24 May 2017
Composer Julian Raphael and community group ACTIVE present a new work We’re Gonna Get Along in concert on Saturday 27 May. The song cycle, which Raphael composed as the 2016 SOUNZ Community Commission for the young people’s singing group, is a personal narration and musical exploration about the ACTIVE group. Words for the commissioned work came from ideas expressed by the young people themselves.
The SOUNZ Community Commission brings together NZ professional composers and community groups to work in partnership to create and perform a new work. It was established in 1999 and has resulted in works for diverse groups such as recorder choir, experimental sound artists and children’s theatre. The Commission is sponsored by an anonymous donor and administered by SOUNZ.
The concert, which is a collaboration between Community Music Junction, ACTIVE Youth Group and the Wellington Community Choir (WCC), is the first time the WCC are hosting a special NZ Music concert in their 12-year history. In addition to the SOUNZ Community Commission work, songs by kiwi bands Crowded House, The Mockers and The Mutton Birds have been especially arranged for the concert by Raphael, featuring the choir as both lead and backing vocals. Accompanying these songs will be a band of local musicians Nick Granville, John Rae, Pat Bleakley and David Dell.
Julian Raphael is a community musician, music educator, composer and performer from Wellington. ACTIVE, part of IDEA Services (Intellectual Disability Empowerment in Action), aims to enable, empower and support young people with intellectual disabilities.
Julian said, “We are having a wonderful time – our Friday morning sessions with ACTIVE are joyous and there is much excitement of the impending concert which will be a momentous occasion for many of the young people.”
“As one of our key projects, the Community Commission reflects SOUNZ’s core values of collaborating and working with different communities and we are delighted to be supporting Julian’s collaboration with the young people of ACTIVE,” said SOUNZ Executive Director Diana Marsh.
Date: 27 May
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Salvation Army Citadel, Vivian St, Wellington
Directed by Julian Raphael
Share this
