Local seniors are getting ready to showcase their talents by participating in suburban masterclasses held this month as part of the Lord Mayor’s Seniors Cabaret Program.
Tenor soloist Gregory Moore will lead a masterclass at Toombul Shire Hall in Nundah on 15 August, helping participants refine their vocal technique and stage presence.
Gregory said he had been a vocal and performance mentor for the Lord Mayor’s Seniors Cabaret since the beginning.
“What I enjoy the most is working with an artist who grew up being told that they couldn’t be a performer, or shouldn’t pursue their performance dreams in their younger years, and now seeing them in the prime of their life, stepping into their greatness and discovering something special about themselves, and then sharing that with a greater audience, full of confidence and joy,” he said. “It is never too late to learn, discover, and embrace your talent within.”
Greg, who is also a vocal and performance coach for Creative Generation and the Head of Music at the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) said he worked with each artist and what they had to offer.
“For me, it is about recognising what their talent is and how to explore this further and give them the skills to elevate their talent to a point where they are very comfortable on a stage in front of others,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about having fun, and that’s what we do. We learn, we have fun and we grow and are enriched because of it.”
Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Angela Toohey, who has also been involved with the Seniors Cabaret since its inception, will host a masterclass at the Burnie Brae Centre in Chermside on 14 August.
Showcase Opportunities
After completing the masterclass, some participants will have the opportunity to perform in local showcase concerts in September, including at Burnie Brae and Kedron-Wavell. A few will then be invited to perform alongside their mentors at the Lord Mayor’s Seniors Cabaret Gala at Brisbane City Hall on Sunday, 20 October.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane was brimming with talent of all ages and the Seniors Cabaret program allowed older residents to get out and try something new for less.
“We look forward to seeing Brisbane’s seniors light up stages in our suburbs as they learn performance skills from the best in the business,” he said.
Find out more information about Lord Mayor’s Seniors Cabaret here.
Lord Mayor’s Seniors Cabaret Showcases
- Wednesday, 4 September, 11am to 12.15pm
- Burnie Brae Community Centre
- Tuesday, 10 September, 11am to 12.15pm
- Kedron-Wavell
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