Our Choir, made by Geebung Special School and Aspley Special School (Australia, 2022), celebrates singing, school life and inclusion. The short film presents warm, everyday moments that highlight the talents and presence of students with intellectual and cognitive processing disabilities. Included in the Focus on Ability program, it shows how music can create connection, joy and belonging within a school community. Gentle and uplifting, Our Choir affirms young people with disability and invites audiences to listen, smile and rethink what inclusion can look like in daily life. Its respectful, joyful tone feels immediate and authentic, making it a warm addition to the festival lineup.
We're so excited to get ready. Today we're going to be learning a new song, it's called Looking at the Stars this Christmastime. Well I love being involved in the choir and helping lead these students in singing and communicating in a different way. I firstly love how their initial engagement, I love the excitement that grows in them when they're starting to build confidence and they know they've got new skills and they're honing in on their new skills. And then when they all of a sudden realise they're part of a team and they just love it and they help each other out and help me. And then they have this realisation of just such great work that they're doing. I've been in a gym since I was Grade 2. I've been in the choir since I was only Grade 4. And I like about singing and I love choir. Singing all around, looking up at all the stars, always reminds me of the blessings I have had. I like to sing. It's a time to be, friends and family. These are all things that Christmas means to me. You need your big, big voices. To live and live in peace. All our troubles in this world are gratitude. I'm going to play a British show on Friday because it's exciting. I'm going to sing. The importance of our community is key to identity at Geebung Special School. It gives the students a sense of belonging and an opportunity to have a creative outlet and share their talents with the broader community. It's a chance to celebrate the skills that our students have and share that with themselves and each other and the joy that it brings when they perform every week at School Parade but also when they perform at community celebrations. I feel happy that I love singing in the choir but I also feel a bit nervous because there are new faces I've never met. We relish the opportunity for our students to perform in front of others. So every year they usually perform at the Pine Rivers Agricultural Show. They're a highlight each year at the Sports Person's Lunch that's hosted by Geebung Zillmere RSL. Wonderful initiative. The joy of Christmas, thinking of the ones I love, looking at the stars, it's Christmas time. It did completely change my life. That's beautiful. All the better.
Well done students Challenging assumptions and showing such capability performing at a very high standard. Thank you Narelle and GeebungAspley for your dedication
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Margaret OConnor26/08/2022
Narelle you have worked your magic once again. How wonderful for our children and grandchildren. They did a sterling job and they are so proud of what they achieved at Geebung and Aspley. Thank you.
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Annemarie Hanslip26/08/2022
Such a lovely video and what a great experience for our students
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Rebakah Ley26/08/2022
Absolutely heart warming to see their beautiful faces so happy whilst enjoying something theyre passionate about Beautiful voices too Watching this brought on happy tears Well done to all the students and teachers involved
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Sharon Paki25/08/2022
Way to go Alison and Brock McGregor so very proud of you both and to the rest of the choir congratulations to you all
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Di MacDonald24/08/2022
Well done to the choir. So lovely to see the students enjoying their time in their wonderful choir and entertaining their community
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Millie Kennedy24/08/2022
This is so beautiful I had tears in my eyes thankyou
Well done students Challenging assumptions and showing such capability performing at a very high standard. Thank you Narelle and GeebungAspley for your dedication
Narelle you have worked your magic once again. How wonderful for our children and grandchildren. They did a sterling job and they are so proud of what they achieved at Geebung and Aspley. Thank you.
Such a lovely video and what a great experience for our students
Absolutely heart warming to see their beautiful faces so happy whilst enjoying something theyre passionate about Beautiful voices too Watching this brought on happy tears Well done to all the students and teachers involved
Way to go Alison and Brock McGregor so very proud of you both and to the rest of the choir congratulations to you all
Well done to the choir. So lovely to see the students enjoying their time in their wonderful choir and entertaining their community
This is so beautiful I had tears in my eyes thankyou