A new women’s choir is striking a chord in Battery Point, attracting singers of all abilities to its Sunday sessions.
Rise in Radiance Women’s Choir has launched recently with 16 women turning up to the first session and more joining each week.
Creator Ella Burns said the choir is “a supportive space for women of all ages and experiences to come together in song and to open our voices and to have lots of fun while we learn and grow in music”.
Burns, of Howrah, said her dream was to create something welcoming for everyone, not just confident singers.
“It is not just for seasoned singers, but for people who have always wanted to sing or maybe have sung when they were young, but haven’t had a place to do that with other people,” she said.
Burns grew up playing piano and performing in musical theatre before moving into songwriting and exploring different musical styles and cultures.
She said she wanted to start the choir for a long time and decided “it was something that I just couldn’t keep sleeping on”.
“I feel it is pertinent in these times that we actually have in-person gatherings, that we are prioritising community, and the online space is awesome, but we also need these community initiatives where we’re building real-life connection,” she said.
Early feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive.
“They’re saying how much fun they had,” Burns said.
“They’re saying that they really loved the connection with other women.”
“A lot of people are just saying how joyous it is to be singing together.”
Among those joining in is Burns’s 87-year-old grandmother, who she credits with sparking her love of music.
“She actually is the reason why I started music, because she was an amazing pianist and she encouraged me to pick up an instrument young and has always been one of my biggest supporters,” Burns said.
Whether the choir eventually performs publicly remains to be seen, but Burns isn’t ruling it out.
“I can see how this choir could be a really exciting contribution to Hobart art space,” she said.
For anyone thinking about giving it a go, Burns had a simple message.
“Come and experience the joy for yourself,” she said.
The group meets every Sunday from 4pm to 5:30pm at St George’s Community Hall in Battery Point.
No auditions or experience are needed.
