it’s sixth birthday. We’re recognised as one of Australia’s top social innovations and more and more people are contacting us wanting to set up social inclusion choirs in their communities (check out our new MyChoir Guide).

To give you some more insight into our vision and challenges, we invite you to browse two fantastic articles from the Stanford Social Innovation Review: Scaling Impact by Jeffrey Bradach and What’s Your Endgame? by Alice Gugelev and Andrew Stern.

These beautifully written articles gives great insight into the challenges we face (shared by virtually all other not-for-profits) and the incredible opportunity we have to contribute to a critical endgame for communities and disadvantaged people.

We would love you to be part of this journey. Ways to help include joining a choir, spreading the word , taking part in Sing for Spring or making a donation. Together, we can change the world… one voice at a time!

Heaven On Earth

February 3, 2015

Order Heaven on Earth now!

Tania will release her first solo album this month, titled ‘Heaven on Earth’. Working with acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger Joe Chindamo this CD features some of the most heavenly music ever written. It is designed for meditation, relaxation and illumination.

Songs of Love, Light and Angels for relaxation, reflection, meditation and illumination.

Heaven on Earth is a classical spiritual recording bringing together the angelic voice of soprano Tania de Jong with the virtuosic genius of pianist, composer and arranger Joe Chindamo. Also appearing on the album is one of Australia’s most acclaimed violinists Zoe Black and baritone Jonathan Morton. The album has been recorded with some of Australia’s leading musicians.

The album includes originals Heaven on Earth, Rainbow Shower and Peace Om shanti with compositions by Chindamo and lyrics by de Jong. There are also reinventions of some gorgeous standards including Summertime, Somewhere from Westside Story and La Vie en Rose and glorious classical reinventions of some of the greatest symphonies and concertos. The recording features the work of Beethoven, Mozart, Faure, Elgar and Dvorák though not always in the way you may expect.

The songs range from Mozart’s glorious Clarinet Concerto Adagio to Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto renamed Bring the Light, Elgar’s majestic Nimrod Variations retitled Light Eternal, Faure’s haunting Pavane as Angel Song and Dvorak’s New World Symphony as the moving spiritual Going Home.

Tania said: “In every piece there is something new that will bring you the music in a way you have not heard it before. The songs are all about journeying beyond the here and now, opening your heart, finding your light, letting it shine, the importance of love and the reminder that there is only this present moment. I hope you find as much light, joy, love and peace in this music as I do.”

Read the Heaven on Earth Media Release
Listen to a preview of Heaven on Earth

Order Heaven on Earth now!

Choir launch for 2015

January 29, 2015

Choirs start back first week of February! Some have changed times and locations, so please check the details of your local group using the ‘CHOIRS’ menu above!

Can’t wait to sing with you in 2015.

Festive Holiday Dates

December 17, 2014

The With One Voice choirs are enjoying their final rehearsals and festive soirees for 2014 this week. All choirs return in the first week of February. ‘Til then, keep on sharing the joy of song and don’t miss our performance in Melbourne’s Australia Day Parade!

Thank you to everyone in the choir community for your songs, smiles and support this year. We look forward to more musical adventures in 2015.

Warm wishes to you and yours for a happy and harmonious festive season.

Songs for peace at Martin Place

December 17, 2014

Yesterday evening With One Voice Sydney led Martin Place in song… a peaceful show of togetherness at the end of such a sad day.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by the hostage crisis.

This is why I’m proud to be Australian. People singing Imagine in the city together is beautiful. #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/EDRgjFDPmT

— Lauren Hanney (@laurenhanneyy) December 16, 2014

So touching, seeing people singing Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ at Sydney’s Martin Place. #Respect

— blakkrrox (@blakkrrox) December 16, 2014

The crowd has broken into a rendition of Imagine here in Martin Place …. I can feel the tears starting #SydneySiege

— Benjamin Montague (@benmontague) December 16, 2014

Choir singing Christmas carols in Martin Place, Sydney, now. pic.twitter.com/qLoS3YDORd

— Gray Connolly (@GrayConnolly) December 16, 2014

Meanwhile a block further down #MartinPlace crowds gather to watch a choir sing XMAS carols – Sydney will stay strong & live through this

— Brett Graham (@worldofBG) December 16, 2014

I walked past a 100m queue to lay flowers and a choir singing ‘Still Call Australia Home’ in Martin Place on the way home.

— Matt Carmichael (@MattCarmichael) December 16, 2014

Sing for Spring: Highlights Video

December 10, 2014

Enjoy the highlights from Sing for Spring 2014! This uplifting video competition will be back next year, bigger and better, including a world record singing attempt!

