Our evolving Indigenous group participates in magnificent musical Opera on the Broome mudflats

Our evolving first choir in Broome “the entrance to The Kimberley”,  has just made an excellent debut taking part in the second Shorebird Quest.  They sing the fishing song...wirli-wirlii-ngan   ("we're going fishing").

The Quest is easily regarded as a magnificent musical Opera on the Broome mudflats at an extreme Kimberley low tide fronting Town Beach, Roebuck Bay.

It commemorates the massive annual and dangerous shorebird migration from Siberia to Broome and back. Curtis the Curlew is the star of this Quest as he hatches overseen by his father on the Siberian tundra.

Curtis is just one of the giant shorebird puppets that amass on the sand-flat about to take flight from the arctic tundra to Broome. The performance of puppetry, song, and dance under the aegis of Theatre Kimberley (artistic director, Meredith Bell and former artistic director, Gwen Knox). The giant puppets were made through a series of community workshops, facilitated by expert puppeteers and theatre-makers Karen Hethey, and Bernadette Trench –Thiedeman.

The performance of puppetry, storytelling and dance  has been  co-written with Parks and Wildlife Service, local indigenous Yawuru Rangers and Yawuru Country Managers.

Our choir mistress, Jaime Jackett , was co-composer and musical director.

The Choir, a space of happiness - Workshop reflection

On August 6, 2022, our team of motivated and enthusiastic Choir Masters received a workshop from teacher Wilmia Verrier, who is an expert in vocal and choral work at different ages.

The workshop provided an opportunity to reaffirm existing and learn new choir class rehearsal techniques and approaches that our choir masters can implement in their choirs. Wilmia shared with our team exercises, vocalisations, songs and musical resources that will help our team to make rehearsals and classes more dynamic and fun for the children and members of our groups.

We asked our Mexican Choir Director, Elizabeth Espejel, what it was that she appreciated most from the workshop.

We have a lot of knowledge to share and to learn. As teachers, we can carry out endless exercises in a variety of ways so that children enjoy the program more and in turn improve their singing and musical learning. We learned that we can integrate instruments and objects to accompany our music.

The course focused on showing that children need more activities that motivate them to sing, move and express themselves; rather than just standing, singing and following directions.

Our choir masters are now aiming to motivate them to make music with everything in their body. To use more instruments in addition to the piano, such as musical bells, rattles and keys; as well as instruments made by children with recycled objects, so that they have the possibility of performing their rhythms and unique sounds. Our team are looking to incorporate more choreography into each session and their performances to help children's vocal and stage development.

The children are the main part of the IHAVOC project, they are the ones who motivate us to make music, to continue learning and training. They are the ones who give meaning to our work, without them we simply could not bring I Have a Voice to life. - Elizabeth Espejel

The IHAVOC are pleased to announce that Wilmia joins our team as an advisor to the Choir Masters and the coordinator of Guadalajara. Her motivation and commitment has allowed I Have a Voice to expand our program into Guadalajara and we look forward to more professional development for our team through her courses, training and advice.

Find out more about our choirs here.