By BEN CAMERON
BUDDING singers in Cardinia could be belting out a tune at the Melbourne Town Hall come October.
Thanks to a $1000 grant from the Cardinia Shire Council, and $1000 personal donation from Central Ward councillor Kate Lempriere, Outlook Community Centre is ready to launch its All Together Choir in Pakenham.
All it needs are 50 singers, of all abilities, ages or walks of life.
“No previous singing experience is necessary,” Outlook community services manager Julie Walton said.
“It is a vehicle that brings people together from all walks of life and enables them to make social connections.
“People with disabilities or possible mental health issues can mix with people from the mainstream community.
“Outlook hopes the choir will give Pakenham people an opportunity for fun, genuine social engagement and personal enrichment.
“We don’t want people to think this is an opportunity just for people with disabilities or disadvantaged backgrounds, but for everybody.”
The acclaimed performing arts program, run under the guidance of Hard Knocks Absolutely Everybody Choir Program, is overseen by Dr Jonathon Welch, who has directed some of the country’s finest community choirs and Dr Kathleen McGuire.
Some exciting performance opportunities are in the works too, with a Best of Broadway concert, part of the SHKAE’s program, scheduled for Melbourne Town Hall in October and its Christmas concert at the same venue.
Weekly sessions begin on Thursday 4 September, from 10.45am to 12.30pm, at Outlook Community Centre in Pakenham.
Choir organisers are also seeking donations of food and supplies for sessions.
Singers are asked to pay $5 per session.
For more information about donating, or to register interest in joining the choir, contact Outlook Community Centre on 5940 4728.
