By Aleksandra Bliszczyk
A community choir for LGBTQIA+ identifying people and allies launched in Kyneton this month and is seeking members of all ages, with no musical experience necessary.
Aimed at providing a safe and welcoming space for all, director Adam Przewlocki said the Rainbow Voices choir would promote community connection.
“Singing’s this wonderful common ground that anyone from any walk of life, any age, any demographic can dive into together at the one time in the one space and feel equal and feel valid as a human being,” he said.
“I think there’s very few activities where you can have an 80-year-old and a 10-year-old in the one room at the same time enjoying the same thing.”
Originally planned before lockdown, the first rehearsals were via Zoom and will continue to be online until restrictions permit in-person sessions on Sunday afternoons at Kyneton Community House.
Every virtual session is free, and the first in-person session will be free too.
Rainbow Voices features a largely pop and musical theatre repertoire, with an aim to hold performances around the shire in coming months.
The choir is open to anyone, but Mr Przewlocki has pointed to members of the LGBTQIA+ community to give queer and trans people, especially youth aged 13 and up, an opportunity to express as much of their identity as they wish to without fear of judgement or aggression.
“I didn’t have that as a child or as an adolescent and I’d like to pay that forward now for that young generation,” he said.
He hopes the group will help anyone feeling socially isolated through their sexuality, and will be a step forward for equality.
“We’ve come so far, but we of course still have so much more to achieve and I hope that my group may just be another little stepping stone in allowing the LGBTQIA youth to come out and sing … and be nurtured by some of the older members of this group who will no doubt have some profound stories to tell,” he said.
Mr Przewlocki has been a community choir director for nearly 20 years and a professional musician for 35, as well as a high school music teacher and an award-winning pianist who has amassed more than 200 prizes in eisteddfods across Australia. All of his choirs are non-auditioned.
“There’s no need to read music and there is absolutely no expectation to have any musical experience – that’s my job to bring out the best voice out of every member,” he said.
He is looking for a minimum of 20 members, but there is no cap on numbers and no one will be turned away.
“If it blows out to over 100 so be it and we’ll make that happen. I’m prepared for any number of people,” he said.
Free Zoom rehearsals are on Sundays, 2.30 to 3.30pm. People can email admin@kynetoncommunityhouse.org.au for the Zoom link and sheet music.
