Voices of Remembrance is a musical memorial—presented by the Queensland Government in partnership with Queensland Music Festival (QMF)—commemorating the centenary of the signing of the Armistice that led to the end of the First World War. This momentous event is one of the final anniversaries to be observed during the Anzac Centenary period, 2014–2018.

Specially selected by music director Dr Jonathon Welch AM, founder of The Choir of Hard Knocks, the repertoire includes anthems that reflect on war, peace and the enduring legacy of the Anzac spirit.

In addition to a world premiere by revered Australian composer Gordon Hamilton, musical
highlights of the two-hour concert include favourite songs from the era, Keep the Home Fires Burning and It’s A Long Road to Tipperary, through to contemporary works such as Kristin Berard’s A Mother’s Plea and Eric Bogle’s And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. QMF Artistic Director Katie Noonan said each concert would feature a distinct musical narrative, written specifically for Toowoomba and Cairns locales by award-winning Queensland playwright and director Daniel Evans, a past recipient of the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award.

“Voices of Remembrance spotlights the history and legacy of the community during the First World War, and acknowledges the vital role of Indigenous soldiers and the Australian Light Horse, whose actions helped turn the tide of war in favour of the allies,” Ms Noonan said.

“These powerful concerts will help everyone reconnect with moving stories from the First World War, and pay tribute to the peace that came with the signing of the Armistice.”

Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School’s Director of Performing Arts, Nerida Eckert, said she was proud to perform as part of the Toowoomba core choir alongside her husband and members of her local community.

“Voices of Remembrance is a worthy celebration of Australian history and an important event to reflect on the sacrifice of ordinary Australians to provide us with a better quality of life,” Ms Eckert said.

“It is a wonderful experience to perform with high calibre conductors, soloists and musicians alongside my fellow choristers.”

Community choirs all over Queensland have been rehearsing the Voices of Remembrance concert repertoire in their own communities and will showcase their work with performances at pop-up events, community gatherings or formal concerts in the lead up to, or in conjunction with, their Remembrance Day services.

Many groups from across the state have embraced this opportunity, with groups from Mount Isa, across to Charters Towers and down to Cunnamulla and Scenic Rim already confirming their local performance details.

The free Voices of Remembrance concerts in Toowoomba and Cairns are part of a broad and inclusive suite of Armistice Centenary commemorations across the state to ensure the Anzac legacy is preserved for future generations.

Voices of Remembrance, Toowoomba
Friday, 9 November 2018
7pm – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
www.qld.gov.au/remembranceday

Voices of Remembrance, Cairns
Saturday, 10 November 2018
7pm – Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns
www.qld.gov.au/remembranceday

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sydney Film Festival, Wide Open Sky is the uplifting story of a children’s choir in outback NSW. In this remote corner of the state, footy is king and music education is rare as rain. Determined to see the children reach their potential, the choir’s passionate and driven artistic director, Michelle Leonard, strives to open up their world through music.

Wide Open Sky takes us into the lives of Kyh, Mack, Opal and Taylah, four brave and hopeful primary school children who travel far from home to music camp to prepare for the choir’s big concert. They have just three days to learn a demanding repertoire. Set against a stunning landscape and featuring music by acclaimed band Dirty Three, Wide Open Sky is a funny, heartwarming snapshot of childhood in rural Australia. These little voices have big dreams, and the choir offers them the chance of a lifetime.

www.wideopenskymovie.com

Competition will be drawn 25 April 2016, winners will be notified by mail.

If the narrative sounds familiar that’s because it is. This same basic framework has been used over and over from Fame to Billy Elliot. Substitute the poor kid for a rich kid and you have Dead Poet’s Society; substitute adults for the schoolboy and you have The Full Monty. Boychoir ticks off each obligatory plot point with metronomic predictability offering no new twists to a tired formula. Everything turns out exactly how you’d expect.

The film boasts an impressive cast list including Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates and Eddie Izzard who are all solid performers but are subsisting entirely on their personal charisma here. The music is, as you would expect, divine, so choir junkies will find much to enjoy, others much less so.

While the film is well crafted with some divine music and solid performances, there’s no escaping the reality that we’ve seen this film many times before. It’s agonisingly predictable and if you’ve seen Billy Elliot you’ve seen it already.

Stuart Jamieson
www.beckerfilmgroup.com/boychoir