Sonita hush
Show Listings

BWC fundraiser: screening of Sonita – 18 May!

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Sonita tells the remarkable, inspiring story of its namesake: a gutsy, defiant, 14-year- old Afghan refugee who fights to live the way she wants as an artist, musician and singer. This remarkable film is not on general release, but we have secured an exclusive screening at Cinema Nova. Funds raised from this special screening will help the choir.

Watch the official trailer now.

Be seated by 7pm to catch a special performance by the Brunswick Women’s Choir before the film.

Event details

When: Thursday 18 May – 7pm performance / 7.30pm screening
Where: Cinema Nova, Carlton
Tickets: Online at Trybooking: $22 full / $15 concession
Tickets are only available online (not tickets at the door)!

Film synopsis

Sonita is 18-years- old, an undocumented Afghan illegal immigrant living in the poor suburbs of Tehran. She is a feisty, spirited, young woman who fights to live the way she wants, as an artist, singer, and musician in spite of all her obstacles she confronts in Iran and her conservative patriarchal family. In harsh contrast to her goal is the plan of her family – strongly advanced by her mother – to make her a bride and sell her to a new family. The price right now is about US$9.000.

The main storyline of the film builds around Sonita’s struggle to escape a forced marriage. She fights with the dilemma of not losing her family, but still be able to build a life of her own. In order to do so, she needs to obtain resident status, and to record and make video clips for her songs on a miniscule budget. Through this, we witness her family and their dilemmas and get to know her friends and colleagues who are also child laborers in the NGO “House of Affection”. Will Sonita be forced into marriage? Will she succeed in recording her songs? Will her family manage to take her back to Afghanistan? The film unfolds in Sonita’s home, at the NGO and in music studios in and around Teheran. Later we will need to travel to her hometown in Afghanistan.

Choir singing
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Bring ’em all in: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Benefit

More than 65 million people worldwide have been forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution, natural disasters and poverty. They’re alone in a world where many people do not want them. And just like you, all they want is a safe place to call home. The need for action is great and the time for a warm welcome is now.

Brunswick Women’s Choir believes in the power of music to help bring about change. The BWC sings stories to inspire audiences and bring people together. Our songs of hope give voice to those in need.

The choir will be supported by the 8 women of Acoustic Kitchen who hail from South Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley. They sing a cappella from the heart, as well as for social justice.

We will also hear from speakers who will share their story about seeking asylum or helping others to do so.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. The ASRC advocates the importance of empowering people with lived experience to share their story and shift attitudes about refugees and people seeking asylum.

We acknowledge Moreland City Council in supporting this event.

WHERE: Coburg Town Hall, 90 Bell St, Coburg
WHEN: Sunday, 26 March. Doors open 4.30pm / 5.00pm start
TICKETS: Full $25 / Concession $18 / Kids (<15) $10

Visit TryBooking for tickets.

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Brunswick Women’s Choir go live from Coburg Town Hall!

Brunswick Women’s Choir were honoured to be invited by Moreland Council to perform at the Annual Maurice Blackburn Oration held in July this year. The event gave the BWC their first experience of Facebook Live Streaming, which we hope most of
you were able to catch. Sadly once a live stream is over, we can’t access the footage again, but we promise it was a stunner!

BWC members were invited to sit in the auditorium between sets, and enjoyed the opportunity to listen to an Oration on the “Changing Faces of Australian Families” presented by Her Excellency the Hon Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria.

The evening also provided a great chance for Brunswick Women’s Choir to perform in our neighbouring municipality of Coburg.

 

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Raise Your Hopeful Voice – our showcase concert!

This year we are set to move, inspire and delight our audiences with Raise Your Hopeful Voice; a show touching on many of the values we hold dear.

In these confronting times, significant themes for this concert are open-heartedness, tolerance and welcome. Our 11 September showcase concert will not only confront the causes of conflict and suffering in our local and global communities, but also celebrate the best of human generosity.

Tickets are already selling fast and we would love you to be there. So be sure to secure your seat today!

We warmly invite audience members to join us for a casual supper after the second performance from 7.30pm. Food from the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre will be available for purchase as well as drinks from the bar.

Concert details

Venue: Bella Union, Level 1 Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street (corner of Lygon & Victoria streets), Carlton South
Date: 11 September
Show times: 2.30pm & 5.30pm
Tickets: $25 Full / $15 Concession / $5 kids under 12

Book your tickets now!

Jesse Blackadder at Caroline Mikkelsens landing site
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Benefit concert: Homeward Bound & Dominica Whelan Endowment

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The Brunswick Women’s Choir have been invited by the Brunswick Rogues Choir to join them and the Bigmouth Choir for a family-friendly afternoon of music in support of two worthy causes.

