- Not-For-Profit initiative seeks to establish Community Singing groups in towns across Ireland
- With a specific emphasis on community integration
- A ‘Solidarity-Through-Song’ initiative
A fledgling organisation committed to bringing communities together through song has appointed a new national coordinator this week.
Colleen Werle joins the One Town One Voice organisation recently established in Cork by Sanctuary Runners and Translate Ireland founder Graham Clifford.
Formerly of the National Concert Hall Colleen, originally from the American Midwest, will work to develop a national toolkit for interested towns and work on establishing One Town One Voice community singing groups across Ireland.
“When I first immigrated to Ireland from Chicago in 2015, I hardly knew a soul and was beginning a very new chapter in my life. Joining a local singing group gave me my first real opportunity to make friends and connections, feel part of a group, and build a life here,” said Colleen.
Coming on the back of the success of the Fermoy International choir the One Town One Voice initiative aims to use singing to bring people together regardless of one’s nationality, culture, religion, legal status, gender or sexual orientation.
“Group singing can be a powerful for tool for community integration,” explains Graham Clifford. He added: “These singing groups will focus on positivity, acceptance, fun and craic. The songs are secular, the vibe chilled out and the mission to create friendships and build more cohesive towns and communities where no one feels isolated. Also, towns which are socially cohesive are beneficial to everyone and we believe our One Town One Voice singing groups will be huge assets in the towns where they are built.”
In the coming months the organisation will be seeking interest from towns across Ireland to become involved in the initiative. Providing some seed support and a toolkit the One Town One Voice programme will also provide ongoing support to those leading the local groups. And a choral festival in Fermoy is being planned for next summer.
For more information go to: Onetownonevoice.ie or to find more information email: Info@onetownonevoice.ie