The Story of Brisbane Sings
Brisbane Sings was originally produced by David Kidd and Craig Allister Young in 1993. This concert featured the largest massed choir then assembled in Queensland - 500 voices in conjunction with the Queensland Youth Orchestra. The event was a huge success, selling 3,000 tickets over two performances in the Concert Hall at QPAC. Plans to make the concert a yearly event were put on hold when the two producers pursued professional music careers overseas.
Fast-forward over twenty years and Brisbane Sings feels like it never left. The idea of so many voices sharing the stage has attracted a wide range of community musical organisations who share a passion for the art of singing. This event is not only a fun and entertaining show, it’s a great way for groups to collaborate and strengthen creative relationships in a non-competitive environment. Many of our choirs are performing together for the first time, learning, from the diversity of styles and choral approaches on offer. It’s a singing nerds dream. The concert builds on the Queensland Show Choir’s mission to create memorable and lasting experiences for its members but it’s also about making new friends. Brisbane has an incredibly vibrant cultural life. It’s our hope that Brisbane Sings will become a major part of that for many years to come.
Fast-forward over twenty years and Brisbane Sings feels like it never left. The idea of so many voices sharing the stage has attracted a wide range of community musical organisations who share a passion for the art of singing. This event is not only a fun and entertaining show, it’s a great way for groups to collaborate and strengthen creative relationships in a non-competitive environment. Many of our choirs are performing together for the first time, learning, from the diversity of styles and choral approaches on offer. It’s a singing nerds dream. The concert builds on the Queensland Show Choir’s mission to create memorable and lasting experiences for its members but it’s also about making new friends. Brisbane has an incredibly vibrant cultural life. It’s our hope that Brisbane Sings will become a major part of that for many years to come.
The Team
|
David Kidd
Producer |
Craig Allister Young
Musical Director |
Donna Dyson
Composer in Residence |
With extensive experience working in the Creative Industries in Queensland, our Brisbane Sings team is passionate about presenting a concert that reflects the vibrancy and enthusiasm of Brisbane performers. David Kidd toured internationally with The Ten Tenors for a decade and is known to Queensland audiences as a soloist and regular performer with Opera Queensland. Michael Wilson has been a Musical Director of numerous choral groups for over 20 twenty years, from small close harmony ensembles through to community choirs. Craig Allister Young performs as a cellist with the Queensland Orchestra and has developed a reputation as one of the country’s leading arrangers, most recently in his work with the Queensland Ballet as Musical Director and orchestrator of three of their productions. He is also a familiar face as a top 24 competitor in the high-rating Australian TV show, Masterchef. Donna Dyson is the 2016 APRA ASA Australian Songwriter of the Year and the winner of the APRA ASA Song of the Year for Spirit of Australia along with her close friend and cowriter Damien Leith. She composes an extensive list of genres for an endless list of contemporary professional performers, choirs and children. Her music is commissioned for Australian and International placement and performance.
The Queensland Show Choir
The Queensland Show Choir is very proud to be able to produce this wonderful collaboration of 500 singers. Their philosophy is to provide our members with unique experiences that enable lifelong memories and associations. They believe Brisbane Sings will provide their members and all 500 singers with a lifelong experience. They look forward to Brisbane Sings becoming an annual part of Brisbane’s arts calendar. Each year will bring together a variety of singers from around Brisbane to showcase the talent from our wonderful city. It is not every day you can see 500 singers harmonising together on stage.