Senior citizens’ choir strikes note in community

Lady Gaga, move over! A new seniors’ choir at Charles Darwin University’s Casuarina campus has an appetite for contemporary music.

CDU Vocal Studies lecturer and choir conductor Paolo Fabris said inspiration to create the Still Belting Out! choir came from watching the movie, Song For Marion.

“I thought, we can do that here in Darwin,” Mr Fabris said.

“This is our way of giving back to the community.”

He said the choir sang anything from ABBA’s Thank You For The Music to Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance.

“We are not going to be doing any Waltzing Matilda; it’s all going to be contemporary music,” Mr Fabris said.

After starting up in April, the choir already has up to 20 people attending the Thursday morning classes each week.

Music theory and lessons in voice techniques are also incorporated in each class.

“And they always walk away with a huge smile,” Mr Fabris said.

He said it was also wonderful to see some choir members bring home-baked morning tea to share with the class during the break.

Choir member John Wearn said this was the first time in 54 years that he had sung and he now looked forward to attending classes each week.

“It’s something a bit different and the group is very friendly,” he said.

Still Belting Out! senior citizens’ choir meets every Thursday at CDU’s Centre for Youth and Community Music from 9.30am to 11am. For more information, visit W: www.cdu.edu.au/cycm