Zac Street, 26, of Wellington Point is one of several Redland singers to join Australian music royalty Vika and Linda Bull in Songs of Hope and Healing, at 7pm on Monday, March 18 at QPAC.
A cast of more than 200 singers and musicians offer in an uplifting concert inspired by music, cultures and faiths from around the world.
Known for their gospel, soul and blues, the Tongan-Australian sisters, Vika and Linda, are also celebrated for their iconic collaborations with Paul Kelly, The Black Sorrows, Kasey Chambers and Rockwhiz. Vika is also acclaimed for her performance in At Last: The Etta James Story.
Mr Street said the concert promised to be inspirational on many levels.
"I joined QPAC choir to be part of a community ensemble and to have a bit of a sing with other people who find this a great outlet. I like the discipline. It's both an art and a science. You get a piece of music, interperet it, perform it and share it with others. You take something away from that but so does the audience. It is immensely satisfying," Mr Street said.
Mr Street said he particularly enjoyed Eternity, one of the songs being performed by the choir.
"There are some beautiful passages. It is simple but effective and a nice feature piece for the choir," he said.
The concert also features QPAC’s newest ensemble in residence JADE New World Collective, gypsy-folk band Mzaza, Songwoman Maroochy, QPAC Youth Choir and Children’s Health Queensland Community Choir.
QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said the concert was mooted to become an annual event, following success since its debut in 2015.
“Songs of Hope and Healing is curated to reflect the themes of hope, healing and renewal of the Easter period," he said.
“In the same vein as our annual Spirit of Christmas concerts which bring the community together to celebrate the festive season and its enduring and powerful messages of peace, love and joy, we hope to make Songs of Hope and Healing an annual Easter season tradition.
“Funds raised from Songs of Hope and Healing will benefit the vital work of Brisbane based Friends of HEAL Foundation (FHEAL), which provides creative arts therapy in schools making a positive difference in the lives of young people of refugee backgrounds.
“As the state’s leading performing arts centre and a public institution we believe it is important to understand and reflect our cultures and communities. Experiencing and participating in art helps people relate to the world, and learn more about themselves and others,” Mr Kotzas said.
FHEAL’S mission is to provide direct relief from distress and enhance education and cultural integration for refugee adolescents. The Songs of Hope and Healing concerts in 2015 and 2018 collectively raised more than $25,000 for FHEAL.
Book on qpac.com.au or 136 246.