By Molly Magennis
An Altona Meadows based choir focused on connectivity and accessibility is re-launching this year after a long COVID hiatus, and is looking for members of all ages and all abilities to join.
Creativity Australia’s With One Voice (WOV) program is coming back to Hobsons Bay, with a brand new musical director on board to help rebuild the choir.
Musical director Steph Payne has been directing community choirs for 25 years.
She will be at the helm of the WOV Altona Meadows choir, which now has a fresh new home at the Altona Meadows Community Centre, and holds rehearsals every Thursday from 2pm to 3pm.
Payne said she is building the choir up again from scratch, after many previous members have moved on to different choirs.,
“What we’re trying to do now is sort of bring it to a younger crowd trying to appeal to the parents and people like that. So we’ve timed it so that it’s kind of after lunch but before the school pickup time kind of thing, so that we can try and appeal to a younger group of people,” she said.
WOV choirs have a particular emphasis on accessibility, Payne said.
“All levels and all ages and all abilities, all backgrounds, all cultures, everything, all genders, all welcome,” she said.
“It’s all about inclusivity…. harmonies tend to be much less complex, it’s really, sometimes it’s even more of a sing along you know, it’s just about getting people together and singing.”
For more information visit www.creativityaustralia.org.au/join-a-choir/altona-meadows/ or www.facebook.com/WOVAltonaMeadows
