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Choirs from across the Ballarat region recently came together in a celebration of joyful music at the 23rd annual Ballarat Choral Festival held at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Hosted by the Ballarat Ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in partnership with St Patrick’s Cathedral, this year’s event included music played on the cathedral's pipe organ and performances of religious, spiritual and popular music from thirteen choirs from various churches, schools, and community organisations.
Choirs included previous participants such as the Ballarat Choral Society, Regina Caeli Schola, Federation University’s Arts Academy choir - Word of Mouth, Pyrenees Chorale combined with the Sacre Coeur Community Choir and Choristers of U3A ( University of the Third Age).
Newcomers included the Daylesford Soul Choir, which has performed at Hamer Hall, and the Clunes Community Choir.
Secondary school choirs, Ballarat Clarendon College Chamber Choir, the Beaufort Secondary College Singers, and Phoenix P-12 Community College Choir also featured on the program.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was represented by the Deer Park Stake (diocese) Relief Society Choir featuring female singers from 18 years old and older.
Singers in the Festival ranged across all ages and choirs varied in size from six to fifty singers. Their sound swelled when all singers formed a combined-choir for the finale performing ‘I Feel the Spirit’, a rousing traditional spiritual song.
The event was free to the public, however audience members generously donated to support refugees and asylum seekers in Ballarat with all funds raised going to the Ballarat Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Network (BRASSN).
Event organiser and founding member of the Ballarat Interfaith Network, Margaret Lenan Ellis said it was a joy to see the cathedral filled to capacity.
An audience member from Warrnambool told Margaret that the event was the highlight of her weekend.
“What a delightful opportunity,” she said. “Your own choir (the Deer Park Stake Relief Society choir) moved me to tears!”
Audience members left the cathedral singing, humming and smiling for having been uplifted at this annual Ballarat Choral Festival.