Performer Registrations Begin For Festival Of Voices 2011

Australia's premier event for celebrating the instrument of voice, the FESTIVAL OF VOICES, today announced that registrations have begun for performers for its July 2011 event. Festival of Voices, Tasmania's leading annual winter cultural event now in its 7th year, is Australia's festival of choirs creating a unique national community bringing together more than 10,000 singers and audience members to participate in this vibrant musical celebration of mid-winter.

Since it began the Festival has attracted some of the world's most loved and respected vocal teachers, and has offered learning and performance opportunities for choirs and singers of all ages, abilities and experience. Many of Australia's finest singers have performed throughout Hobart delighting audiences, as well as many choirs and ensembles including The Spooky Men, Gondwana Voices, the Southern Gospel Choir, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Choir, the Australian Girls Choir and many others.

With new Festival Director Kris Stewart at the helm, the 2011 Festival of Voices will see thousands of performers and audience members head south to enjoy an unforgettable week of performances and workshops in a host of intimate and grand spaces in and around historic Hobart.

"The Festival of Voices is a uniquely Hobart event, and we're excited that this year's event will bring an event broader range of national and international talent to take part in this unique mid-winter tradition," said Mr Stewart.

The 2011 Festival of Voices offers two key experiences to satisfy those who would like to take part in the event, or merely be an audience member for it. Central to the Festival is the Major Workshop Program, which brings together artists from across the globe to work with singers in a uniquely hands-on manner. In addition there is the Festival of Voices Performance Series, which mixes signature free events (such as the Salamanca Bonfire) with concerts across the waterfront venues.

Registrations are now open for individuals or groups who would like to participate in the Major Workshop Program. For the first time, the Festival is launching a Musical Theatre Workshop, with stars of musical theatre Peter Cousens and Kellie Dickerson. Peter is probably best known for starring in Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables, while Kellie is currently the musical director for Doctor Zhivago and musical supervisor for the Australian production of Wicked.

Also joining the stellar line-up of guest teachers and artists taking part this year are:

· Direct from Dallas, Texas and back by popular demand, Grammy award winning performer MyRon Butler, who will work with all lovers of gospel, and perform a special concert with workshop participants on Friday night in Hobart's historic City Hall with Tasmania's own and much loved Southern Gospel Choir;

· From Los Angeles, Moira Smiley and VOCO will lead a workshop blending voices and harmony singing with vaudevillian accompaniment, body percussion and the power & physicality of folksong;

· Inspirational conductor Mark O'Leary with his Young Voices of Melbourne will lead a program for 10 to 16yr olds, building on some of the great successes of the last few years.

Festival of Voices 2011 also welcomes from the USA Malcolm Dalglish and his Ooolation Singers, who will be creating a residential singing school on the magnificent Maria Island before joining the festival (for details www.oooliticmusic.com/campframe)

More artists and masterclasses will be announced over the coming weeks, with the full program of performances launched on April 19.

For more information info@festivalofvoices.com

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