August 5, 2004
Hobart Mercury, Australia
A Cappella singing in Tasmania has grown substantially since the first A Cappella Festival five years ago, and organisers hope this year's festival will be just as successful. Tasmanian A Cappella Association president Lorraine Mars said this year's festival, running statewide from August 13-29, would have a strong focus on local talent and audience participation. "Normally our emphasis has been on the interstate acts, but as we were planning we've uncovered all sorts of fabulous Tasmanian talent," she said.
And with more than 40 artists and groups holding concerts and workshops for the public, Ms Mars said a capella singing -- which is harmonised and unaccompanied -- was not just for the professionals. "We find that every festival newcomers come who've never sung before or have been meaning to get out of the shower and sing," she said. "We like to think it's gotten bigger, we've certainly got more umbrella events this year, lots of concerts and workshops happening and a bit of a regional program, too."
Launching the festival yesterday, Arts Minister Lara Giddings said there was an amazing breadth of talented singers in Tasmania. "The Tasmanian A Capella Festival provides us all with an opportunity to hear great music, or to sing through the different events during the festival," she said. "I encourage everyone to read this exciting program and become involved."
Ms Mars said a cappella singing was not just about performing, it was a social event as well. "It's that joy about coming together in a big group to sing, it's very uplifting," she said. The festival's grand finale is the Big Sing Concert at St Mary's Cathedral in Hobart, featuring a massed choir performing the festival theme and audience participation.
Posted by acapnews at August 5, 2004 8:07 AM
