Press Release from Elaine Coates, Music Director of Women in Harmony Choir and Toowoomba Vocal Ensemble, on behalf of One Day One Choir – the worldwide choral event supporting the United Nations Day of Peace.
Toowoomba to Celebrate Peace Day with “Biggest Sing Ever”
20 September Sunday 2.00 pm, Queens Park (near cannon)
The International Day of Peace or ‘Peace Day’, September 21st, was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly who declared it a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. In 2001, it was established as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire.
Choirs and singers in more than 70 countries around the world are marking the occasion with the BIGGEST SING EVER!
One Day One Choir is an exciting choral initiative, launched in 2014, which uses the harmonious and inclusive power of singing together to promote peace and unity on (or around) Peace Day, 21st September.
Anybody, young or old, amateur or professional, wherever they are, can get involved and all kinds of choral events are welcome.
Two Toowoomba choirs – Women in Harmony multicultural choir and jazz-singing Toowoomba Vocal Ensemble – are hosting our region’s event during their Carnival of Flowers performances on Sunday, 20th September.
Elaine Coates, Music Director of the two choirs involved, said,
“Singing together has long been a positive part of holding communities together and uniting them in a social and healing way. Science has shown that when we sing together our hearts begin to beat in the same tempo and that our health and mental well-being improve. It has even been known to bring conflicts between nations to an end.”
So everybody is invited to come, bring your friends and get your heart beating, too, at 2pm on Sunday, 20th September – the first Sunday of Carnival - near the cannon in the Queens Park Botanical Gardens off Lindsay St. How fitting that a symbol of the cost of war should be the meeting point for a plea for peace.
The project was created in England by Jane Hanson FRSA, a choral aficionado, project leader and educator, who is passionate about peace and choral singing and has researched, documented and broadcast the positive and powerful impact of singing together for many years.
A performance can be held anywhere from a concert hall, school or community centre to a park, hotel, hospital, work place, religious building, care-home, airport, station, prison, shopping mall or even at home. It can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as you like!
During the commemoration years of WW1 2014-18, and with so many wars and conflicts around us today, One Day One Choir aims to inspire and encourage people to focus on more peaceful thought and action through this simple choral idea; peace at home, at school, in our communities and ourselves, and peace in the challenged world we live in today.
The intention is to build the initiative so that by 2018, millions of people are joining in and singing together for Peace. In 2014, the first year the event was held, over 100,000 people in choirs from more than 40 countries were involved, and already registrations for 2015 have doubled that.
“The song being sung around the world is Dona Nobis Pacem, which translates to Give Us Peace in English, but here in Toowoomba, we are adding a partner song, Song of Peace, to enhance the harmonies,” said Elaine.
“Both songs are really easy to pick up and we will weave them together on the day to make a fabulous massed choir sound. It doesn’t matter if you can sing or not, this is your chance to feel the amazing spirit that a big group of singers can produce.”
If you want a heads up, go to the Women in Harmony website:
www.womeninharmonychoir.organd there is a copy of the music and a link to a performance of these songs. Copies of the songs will also be available on the day.
Any choirs who would like to officially be a part of the global event, whether by joining the “Biggest Sing Ever”, or incorporating their support in their own way, there is a registration link on the website: www.onedayonechoir.org or contacting Elaine on 46396080.
Ends
Follow-up releases also available.
For further information, please contact Elaine Coates 46396080 or
For your information, the link to youtube performance and lyrics of songs are on next page.
Peace Song/Dona Nobis Pacem
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https://youtu.be/nufyIUfXOWE
Lyrics of Song of Peace/Dona Nobis Pacem
If I could have one wish come true,
It would be peace for me and you.
Peace in our hearts and peace of mind.
Peace now and ever for humankind.
So may our voices never cease.
So may we sing our songs of peace.
Dona nobis pacem, pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.