JOIN USAbout 100 children of the The Kiara Music Academy will be staging the world famous Broadway musical, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on November 29 and 30 at the Good Shepherd auditorium, Museum Road.
This programme include performers — all children, aged between four to 18 years. The children have been training long and hard for the last few months on perfecting their act. It’s a lot of hard work, they say but they dub their experience as unforgettable.
The musical tells the story of Joseph, a young dreamer, who is transformed from a victim of sibling enmity and abuse into a victor over the worst circumstances on the strength of faith and belief in his dreams.
The children have been divided into groups of dancers, singers and narrators. Seventeen-year-old Moa has been training at the Academy since he was nine years old.
He is one of the narrators of the musical. “The first thing that we are taught before we begin training is to be disciplined. I am in class 12 and participating in this musical has not only been a learning experience but a great stress-buster as well,” says Moa.
Jorian, who is also in his 12th grade at Valley School says that he has been working very hard to perfect every note and doesn’t compromise on the pronunciation and diction.
“We have been practising in bits and pieces. Now, everything seems to be falling in place. It’s a beautiful musical, something that everybody must watch and experience,” he says. Yannick, another 12th grader who plays the role of the Pharaoh, says that he feels good whenever he slips into the garb of a Pharaoh. “I feel quite powerful and the play is quite engrossing with its colourful songs and dances,” he adds.
The role of Joseph is played by Jonathan who confesses that he was both shocked and excited when he got picked up to play the role. “I couldn’t believe it at first but a few days into rehearsal and I realised how important a character I am playing and began practising my part in all earnesty,” he says.
Deanne and Maria, both students of class seven at Sacred Heart Girls High School state that this musical has inspired them to form their own little choral groups. “A few of us have got together and have started a small group where we sing simple songs in a four-part harmony,” says Deanne. Maria feels, “We learn a lot and the exposure we get here is brilliant.”
The Kiara Kids and Teens Chorale has been performing since 2006. It is conducted and trained by Wendy M Dickson, who has over 30 years experience in the world of choral music and musical theatre. The proceeds of this concert will go towards expanding the Kiara Music Academy, into a full-fledged music school, offering vocal and instrumental classes for both children and adults.