Rehearsals

Do you remember in March this year I posted a blog - "Calling all singers" - where I told you how I had joined the choir? Well that concert - Ailan Kores - is finally going to happen this Sunday, 17th July, in Anzac Park.

We have been in intense rehearsals since last Sunday and from tomorrow night we will be practising on site. This will be an opportunity for sound checks, and technical checks and we'll be given direction on how to come on stage, stand, sit and exit. Our final dress rehearsal is on Saturday night.

We-sound-fabulous!   :-)

The Queensland Youth Orchestra and 6 soloists will join us - the combined choir of the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula, and the Torres Strait Youth Choir - about 40 voices all up. Our repetoire is a combination of local hymns mixed with devotional pieces from European composers, such as Bach and Handel.

Many of the works have been translated into Western, Central and Eastern language groups as well as Yumplatok which is the island Creole. Our final song - "The Allelulia Chorus" - sung in language is spectacular.

Last night we were given our costumes. The women will wear skirts and tops that reflect the Torres Strait islander culture and we are in a mixture of colours - green, blue and yellow. The men will wear shirts in similar colours and dark pants or the traditional island wrap around skirt.

Our very own Rosie Barkus has designed the screen print for the soloists' costumes. As well as being a local artist and a member of the choir Rosie has also created the designs on the stage backdrops.

Today and tonight the technicals guys were setting up the lights and audio fittings and the stage has been constructed. There are 3 shipping containers full of equipment that has to be unpacked and installed.

But what has me very excited is that there will be a live webcast direct to GOMA - Gallery of Modern Art - in Brisbane starting at 5.30pm. So you can either go in and watch the performance on the big screen or log in at home. I'm hoping that my family will tune in at some point to watch - to see where I live and how much I'm enjoying myself.

Sunday night will be a festival - the Queensland Music Festival - in which we will celebrate "the unity and diversity of the Torres Strait islander culture".
 
Life is amazing.