Bookings Open: Gala Dinner 2015

December 1, 2014

We are delighted to announce a very special Gala Dinner will be held during the Creative Innovation Conference in March 2015 in support of the With One Voice program.

WHEN: Tuesday 24 March 2015, 7.00–11.00pm
WHERE: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Grand Ballroom

You are invited to enjoy fine food, wine, a Grand Disruptive Debate and world class entertainment including beat-boxing virtuoso Tom Thum, sensational songsters Pot-Pourri and the With One Voice choirs.

The Grand Debate will feature a number of world class speakers on the topic: “How will we humans compete with machines that can compose, diagnose and savour a rose?”
More event information.

Donations received will go towards supporting the participation of disadvantaged people in Creativity Australia’s acclaimed With One Voice program.

Tickets: $250 per person; $2,500 for a table of ten; or $5,000 for a corporate VIP table (this includes a $3,000 tax-deductible donation to Creativity Australia’s With One Voice program to support disadvantaged participants, prime position and the opportunity to have one of our extraordinary Ci2015 guest presenters seated at your table).

Register online OR call (03) 9645 9858

Gala Dinner 2013 in pictures.

Finalists in the Melbourne Awards

November 19, 2014

Creativity Australia is honoured to have been named a finalist in the Melbourne Awards for the second year running. We were recognised in the Contribution to Community by a Community Organisation category, which celebrates projects or activities that enhance people’s lives and wellbeing in the City of Melbourne.

Click here to read about the other esteemed nominees and winners, including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Melbourne City Mission and Artistic Director of the Australian Shakespeare Company Glenn Elston.

Pictured: Founder and Chair Tania de Jong AM and Executive Director Ross Maher at the 2014 Melbourne Awards.

With One BIG Voice

October 15, 2014

Congratulations to all choirs, conductors, volunteers and staff on a wonderful With One BIG Voice concert at Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday 12 October.

The show featured songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Let It Go from Disney’s Frozen, The Carpenters’ Sing A Song and much, much more.

The winners of Sing for Spring were announced by The Hon. Ted Baillieu MLA and there was a special guest appearance by Sing for Spring Ambassadors The Pacific Belles.

See full image gallery.

Winners of Sing for Spring

October 13, 2014

Congratulations to the winners of Sing for Spring 2014! The winners were announced by the Hon. Ted Baillieu MLA at yesterday’s With One BIG Voice concert at the Melbourne Town Hall.

While not everyone could be named a winner, our team was delighted and inspired by every single entry to Sing for Spring and we can’t wait for next year!

Thank you to everyone involved for sharing the joy of song and supporting the future of the With One Voice program. With your support, we were thrilled to raised more than $20,000.

BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL SING
Silkwood School’s Hummingbird Choir – ‘Beat and Holler’

BEST HIGH SCHOOL SING
Tintern Schools – ‘Geronimo’

BEST WORKPLACE SING
Dattner Grant Team – ‘Three Blind Mice’

BEST FAMILY SING
Levi & Yvette – ‘Killing Me Softly’

MOST ENTERTAINING SING
Class of ’91 – ‘Bust A Move’

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Magic Of Music – ‘Doe A Deer’

BEST BLOKES SING
With One Voice Melbourne Blokes Glee Glub – ‘There Is Nothing Like A Dame’

BIGGEST SING
Freedom Train, Let’s Get Singing, Mixed Beans & With One Voice Brisbane – ‘Truly Beautiful’

MOST INSPIRING SING
The AFL Peace Team – ‘National Anthem’

MOST DIVERSE SING
World Singing Day International – ‘We Sing’

MOST VOTES and BEST UNIVERSITY SING
ICTE University of Queensland Chorus – ‘Lean On Me’

MOST DONATIONS RAISED
With One Voice Ashburton for their original song ‘The Joy of Song’
The fundraising efforts of this choir have been extraordinary. Not only has the choir created a CD of original music, they’ve been selling chocolates and running sausage sizzles to support the future of their choir. With One Voice Ashburton, we are blown away by your efforts.

Ian Baillieu, Lady Southey AC, Tania de Jong AM and The Hon. Ted Baillieu MLA at the With One BIG Voice concert.

Sing for Spring  is a community singing project for a great cause. Families, workplaces, schools, community groups, sports teams… everybody is welcome. A nursery rhyme, campfire sing-along, office karaoke… the sky’s the limit!

Communities that sing together can help beat loneliness and isolation, mental illness, cultural tension, unemployment and more. So let’s share the joy of song every day!