SYDNEY SINGS Festival to Launch in July

Today Leo Schofield AM and Jarrod Carland, together with the NSW Government launched an exciting new cultural event - to be staged exclusively in Sydney - SYDNEY SINGS.

SYDNEY SINGS is an exciting, entirely new festival celebrating singing in all its many and varied manifestations, from Bach to beatbox, from massed choirs with orchestra to unaccompanied soloists, performing vocal repertoire that will range from classical to jazz.

SYDNEY SINGS will showcase the finest Australian and international vocal talent with a program that will include a total of forty-three individual performances held over a period of eleven days from 28 July to 7 August, with the majority exclusive to SYDNEY SINGS.

This inaugural event will be held in over a dozen different venues in the Sydney CBD and in western Sydney including City Recital Hall, Town Hall, Government House, Joan Sutherland PAC, Martin Place, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Opera House, St Mary's Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral Parramatta, State Theatre, and University of Sydney.

In addition to being both new and unique, SYDNEY SINGS is also international, with more than 700 performers from the United States, England, Russia, Scotland, Italy, South Africa and Austria and from every state in Australia.

"Few genres offer such infinite variety as vocal music," says Artistic Director Leo Schofield.

"Singing is the oldest form of human communication. We sing when we're happy, when we're sad, when we need to express every kind of emotion. Programming possibilities are almost endless, as is the list of potential local and international artists keen to participate, this is a concept with real 'legs'."

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, The Hon Stuart Ayres MP said, "Sydney Sings will be a spectacular celebration of voice with performances across the city from the CBD to Western Sydney. The NSW Government is proud to have secured Sydney Sings through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and we expect more than 11,000 visitors will travel to Sydney for the festival, delivering $5 million in visitor expenditure for NSW."

The key highlights include:

CARMINA BURANA (Qudos Bank Arena)

Thrill to the mighty sound of five hundred voices, a full symphony orchestra, star opera soloists and the mightiest light and staging spectacle since the Sydney Olympics.

JESSYE NORMAN (Sydney Opera House)

One of the most acclaimed singers of the 20th century; the American soprano Jessye Norman is a special guest at the inaugural Sydney Sings conducting a masterclass and an 'In Conversation' with Christopher Lawrence from ABC Classic FM.

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT (Sydney Opera House)

One of the most outstanding jazz vocalists of her generation, Cécile McLorin Salvant makes her Australian debut for Sydney Sings

MARTIN MITTERRUTZNER (City Recital Hall & Government House)

Young Austrian tenor is a rising star of the international opera scene and will perform Mozart opera arias with orchestra conducted by Alexander Briger

THE SOUNDS OF BROADWAY (State Theatre)

Some of the great choruses from musicals are performed with Broadway, West End and Australian music theatre stars

ST PETERSBURG CHAMBER CHOIR (Various venues)

Sydney Sings is honoured to host the first visit of this great choir to Australia, performing the Rachmaninoff Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.

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