Tasmania warms up vocal chords for Festival of Voices

Australia’s premier celebration of the human voice – Tasmania’s Festival of Voices – will take place this month, so warm up those vocal chords and get involved!

Described as the biggest winter event in Tasmania’s cultural calendar, the 2012 Festival of Voices will feature 10 days of concerts, workshops and celebrations with local, national and international artists in Hobart’s finest venues.

Executive Director Kris Stewart is at the helm of the Festival for the second year in 2012, and his program this year is peppered with local and international vocalists who will draw the community together through the power of voice.

Tasmania saw $3.45 million generated in economic benefit from the Festival in 2011, and this year the event has been extended from 5 days to 10 days, demonstrating the strength of the initiative.

“We are building on Kris’ first Festival last year by offering the best international, national and local talent we can find. And in turn the Festival’s artistic strength converts directly into cultural capital for the State”, said Chairman Ross Honeywill.

“This year we build on the voice – of song, of storytelling, of new ideas – of Tasmania”, he said.

The Festival has two main streams – the workshop series and the performance program. In the Workshop Series, anyone can participate as a singer: if you are Australian’s next Dame Joan or someone who just enjoys striking up a song in the shower, there will be something wonderful to be discovered.

“Whether your taste is choral or cabaret, storytelling or musical theatre; whether you want to learn, perform or just sit back and enjoy, you’ll find something to savour at the 2012 Festival of Voices”, said Executive Director, Kris Stewart.

Tasmania’s national artistic presence will be felt over the coming weeks through the myriad of spoken word concerts, free family vocal events, choral concerts and cabaret performers.

“We want to celebrate how dynamic and exciting Hobart can be in winter, and continue to give people more options of what they can do in this great southern city. Come along and make some noise!”

Full program at www.festivalofvoices.com