Melbourne Sings Choir

Creativity Australia's With One Voice program is thrilled to present Melbourne Sings. This is a mixed community/business choir of 60-100 people based at Sofitel Melbourne On Collins and sponsored by Sofitel and Allan's Music. This choir involves executives and employees from various city businesses, unemployed people and those with disabilities, and migrants from the Fitzroy and Collingwood Housing Estates. Since forming in 2009 the choir has already presented performances for charities and major conferences and special events including Diversity@Work Awards, The World Parliament of Religions, World Social Enterprise Forum, The Global Foundation, Moomba and Serious Women’s Business Gala Dinner.

The choir members range in age from 13 to 85 years old and represent 15 nations. Many of the choir speak little or no English but this program is helping them to learn. The aim of the choir is to bridge social capital as well as develop training opportunities and employment pathways. For participants it is an opportunity to develop leadership potential, build self esteem, communication and innovation skills. They also learn how to work as a team to meet challenges by unlocking their creative potential.

The With One Voice program aims to recognise each unique voice. The program bridges social capital and assists migrants and others to develop a sense of belonging, new networks and employment pathways. Participants develop leadership potential, build self esteem, communication and creative skills. They also learn how to work as a team. When many diverse voices come together as "one voice", the outcomes are transformational.

The choir was founded by social entrepreneur Tania de Jong AM and is conducted by the inspiring Shaun Islip and performs a variety of music including dynamic African gospel songs, Australian songs and all time favourite hits such as Amazing Grace, What A Wonderful World, Imagine, That’s What Friends Are For, You'll Never Walk Alone, I am Australian, Waltzing Matilda and lots more!

There are places available in the choir for those of you who would love to sing (even if you never have before), and help some people less fortunate than yourselves to gain confidence, get a job, learn English, find friends, etc.

www.creativityaustralia.org.au

"The promotion of a spirit of social inclusion and international cooperation, which is at the heart of the activities of The Global Foundation, was given a positive step forward by the contribution of the Melbourne Sings choir at our Australia Unlimited Summit on 1 July 2010.

The choir brings together people of both sexes, of all religions, all backgrounds and of all ethnicities, it is an inspiring example of cooperation and understanding which is an example to us all. Some 300 people had the pleasure of experiencing the choir and not a single person was unmoved by their performance. We hope that their message will be an inspiration to us all." The Global Foundation

Imagine performed by Melbourne Sings Choir at the Launch of CI 2010

"Tania de Jong and her Melbourne Sings Choir played a wonderful part of our event. They struck at the core of what it means to embrace diversity, the innate creativity in all of us and the power of collective energy to create positive change. Their voices and enthusiasm opened our hearts and inspired us all." Taren Hocking, Director SWB

"Melbourne Sings Choir was inspiring and a perfect ending to a very successful night." Diversity@Work Awards

"Melbourne Sings performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2009 Social Enterprise World Forum. They were incredibly enthusiastic and performed an uplifting song that soon had the audience clapping along. Well done for all involved for a spirited performance!" Social Ventures Australia

"The choir is an escape for me. To open my heart, to be relaxed, happy and forget about all the problems. It’s an open door that you can only see flowers in front and be happy. Enjoy the perfume of the song.

The choir really had an important role in my confidence. The diversity in the choir is really huge. Tania, Antony, Shaun... all of them were there for me. And when I got my job interview to prepare, they gave me a hand to improve my confidence and to take that step it was really hard for me. I was so nervous, so emotional. I couldn’t believe I would have a job. Then I have the job. I say thanks to BSL, thanks to ANZ who recruited me and most importantly thanks to Tania [de Jong] for her support and all of the members of the choir." Nathalie - recent arrival from Cameroon