PEEL Health Campus and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre have again joined together through the award winning Choir of Hard Knocks which recently performed at the centre.
As part of its 10th year anniversary, the choir performed the national tour at the centre under the direction of founding conductor Jonathon Welsh.
“The very special thing about this choir is that it’s inclusive of everybody,” Welch said.
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READ NOW“It gives them an opportunity to make a contribution to the world through their singing, empower people through the arts to be more of themselves and to be more in their own lives.”
He said there was growing evidence that being part of a choir did more than simply make people feel good.
Forming new friendships, developing networks in local communities, improving confidence and getting jobs were just some of the benefits of singing with others.
The smash hit TV series Choir of Hard Knocks documented the power of singing in building and renewing lives.
Welch brought together a group of people who had reached desperation in their lives through homelessness, depression and addiction.
He helped them work through their problems by bringing music into their lives and made them feel part of a “family”.
With that message in mind, Peel Health Campus invited local community workers and their clients to watch a choir performance and listen to the choir’s inspirational stories in a special meet and greet after the show.
Peel Health Campus chief executive Margaret Sturdy said collaboration with the centre reflected Ramsay Health Care’s commitment to contribute to the community.
“While Peel Health Campus focuses on healing the body, the centre provides spiritual enrichment through artistic and cultural offerings and we are very proud of this partnership.
“We chose Choir of Hard Knocks to partner with as the themes and values of the choir sit very deeply with our own organisational values. “Mandurah has been described as one of the most demographically diverse communities in the country and partnering with this wonderful concert has given us the chance to open the arts up to the community in such a positive way – highlighting social and health issues in the process.’’