Listening... through your heart

Over 200 choir singers. Over €1 million collected for charitable causes. Ten performances. A summer and long painful hours sacrificed by the persons who come together to make it happen. The happiness and satisfaction experienced by them is then communicated to the thousands who every two years make it a point to be a part of the happening through their attendance at Voices.

The event has reached its 20th year. A commemorative book chronicles the initiative from its initial performances right up to the dress rehearsal of the present offering. I feel elated to have followed Voices from the very beginning (at St Aloysius’ College theatre) and to have chosen to remain, without fail, an avid follower throughout the event’s 20-year journey that will lead to further success. I reaffirm my commitment to maintain my support in the future.

Seeing Tony Vella on stage evokes memories of the concept being born and of the first performances. He was in the driving seat way back in 1991 when the first edition took place. He is now assistant choir director who conducts part of the programme, apart from being one of the guitar players in the band.

The main choir director is Martina Caruana with two further assistants in the persons of Joseph V. Cachia and Andrew Attard. Martina, Joseph and Andrew joined Voices in 1994 and have become an integral part of the production’s winning formula. Hats off to the four choir directors who have ensured the audience is treated to a joyful event that carries a more profound meaning in that it is organised to fund deserving causes.

It would be interesting to find out, Tony apart, how many are still there from the initial formation. Joseph Bonello, who together with Ronnie Briffa presents the programme in an inimitable style, was there in the first edition as one of the choir members. Joseph and Ronnie complement each other as comperes being at their most hilarious when they offer a translation of lyrics from English into Maltese and I must admit that I equally liked their quip about the roofless theatre!

Availability of seats permitting, this is a production that one should make every effort not to miss and one should go further and acquire some of the production’s memorabilia including the new book that has just been produced to chronicle 20 years of success.

The great thing about the production’s winning formula is that all the persons taking part do so on a voluntary basis. They do it for the joy of music and to provide funding for the causes that deserve our support. As was pointed out to me by the organisers, there are no divas or stars in the formula; even the soloists – brilliant ones at that – form part of the choir and move to centre stage by moving from within the choir and back to it after they finish their numbers. There is a standard dress code, this year enhanced by a rainbow of colours brought out through the different production tee-shirts worn by the choir members.

Although none of the participants is paid, there are expenses involved and the organisers cover all expenses through sponsors, in particular through Vodafone Malta Foundation. That means all money made through sales of tickets – about 14,000 of them over the 10 performances – is channelled to the different causes identified as worthy of support. The Learning Centre run by Caritas at San Blas was, for instance, the major project funded through the last edition of Voices.

The publication produced to commemorate 20 years of Voices is entitled We Want More – that is the heartfelt cry from the audience as the musicians and singers try to bring each performance to an end but oblige with a number of encores.

We want more of such dedication, talent and joy through sharing happiness. Well done to all involved and I look forward to your plans for the future.

In the meantime, as the presenters encourage at the beginning, I encourage those attending: Listen also through your hearts.