Ōamaru Sings was formed in September 2023, then successfully applied for funding from Waitaki Creative Communities for their first community singing project “All Together Now”, which begins on Sunday May 12th.

 The “All Together Now” project is a series of 10 Sunday afternoon sessions that culminate in a performance on July 21st.

 The concept of the singing project is for participants, spanning three generations from teenagers to octogenarians, to connect, sing, create harmony and perform together.

 The ‘together’ theme is also is strengthened by including audience participation and other local singing groups in the concert programme. There will be performances from the Ōamaru Library Community Waiata group, Waitaki Girls High School, and a newly formed small combined choir from WGHS and Waitaki Boys High School

 Rehearsals and performance will all be at the Scottish Hall over ten Sundays from 3 to 5pm from 12th May to July 21st 2024

 The Ōamaru Sings team is comprised of Sally Randall, Rick Loos, Amanda Dennis and Mark Townsend.

 Rick and Sally are an established community songleading team. They already work together delivering the (totally separate) Social Singing Ōamaru sessions, which focus on fun, connection and wellness and is part funded by Age Concern Otago.

 Sally Randall is a community Song-leader. She has a background in health and education. Her roles in the project include funding application, song-leading, project management, registrations. Sally will also be MC at the concert at the end of the singing project.

 Sally says, “ I believe that singing in a group has the power to enhance multiple and diverse aspects of individual and community wellbeing. I want to play an active part in getting people singing together, I love how singing connects people and builds community”

 “Song content in this project is varied and will be led in the oral tradition, with guitar accompaniment. Singers learn a song by ear, line by line. I sing a line, singers repeat it back. A song is built incrementally like this and multiple harmony parts can be taught and learnt sequentially”, says Sally, “In this sort of community singing, absolutely no previous knowledge of the theory of music is needed. No singing experience is required and people with any perceived singing ability are welcome”

 Rick Loos has a long and varied background in health and the arts. He is an experienced musician, music teacher and accompanist. He currently enjoys playing guitar with the non-performance based group Social Singing Ōamaru.

 Rick is the musical accompanist with the “All Together Now” project. He has also arranged a song for the project which he will teach the singers and lead in the performance.

Rick says, “ I believe that music and singing are for everyone, I

hope people will join in with all the fun to be had!”

 Amanda Dennis is an experienced artist and teacher living the good life in Tokarahi with her husband Rick Loos

 She enjoys collaborating with other creative people.  

In this project, Amanda’s skills and experience are used in art, design, stage and backstage work.

Amanda says, “Participating in group singing is fun. It is an experience of unity, which by some magic creates joy!”

 Mark Townsend has experience in music production, computer technology, website design, sound engineering and creating digital music.

He is a chef and caterer and is life partner to Sally Randall.

 Mark has designed the Ōamaru Sings website, and is technical support person for the project. He will update and run the “All Together Now” learning support pages for project singers. Recordings of song parts will be uploaded to the website for singers to use for practicing between rehearsals, so participants will need to have internet access.

Registrations for the “All Together Now” singing project open on Saturday 27th April, through emailing oamarusings@gmail.com

 Pre- registration questions?

Sally can be contacted on 021 046 1022