Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH’s young singers will have the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors at the Perth Choral Institute’s first summer school course.

Internationally acclaimed Australian soprano and early music specialist Sara MacLiver will front the team running the eight-day intensive singing experience in January.

The summer school’s director Hugh Lydon said he hoped the initiative would fill the “sizeable gap” in the WA singing world left by those who may not have access to grass roots training at an early age.

“Many upper school students and undergraduates at universities enjoy and excel at singing, but might not necessarily have received the grassroots training at an early age that educated them how to be a core member of a choir,” Mr Lydon said.

“An aspiring singer can receive tuition or advice from someone who is nationally known, such as Sara MacLiver and Andrew O’Connor, but has grown up in WA.

“Many participants in the course will eventually become core members of every preeminent vocal ensemble in WA, and thus a culture of choral singing can grow further,” Mr Lydon said.

Participants will also perform concerts and services in the Perth Town Hall, St George’s Cathedral and St Patrick’s Basilica.

The first summer school for students aged 15 to 25 will take place in mid-January, 2017.

by CHARLIE SMITH