MAKING their debut album was a triumph for Voyces choir members, but it was not without its challenges.
Getting all 35 vocalists together at the one time was the first hurdle, then securing a proper studio and scheduling musicians and recording equipment followed.
“It wasn’t the easiest job in the world but it was well worth it,” choir president Luke Donohoe said.
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READ NOW“Everyone put in so much effort in terms of learning the music and having to be on the ball because we were recording on Tuesday nights after 7pm, so everyone had done a full day of work or uni and were tired.”
Donohoe said he had wanted to record an album for several years and now was the ideal moment to make it happen.
“As one of the leading choirs in Australia, I think it’s important that we promote our own music and I also think it’s important that we do it for our own wellbeing,” he said.
“It’s vital we keep pushing ourselves to do new things and keep supporting the genre of music that we aim to support and one of the best ways to do that is to make a CD.
“We can sell it, put it online, promote it and send it around the world so those who don’t know there’s a great choral music scene in Australia, those who might be from places who don’t get exposed to it regularly, can access it just as easily as you or I.”
Voyces will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year.
“We set out to really focus on contemporary choral music; it was being done overseas a lot but not really here,” Donohoe said.
“Since starting, we’ve grown in size and quality: we’ve sung at the opening of PIAF and with Katie Noonan and Adele.
“We also try to ensure we’re promoting the quality of our members by making sure they’re exposed to other musical opportunities, rather than just singing with Voyces.”
Voyces launch its self-titled album, featuring 12 tracks with music by Australian composers, at a concert next week.
The CD will be available at www.voyces.com.au and from digital stores after the launch.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Voyces album launch
Where: Government House Ballroom
When: June 10
Tickets: www.voyces.com.au
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