Benalla students joined local residents to sing their hearts out at FCJ College’s annual Let’s Find Our Voice concert on Thursday, June 8.
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The choir performed a matinee for primary school students from across the region followed by a sold out evening show for the community.
FCJ College youth worker Adam Toms said Let’s Find Our Voice was the brainchild of teacher Catherine Burton and had gone from strength to strength since starting a decade ago.
“The concerts went extremely well. We were very happy with the way they turned out,” Mr Toms said.
“In the daytime we had mostly primary school students from our feeder schools like St Joey’s, and schools over in Mansfield and Euroa.
“It was great to have a bunch of the kids who will hopefully come to FCJ in future years seeing what we do here.
“And it was a good opportunity for us to have a full concert from start to finish before the evening show.”
Ms Burton said this was the first time the concert had not been held at BPACC, and everyone involved was pleased it was a full house.
“In fact, it was more than a full house and we needed to find extra chairs,” she said.
“The kids were fantastic, and they loved it.
“Some had been very nervous about singing. But they were all really proud of themselves and really pleased with the result of all their hard work.
“And the older members of the choir had a great time too.
“One lady told me she was worried she had lost her confidence, but performing with the students had given her a big boost.”
Mr Toms said the consensus from the audience was that they all really enjoyed it.
“A lot had never been to a Let’s Find Our Voice concert, and they’re not always sure what they are going to see,” he said.
“Some might be expecting to just see a choir, but there’s lots more to it.
"We have students and adults from the choir doing solos. Then we have the memoirs.
“That is where the Year 10 students do a mini ‘this is your life’ about older members of the choir.
“They put together a four- to five-minute piece, which is a nice little break in the program and adds some great sentiment to the show.”
Mr Toms said he was proud of all students who took part.
“They did really well,” he said.
“Many would not have had an opportunity to be part of a choir like this before coming to FCJ.
“And it’s not just about the music, it’s also a wellbeing program. Yes, we have the singing and music, but it’s also about working together.
“It’s about getting to know some of the older people in our community and getting an insight into their lives.
“And it gives everyone in our school community an opportunity to step up and do something outside their comfort zone.”
There was a great variety of songs performed, including Counting Stars, When I Grow Up from the Matilda film, How Far I’ll Go from Moana, Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley, a Beatles medley and Eye of the Tiger.
“We’ve been working on Eye of the Tiger for some time,” Mr Toms said.
“That was the big piece that finished the show.
“We’re also doing a music video to go with that. It won’t be a lip sync like in previous years. It will be real, live singing.
“That will be released across social media in the coming weeks.”
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