One family, one voice

Close to 200 people who make up the Voices choir are working hard for their set of concerts entitled Voices - One Family which will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta from October 4 to 8 and October 11 to 15.

Claire Galea, who has been a member of Voices since 2000, said when she first joined the choir she was amazed to see how many people were willing to dedicate so much of their time to such a worthy cause.

"Even now, six years later, new members mix with the old, new friendships are made, and still there is a feeling of togetherness and a sense of goodwill to help others through our mutual passion for music. I never knew there were so many genuine and kind-hearted people around," she said.

For Marika Vassallo, this is her first experience with Voices. "It's a very pleasant experience which is quite difficult to describe, maybe because it's my first time.

"Apart from the fact that I enjoy singing and forming part of a choir, I keep in mind the philanthropic aim behind it all," she said.

Michael Degaetano is an old hand, having been a member of Voices since the first concert in 1991 at St Aloysius College.

"I have since taken part in all the major concerts held every two years. On a number of occasions I also sang as a backing vocalist. The 2006 edition will be my 10th successive participation," he said.

"Being part of Voices gives me a lot of fulfilment and satisfaction. I love music and forming part of something so popular is great.

"My children, aged two and five, love it as well and do not miss a rehearsal so it has become a family outing with my wife also taking part. Voices is an experience of fun and getting to know other people, and the spirit of enjoyment helps us to build one big family, everyone working together for the same cause.

"At the end of it all, I know that many charities are going to be helped with the funds collected from the performances," Mr Degaetano said.

"I have never been part of the audience of a Voices concert but, from the way the people react during the nights, I can safely say that attending a concert is a unique experience.

"It is one of a kind in Malta in terms of the large number of performers, range of songs, and the strong way in which a message of awareness and hope is conveyed on a particular theme chosen for each set of concerts," Mr Degaetano said.

Christine Galea has been with Voices for six years and has been "hopelessly committed to the Voices cause since then."

"It's a unique experience. After you sing in the first concert, you keep going back," she said.

"We are by no means professional singers," Michael Pace Ross, another old hand said.

"But what we do is interpret the chosen songs in the best possible way to sound like the original ones."

Over the past years, a number of voluntary and charity organisations were given funds raised by Voices.

Organisations submit projects that need funding and after analysing them, the funds collected are distributed during a special ceremony held in December, when the choir members are invited to meet the end beneficiaries of their hard work.

Organisations such as the Daniel Delicata Foundation, Dar Merhba Bik, Razzett tal-Hbiberija, Puttinu Cares for Children Fund, YMCA, Caritas, Eden Foundation and many more have been beneficiaries.