Here’s what Bernay students have to say about the wonderful time they spent in Sydney this past summer
Raymond Hopkins
What inspired you to audition for Gondwana’s national choir, and how did you feel when you found out you were selected?
I was inspired by my local choir the Western Australian Young Voices (WAYV) where I heard great things from the older people who previously attended it and for the second time round I knew how much of a fun experience I had the first time I just knew I had to do it again. How I felt being selected I was extremely relieved as compared to the previous year I had done Gondwana this time the criteria seemed a lot more harsher needing 2 songs instead of one and fortunately not only did I get in I moved up choirs into 1 of the two SATB choirs.
Can you share a memorable moment or performance from the summer program that stands out to you?
Some of the most memorable moments were breaktimes with friends after a long rehearsal getting to hide around the extremely large campus with balconies and hallways, and the food was so incredible every morning lunch and dinner an entire banquet greeted you with varying meals each time and the final most memorable experience was relaxing at night getting ready for bed with your friends, finally having a warm shower and then watching movies in each other’s dorm late at night (was a bit scary when we forgot we had a curfew and had to hide in the wardrobe).
How did being part of Gondwana’s national choir enhance your singing skills and musical knowledge?
Being in GONDWANA, it’s a giving that you will be surrounded by others that are skilful around the same level as yourself at music and this alone enhances your skills as you listen to the people around you but they also give you advice as my choir had people ranging all the way to 17. but not only this but the conductors that NCS had gathered were extremely talented and they all have an excellent ear and pick up on things that you may never have realized or even noticed until they brought it to your attention.
Describe the camaraderie and teamwork within the choir. How did working with other talented young singers influence your musical growth?
Obviously, everyone around you has a powerful voice and is confident in their abilities, this paired with my SATB choir with the booming tenors and basses really forces you to not have to rely on others for your note and really know your part. This may seem challenging but these talented musicians are always happy to rehearse in own time to make sure everyone knew their part, like a study club that was hosted every break before dinner and if you really needed help there was always at least one person ready in the library to help (library is where we rehearsed in our own time with a group) and just like the conductors they all have great ears.
Were there any challenges you faced during the summer program, and how did you overcome them?
Obviously, everyone around you has a powerful voice and is confident in their abilities, this paired with my SATB choir with the booming tenors and basses really forces you to not have to rely on others for your note and really know your part. This may seem challenging but these talented musicians are always happy to rehearse in own time to make sure everyone knew their part, like a study club that was hosted every break before dinner and if you really needed help there was always at least one person ready in the library to help (library is where we rehearsed in our own time with a group) and just like the conductors they all have great ears.
In what ways do you think this experience with Gondwana’s national choir will impact your future involvement in music or singing?
I plan to do GONDWANA for years to come it’s such a great experience and the friends you make along the way just make it that much better, not only in the NCS but you meet your friends on other GONDWANA camps just like I met my last year friends on the Voice of Angels tour. GONDWANA alone will always keep music in the back of my head inspired by the singers in their 20’s still in GONDWANA singing in the other SATB choir.
