High hopes choir hits the road

Updated

September 10, 2013 19:56:54

A group of disadvantaged musicians is preparing to take their struggles to the stage.

Hobart’s Choir of High Hopes is spreading its sound with a state-wide tour of their original production Journeys, which aims to touch hearts and change minds.

Artistic Director Darren Sangwell says it is a show everyone can relate to.

“It’s great to hear what people have got to say and to have people open up about their past and what they struggle with because we all have struggles,” he said.

“We’re hearing stories about mental illness, social anxiety, problems people have had with mental illness, with losing family and how they’ve conquered them, how they’ve come forward from that.”

The Choir of High Hopes has been running for six years and has 160 members.

Member Amber Meredith says it helped her overcome a major struggle in her life.

“I had a very big nervous breakdown or I developed what’s called schizo-effective disorder, which is a combination of schizophrenia and depression,” she said.

She hopes to inspire others with the new production.

“The message in the music is that you can overcome quite significant difficulties but you probably need some help and encourage from other people to do that.”

Fellow singer Glenda Radcliffe will also share her struggle through song.

As a short-statured person, Ms Radcliffe faced many challenges in her teenage years.

“Things got really worse for me because of all the name-calling and being told I’d never amount to anything and all sorts of things,” she said.

“It got to the point where I just, in my mid-twenties, wanted to end it all.”

She says she wants to help others who face similar discrimination.
“We are one voice and if I touch one person out there in the audience with my story or with anybody else’s story, that’s a good thing.”

Journeys will travel to Huonville, Launceston and Burnie.

Topics:
human-interest,
disabilities,
music,
hobart-7000

First posted

September 10, 2013 17:43:25

Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/high-hopes-choir-hits-the-road/4949232

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