Singing out against domestic violence.
The School of Hard Knocks is thrilled to announce that the world premiere of the expanded No Excuses! choral suite will be introduced by Rosie Batty, 2015 Australian of the Year and Australian domestic violence campaigner at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Sunday June 12th 2016 at 2pm as part of the Melbourne International Singers Festival.
The School of Hard Knocks commissioned composers Christina Green and Dr Kathleen McGuire in 2015 to write the No Excuses! choral suite and create the No Excuses! women’s choir with the aid of a Creative Victoria grant. No Excuses! focuses on family violence and domestic abuse, with real stories of struggle alongside those of inspirational resilience as shared by women from Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Dr McGuire said they had an overwhelming response for material when composing the new work. “As many of the women who were singing in the choir began contributing their stories, many of them began to realise that they themselves had been victims of domestic violence. Their involvement in this process and the music has empowered them to turn their lives around.” said Dr McGuire.
No Excuses! was originally premiered at the Big West Festival in 2015, and was described as “an emotional and ultimately triumphant journey of strength and hope.”
The No Excuses! women’s choir has also performed for Rosie and The Luke Batty Foundation, at Crown Casino. “It is so incredibly special that she will be present to introduce the extended work at the world premiere, given her deep commitment to this important cause through her own tragic circumstances. Sometimes music can tell a story in a way that nothing else can.” said Dr Welch, founding artistic director of the School of Hard Knocks.
No Excuses! will be performed at the Melbourne International Singers Festival with the composers Christina Green and Dr Kathleen McGuire also conducting and performing with the No Excuses! women’s choir.
A special offer is available which will enable patrons to attend both No Excuses! and ‘Street Requiem in memory of those who have died on the street’, which has also been extended with new movements added. Street Requiem will premiere at the Melbourne Recital Centre on the 12th at 8pm.
Proceeds support the School of Hard Knocks, created by Dr Jonathon Welch AM, founding artistic director of the award winning Choir of Hard Knocks, to help marginalised and vulnerable Australians build positive mental and physical health through the arts.
Tickets start at $21.90, or $38.90 to attend both premieres.
Book at http://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2016/no-excuses/
