Voices of Birralee

Photo: Tony Forbes

The Culture of Peace concert on Sunday 30 May was a wonderful celebration of music and cultures of the world. Each ensemble from Piccolos to Resonance presented a polished and well-chosen program of pieces that included music inspired by people who were brave, who challenged the norm, who were considerate of others. Songs of welcome, encouragement and faith, and songs borne out of sorrow and despair when hope and peace seemed remote. Songs that spoke of the beauty of our planet and how we should be looking after it. Through all of these songs the audience was challenged to do more to make this world a more peaceful and unified one.

It was a delight to have Katie Noonan as our guest artist and she welcomed her husband Zac Hurren, Resonance of Birralee member Jo Davie and the Birralee Singers to join her for her set.

The concert concluded with the world premiere performance of Zac Hurren’s What May Be that brought together nearly 300 singers with soloist Katie Noonan.

The concert also gave the chance to honour retiring Artistic Director and Founder of Voices of Birralee Julie Christiansen OAM. It was wonderful for the Birralee family to be able to acknowledge this woman of vision and passion.

It was indeed so exciting to have all of our Birralee choristers join together again on stage for the first time since 2018 and to celebrate the power of singing in community.