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Give Happy, Live Happy: Volunteer Week

May 13, 2015

Volunteer Week 2015

It’s National Volunteer Week and Creativity Australia’s With One Voice family wants to say a big thank you to our 100 volunteers who support and contribute to the community every week.

Without their ongoing support, the With One Voice choirs wouldn’t be able to operate as successfully as it does and for that, we are truly grateful.

Together, our volunteers and other wonderful team members are helping change the world… one voice at a time. Creativity Australia’s aim is to bridge the gap between people experiencing disadvantage and those more fortunate through the neuro-scientific benefits of community singing, choirs and singing projects. We build supportive networks that help people connect to brighter futures.

Coinciding with Volunteering Australia’s motto this year, our team members share the same value: Give Happy, Live Happy.

Community Choirs Vs. Fight Club

May 7, 2015

A film blogger’s left-of-field comparison between Fight Club and community singing…

Everybody knows the first rule about Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. Less are familiar with the second rule of Fight Club: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club. What people do not know is how Fight Club creator Tyler Durden’s rules echo Creativity Australia’s With One Voice choirs. The first rule of the choir is: you do talk about the choir. The second rule of course is: you DEFINITELY DO talk about the choir.

The parallels go further than simply changing an environment from one of exclusivity to one that is wholly inclusive. However, that being said, it must be made very clear that the With One Voice choirs are peaceful gatherings where anyone is welcome!

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Food for the soul: supermarket flash mob

April 20, 2015

Some familiar faces appear in this wonderful flash mob at Ritchie’s Mt Eliza!

Thank you, Shaun: celebrating our conductors

April 16, 2015

After seven years as Principal Conductor of the With One Voice program, we are bidding a fond (yet not final) farewell to the wonderful Shaun Islip.

Shaun said his life has been transformed and enriched immeasurably through his association with Creativity Australia.

“It has been an immense privilege and joy to help shape the community, culture, creativity, music and ethos of this remarkable organisation,” Shaun said.

“It has been a hugely difficult decision to move on after seven fruitful and life-giving years, and I say my farewells with a heavy heart,” he said.

“It is wonderful to welcome, recognise and affirm the new blood, life, energy and skills embodied in my very worthy successor Kym Dillon. His passion, energy and enthusiasm will undoubtedly prove a great catalyst for the forward momentum and future success of Creativity Australia.

“Dearest friends, choir members, staff of Creativity Australia, Tania… you will always hold a huge place in my heart, I will miss you more than I can say. This however is not a final farewell, and I am confident that it will not be too long before our paths cross again.

“Until then dear ones, may you all find new strength in the journey, fresh wind in your sails as you continue to extend hope and encouragement through the joy of song. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for everything.

“Until next time… Siyahamba!

On behalf of the whole With One Voice family, we extend our warmest wishes to Shaun and look forward to seeing him as a guest conductor in the near future.

Kym Dillon, who has been a With One Voice conductor for five years, said he is excited to take all the skills he has gained so far to the next level.

“Working with the wonderful, dedicated choirs of Geelong, Ashburton and Altona Meadows over the years has given me an invaluable insight into the nature of these singing communities, and I have them to thank for the readiness I feel to take on this challenge,” Kym said.

“I’m sincerely looking forward to working with a very talented team of conductors to achieve the best possible outcome we can for the people who sing with us,” he said.

“I look forward to us as a team heightening the sense of community, not just in the the individual choirs but in the program as a whole, and celebrating each individual choir for their particular character.

“Finally, I honestly look forward to doing my utmost to listen to the needs of the choirs, and do my best to serve them as a fellow musician.

“Shaun has been an invaluable leader for the past few years, and I wish him all the best with his future endeavours!”

You can enjoy Kym’s energetic stylings at our Melbourne, Ashburton, Geelong and Altona Meadows choirs.

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!

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.