Singing at film screening

Several Peninsula residents will be part of the Bouddi Voice Choir when it presents an evening of choral music, French cinema and a light supper at Avoca Beach Theatre on Thursday, June 28, at 7pm.

Six members of the 30-strong choir come from Ettalong, Umina and Woy Woy.

Choir codirector Ms Christina Sainsbury said the choir would sing several songs prior to the screening of the French movie, "Les Choristes" (The Chorus), directed by Christopher Barratier.

Ms Sainsbury said a light supper would be served in the foyer at 7pm, followed by the choral performance at 7.30pm and the screening of the film at 8pm.

"The plot of the film is about a passionate music teacher who arrives at a correctional boarding school for boys and transforms their lives through music," Ms Sainsbury said.

"The film explores the pain of a child's separation from his parents, and the power of music as a means of transcendence.

"The film was nominated for the academy award for Best Foreign Language film: the song 'Vois Sur Ton Chemin' (Look at Your Path) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song."

Ms Sainsbury said the event was in support of the Ugandan organisation, Integrated Community Development Foundation (INCODEFO), which cares for and works to assist orphans to gain an education, to gain employment and to build sustainable businesses.

He said many of the orphans were involved in a music, dance and drama group, and go out to other schools and community activities.

They use their performances to educate about prevention of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cholera, typhoid, and other preventable diseases.

"Bouddi Voice Choir has been lucky to have INCODEFO executive director Sam Bukenya come from Uganda to join the choir for a term, twice in the last two years, during his visits to Australia," Ms Sainsbury said.

"Sam is one of those everyday heroes who works tirelessly to make sure that the 456 orphans in the care of his organisation are educated, clothed, fed, housed, and have hope for the future.

"Inspired by Sam's work, Bouddi Voice Choir has been supporting this organization by donating the profits from their performances over the past two years.

"All profits from the Music at the Movies night will go towards funding an Internet Cafe in Kampala, to ensure an income to help sustain the work of INCODEFO."

Bouddi Voice Choir is a community-based choir which practises at Kincumber with about 30 singers, under the co-direction of Christina Sainsbury and Chris Sainsbury.

Ms Sainsbury said the group's repertoire was drawn from "various cultures and styles" and expressed "a full range of human emotion and mood".

Tickets for the event are $15 for adults or $10 for children and may be pre-purchased from Avoca Beach Theatre, or at the door on the night (unless already sold out).

For booking information and further enquiries, telephone Avoca Beach Cinema on 4382 1677 or Christina Sainsbury on 4368 3270, or visit www.bouddivoice.org.

Press release, 15 Jun 2007 Christina Sainsbury, Bouddi Voice Choir