Local festival will have residents singing

THE Central Highlands Festival of Bands is back again this year, promising a host of fun musical workshops and performances.
Main festivities will take place on May 8 at the Emerald Botanic Gardens at 4pm.
Central Highlands Music Festival Inc. President James Raschle said the festival is a “collaboration of a number of music teachers, bands and musicians” from around the region.
“We will have guest conductors workshopping with local musicians, as well as a vocal chamber ensemble and we will be visiting and performing at local schools during the week,” Mr Raschle said.
“The goal of the ensemble each year is to allow locals to hear good musicians specific to that instrument.
“The main idea is to build cultural capacity and diverse cultural experiences in the community.”
Mr Raschle said they have received almost 250 registrations already.
“We have people travelling from places like Longreach, Springsure, Clermont and Blackwater, as well as ex-locals travelling from places like Brisbane,” he said.
“We’ll be having a children’s choir for primary school students, a teenager and adult choir for more mature voices, and three concert bands at different levels.
“Our vocal ensemble is called In the Mood For; our conductor is Dr Peter Morris, and our choral director is Mrs Nicole Thompson.”
Mr Raschle said the community has had a great response to this event in the past.
“Most musicians love coming together to play or sing with people they wouldn’t normally play or sing with,” he said.
“From the perspective of learning, it’s a very important event as it helped produce better performances and our performances in schools are able to inspire young and aspiring musicians.”