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Battle of the Choirs
 Queensland Youth Choir's premier ensemble VoiceWorks was one of 16 community choirs chosen Australia-wide to compete in the inaugural Channel 7 series Battle of the Choirs.
Hosted by David Koch, the series saw the choirs deliver songs you never thought a choir could sing and in a way that you may not have experienced before.
Tenor, choirmaster and founder of The Choir of Hard Knocks, Jonathan Welch; Australian music icon Iva Davies; entertainer and actress Charli Delaney; and one of Australia ’s most sought after choral conductors, George Torbay, formed the judging panel.
Gospel, barbershop, classical, pop, a cappella, jazz, soul – all genres of choir and choral music repertoire were represented. But it was personality, passion, power and performance that were needed to convince the judges as the choirs performed songs from the likes of Powderfinger, Kylie Minogue, Meatloaf, Rihanna, Kiss, AC/DC, Scissor Sisters, Queen, Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Pink and more.
VoiceWorks proved themselves tenacious and impressive contestants, making it all the way to the semi-finals and were the last Queensland choir left singing.
The winning choir - Newcastle University - was awarded $100,000 and a recording contact with Universal Music.
We applaud and congratulate all the choirs who participated in this great event. You are all winners.
  
CLICK here to find out more about VoiceWorks
The results ...
Heats
VoiceWorks made their first Battle of the Choirs appearance in the heat broadcast on Sunday, 22 June, competing against the Brisbane Birralee Blokes, the Sunbury Divas and the Shower Idols from Sydney.
Following the performance of each choir's top tune (VoiceWorks presented Men at Work's Down Under) and a Robbie Williams medley (VoiceWorks opened this with Let Me Entertain You), the Birralee Blokes were put straight through to the quater finals, while Shower Idols unfortunately left the competition. This left VoiceWorks to battle with the Sunbury Divas. In a showdown between the Diva's Please Don't Stop the Music and VoiceWorks' Bitter Sweet Symphony, the judges decided that VoiceWorks had captured their hearts and they were through to the quarter finals.
  
What the judges had to say
"It’s evident to me immediately that this is a really fine ensemble. You do great work" – George Torbay
"VoiceWorks, I have to say, entertain me you did. Those moves enhanced that performance so much it gave me chills, it was so good." - Charlie Delaney
Quarter Finals
After making it through the heats, VoiceWorks appeared on the 2nd Quarter Final which aired Sunday, 20 July 2008. Also in the Quartet Finals were The Blenders, Harambee and Barker College.
VoiceWorks were the last of the choirs to present their top tune (Mika's Grace Kelly) which was followed by each of the choirs presenting segments of a Stevie Wonder medley (VoiceWorks presented Sir Duke). Unfortunately our fellow Queenslanders, The Blenders, left the competition and Harambee made it straight through to the semi-finals. Once again VoiceWorks had to battle it out, this time against Barker College, and performed Take Me To The River (Barker College presented I'm So Excited). It was an extremely close decision, but VoiceWorks got through to the semi-finals!
  
What the judges had to say
"I'm really fond of VoiceWorks and I have to say that, by far, the Alto section in this choir is the best Alto section in this whole competition." – George Torbay
"Last time I had a problem that I didn't think you were connected with your lyrics. You could not have been more connected in the eyes of every person singing, you were so there" - Charlie Delaney
"That was such fun, I had such fun with that. What a great song for a choir to sing, thoroughly entertaining an unbelievably difficult arrangement and such vocal acrobatics. Degree of difficulty - off the scale, it was brilliantly done. - Iva Davies
"You rocked!" - Jonathan Welch
Semi-finals
In the Semi-finals, the only remaining Queensland choir – VoiceWorks – was pitted against two Melbourne choirs – Vox Synergy and Harambee – and the University of Newcastle.
VoiceWorks opened the show and, in a significant contrast to their previous ‘top tune’ performances, stunned the audience and the judges with a sultry rendition of the Chad Kroeger / Santana hit Into the Night.
In a surprise change of format, the medley section of the semi finals saw the four choirs, both individually and collectively provide backing vocals for a guest appearance by Tex Perkins, lead singer of The Cruel Sea. The song was a Rolling Stones classic, You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
Then, in a further surprise, it was announced that one choir would progress directly to the finals, with the remaining three choirs battling it out for an additional two finals berths. Following lengthy deliberations by the judges, it was announced that Vox Synergy had secured the first finals berth.
VoiceWorks were third in line to present their battle tune – a very moving performance of Bubbly that received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from the entire audience.
Unfortunately, despite producing three consistently high standard performances, the judges determined that Queensland would not be represented in the finals and VoiceWorks was on its way home.
  
What the judges had to say
"That was an outstanding start to the semi-finals. There was a really beautiful blend of sound." - Jonathan Welch
"It was beautifully done, beautifully done." - Iva Davies
"That was a very sultry, passionate performance. I loved every minute of it." - Charlie Delaney
"I felt things I've never felt before! It was fabulous." - George Torbay
The Journey
VoiceWorks is extremely proud to have been Battle of the Choir semi-finalists and to have had the opportunity to represent the Queensland Youth Choir, their home state of Queensland and young choral musicians across Australia in this first season of Battle of the Choirs.
We salute Channel 7 and Granada Productions for promoting this particular aspect of Australia’s rich cultural heritage.
For Team VoiceWorks, Battle of the Choirs has been an exciting, challenging, exhausting, emotional yet intensely rewarding roller coaster ride. We hope that our performances, along with those of the 15 other community choirs, will inspire more Australians, particularly young Australians, to consider joining a choir. There is something very special about the experience of singing together in a choir and the lasting friendships and wonderful memories this common bond forms.
CLICK here to find out about joining VoiceWorks.
Pics and clips
  
  
  
  
  
Audio clips
Click on the links below to listen to extracts from selected VoiceWorks recordings and radio interviews
Video clips
Click on the links below to view videos of VoiceWorks in performance
With special thanks to ...
- Sandra Milliken - musical director and arranger
- Leisa Barry-Smith - choreographer
- Callum Mansfield - choreographer
- Megan Shorey - choreographer
- Katie Keily - choreographer
- Kathy Hirche - choral arranger
- Shelley McMahon - rehearsal accompanist
- Su Wilkinson - administrative director
- Glenn Wilkinson - marketing and promotions officer
- Ray Saunders - VoiceWorks administrative assistant
- George Torbay - Battle of the Choirs executive musical director
- Jane Miskovic - Battle of the Choirs choreographer
- Battle of the Choirs production crew at Channel 7, Sydney
- Granada Productions crew in Sydney
- Our parents, friends, administrative assistants and supporters
Team VoiceWorks and the Queensland Youth Choir extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to these people and the many others who are providing their professional expertise, assistance, support and encouragement throughout the Battle of the Choirs experience.
Come and join us
VoiceWorks, which inlcudes young adult singers from Year 12 to age 25, is always looking for new members to join them in their exciting choral music experience. But VoiceWorks is just one part of a much larger organisation - the Queensland Youth Choir - which is one of Queensland's finest and most comprehensive choral music programs for children and young adults all the way from birth to 25 years. There's a QYC group for everyone!
So, if you have a passion for singing, we would love to have you join our great choral music family. CLICK here for all you need to know about becoming a member.
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