Special Events

Northern Lights

West Australian Symphony Orchestra Chorus

Presented by Bendigo Bank Albany Community Bank Branch

Fri | 8.30pm

Denmark Civic Centre

Separately Ticketed $30/$35 Online, Festival Hub & Door

In a very special Friday evening concert, the WA Symphony Orchestra Chorus will perform a magical blend of sonorous chant and tenderness by some of the finest contemporary classical composers from Estonia, Norway and Latvia. Conducted by Christopher van Tuinen with 60 choristers the program includes: Arvo Part: Magnificat, Da pacem Domine; Ola Gjeilo: Tota pulchra es, Northern Lights, Ubi caritas; Tomas Luis de Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium; Morten Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium.

Experience the precision and passion of this timeless choral tradition.

This is a ticketed event, not included with the weekend and day passes.

Click here to purchase.

gina_guy2014_hi [5 of 70] [Image by Jarr

Koorlangka

Gina Williams, Guy Ghouse & Russell Holmes

w/ West Australian Symphony Orchestra String Quartet

Including Keynote with Waalitch Iszaac Webb

Mon | 11am & 3pm

Silverstream Wines

241 Scotsdale Rd

Separately Ticketed $50/$55 Online, Festival Hub & Door

Koorlangka is part of a contemporary Noongar song cycle 'Kalyakoorl' ('Forever') from Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse, performing alongside Russell Holmes (piano) and West Australian Symphony Orchestra String Quartet.

Including keynote "Honouring Indigenous Languages" with Waalitj Iszaac Webb.

This is a ticketed event, not included with the weekend and day passes.

Click here to purchase.

Indigenous Voices

The Brownley Gospel Singers

Koondarm

Fri 31/5 | 8:30pm

St. Leonard's Anglican Church

Separately Ticketed $25 Online, Festival Hub & Door

A special concert featuring Indigenous Voices from two different language groups: Wongatha (The Brownley Gospel Singers) and Noongar (Koondarm)

This is a ticketed event, not included with the weekend and day passes.

Click here to purchase.

Denmark (Kwoorabup)

Festival of Voice Opening Ceremony

Fri 31/5 | 7.15-8.00pm

The Butter Factory (outside)

Free Event

A special Noongar-directed ceremony ‘Healing Boodja’ with traditional smoking, cultural welcome by local Elders and Dr Richard Walley, music by Gina Williams, Guy Ghouse, Madjital Moorna and Koondarm, and dance by Mungart Yongah Aboriginal Dancers.

Please note this is an outside ceremony, so please dress accordingly.

Original artwork: Qaambarn danjoo nginnow (accompany, to be together)

Artist: Sandra Hill (Wadandi/Pibulmun/Menang peoples)

The Big Sing

Dr Ysaye Maria Barnwell

Workshops Sat & Sun | 9am-noon

Concert Sun | Time TBA

Denmark Civic Centre

Included in weekend and day passes

Dr Barnwell will lead her Building a Vocal Community® workshops at the 2019 Big Sing which is held Saturday and Sunday morning during the festival. These workshops will culminate in a Big Sing concert on Sunday evening. We welcome singers, “non-singers” and audience.

"There is an awesome power in the human voice and when uncommon voices are blended for the common good, they become a 'vocal community' at its best."

Featured Spoken Word

Honouring Indigenous Languages | Sun 2pm Butter Factory

Panel facilitated by Kim Scott, with Richard Walley, Emily Wuramarra, Joe Northover & Muqam Rak's Bella Tursun

National Reconciliation Week Address | Sat 4:15pm Butter Factory

Mark Bin Bakar

Coastal Stories | Sat 5pm & Sun 4:30pm Butter Factory

Story-telling with local Elders

Wirlomin Language Project | Sat 10am Butter Factory & Sun 3pm St. Leonard's

Story-telling from the Wirlomin Noongar Community

The Voice of Human Rights | Sat 12:15pm Artshouse

Behrouz Boochani

Poetry Slam | Sat 1pm Butter Factory

Facilitated by Maddie Godfrey, with special performance from 2018 DFoV Slam Champ Daniel Hansen. Come try your hand at this years poetry slam with your 3 minute poem.

We give hearty thanks to our partners and sponsors who are helping us to bring these special events to fruition.

Festivals Australia, who are supporting us for our project to Honour the United Nations Year of Indigenous Languages

Bendigo Bank Albany Community Bank Branch who are presenting the WA Symphony Orchestra Chorus concert Northern Lights

Rex Airlines who donated flights from Perth to Albany for the WA Symphony Orchestra String Quartet + ‘cello, who gets its own seat!

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, partners for both the Friday evening Chorus concert and Koorlangka

Silverstream Winery who are kindly partnering us with their wonderful venue for Koorlangka.

Local Elders, especially Eugene Eades, and Noongar community, especially Della Rae Morrison, for their guidance and vision for the Festival Opening – and all Elders past, present and future.

The United Nations Year of Indigenous Languages who have approved our project and allowing us to use their logo.

And last but not lest, thank you to Writing WA for sponsoring our amazing spoken word program.