Homeward Bound is a state of the art leadership, strategic and science initiative for female scientists, set against the backdrop of Antarctica. Over the next ten years Homeward Bound aims to build a network of 1000 women in science with the best skills in leadership and strategy execution working together for a sustainable future for people and the planet. The first expedition takes 78 women to Antarctica in December 2016, including 10 women from Victoria.

The Dominica Whelan Endowment has been established within the Victoria University Foundation and will be used to support indigenous and disadvantaged women with access to legal services through a range of scholarship and community outreach programs.

When: Saturday 18 June
Time: 1 – 4pm
Where: Pirates Tavern, 82 Nelson Pl, Williamstown VIC
wma.org.au/tavern/

Performances from:
BRUNSWICK ROGUES CHOIR
A cappella songs about the environment and folk songs from around the world

BRUNSWICK WOMEN’S CHOIR
With songs that celebrate nature, protest social injustice and embrace the human spirit, singing about life with joy and passion

BIGMOUTH CHOIR
Characterised by being big, having mouths, and singing awesome arrangements of modern-ish songs
Tickets: on the door by donation
Recommended: $20
Concession: $10

For more information:
Homeward Bound: homewardboundprojects.com.au
Dominica Whelan Endowment: marianne.hobson@vu.edu.au

Photo by David Hosken: Author Jesse Blackadder travelled to Antarctica on an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship to research her novel about the first woman to reach Antarctica). 

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BWC 2016 tour: dates, destinations and bookings!

In October the Brunswick Women’s Choir will hit the road again to bring their song to new audiences – this time in New South Wales!

Celebrating 25 years of singing under the direction of Cathy Nixon, the Choir will tour from Port Macquarie to Sydney.

Tour dates as follows:

Port Macquarie
Saturday 15 October @ 7pm
The Conservatorium Hall – 56 Hollingsworth Street
Tickets: call 02 6583 9199

Taree, with Wingsong Choir
Monday 17 October @ noon
Bushland Tukka cafe – 41 Mudford Street
Tickets: free!

Newcastle, with Newcastle People’s Chorus and Stella a Capella
Tuesday 18 October @ 7pm
Wickham Park hotel  – 61 Maitland Road
Tickets: gold coin donation

Windsor, with Woman Song and Stay Tuned
Thursday 20 October @ 7.15pm
The Church Bar – 22 Kable Street
Tickets: available via TryBooking

Faulconbridge, with The Mudlarks
Friday 21 October @ 7.30pm
Faulconbridge Community Hall – 9-9A Home Street
Tickets: available at the door

Sydney, with Café at the Gate of Salvation & The Honeybees
Room at the Inn – Voices for the Common Good
Saturday 22 October @ 7.30pm
Tickets: available via TryBooking

See you in sunny New South Wales!

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Clifton Hill Open Gardens

Celebrate the arrival of spring with the Brunswick Women’s Choir!

We’re opening our gates and inviting you to bliss out in the botanical glory of the season.

And all proceeds will go directly to helping the Brunswick Women’s Choir bring their song to new audiences.

The event is open to the public. Children must be under adult supervision, and as our gardens have uneven surfaces they are not suitable for wheelchairs, prams or walking frames.

Light refreshments will be available throughout the day.

(Please leave your furry friends at home, as our gardens are easily damaged.)

When: 17 and 18 October, from 10am to 4pm
Where: 92 Ramsden St, Clifton Hill + 5 other locations, including 4 new gardens
Donations: $12 per adult / Children are free!

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Celebrate spring with the BWC!

Celebrate the arrival of spring with the Brunswick Women’s Choir!

We’re opening our gates and inviting you to bliss out in the botanical glory of the season.

And all proceeds will go directly to helping the Brunswick Women’s Choir bring their song to new audiences.

The event is open to the public. Children must be under adult supervision, and as our gardens have uneven surfaces they are not suitable for wheelchairs, prams or walking frames.

Light refreshments will be available throughout the day.

(Please leave your furry friends at home, as our gardens are easily damaged.)

When: 17 and 18 October, from 10am to 4pm
Where: 92 Ramsden St, Clifton Hill + 5 other locations, including 4 new gardens
Donations: $12 per adult / Children are free!

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Through Every Open Door

This year our showcase concert acknowledges women as composers, arrangers, and performers, celebrating singing and community.

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We’ll take you from the Baltic fields of Latvia, via West Africa, through a fusion of folk, blues, gospel, with some pop thrown in for good measure.

Join us on either Sunday 16 August or Sunday 23 August at the Brunswick Mess Hall for a joyful journey around the world.

Doors open at 2 pm. Tickets will sell fast so buy yours now!

Adults $20, concession $15 and $5 for kids over 5.