Franchising choirs

A nonprofit group in Australia creates choirs as a tool to “enhance wellbeing, social inclusion, innovation and productivity”:

THE story behind the beautiful harmony resonating through the halls of the Ashburton Baptist Church each week is almost as good as the music itself.

Creativity Australia, a not-for-profit group that fights social isolation, turned to the power of song.

In March the group started up a choir – based in Ashburton but also targeting Ashwood and Chadstone on the Monash side of Warrigal Road – to help bring the three communities together.

More than a month on and the choir is booming; there are 25 members, with organisers hoping to double it.

This is the ninth choir they’ve creating; the first, now boasting 60 members, is in Melbourne.

The With One Voice program aims to recognise each unique voice. The program bridges social capital and assists migrants and others to develop a sense of belonging, new networks and employment pathways. Participants develop leadership potential, build self esteem, communication and creative skills. They also learn how to work as a team. 

Admittedly that sounds a lot like the edu-speak we hear all the time about choirs, but they seem to be really seeking out otherwise marginalized members of society (immigrants, disabled, etc.) and including them in a choir as a tool for individual improvement and sense of belonging. Sure, they’re not singing Bach cantatas — the reference to “harmony” above is largely metaphorical — they’re emphasizing the communal and social aspects of singing together rather than the musical ones.

Here’s a promotional video from the group, Creativity Australia:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEdFJVNEbP4