Big Sing in the Desert 2023

Thursday 20 April to Sunday 23 April 2023

Our tenth and final Big Sing in the Desert.

“There were many special moments at the Big Sing in the Desert 2023. Given the continuing uncertainty of COVID, and the frailty of some of our older singers, that so many singers from the Central Desert communities chose to come and bring new workshops to teach was deeply moving.

The previous three years had taken a toll on people personally and within their own communities. There had been many sorrows, losses and difficulties.

I was so happy that Big Sing in the Desert was still a place where people wanted to come, and feel safe enough to share songs, language, Inma (dance) and culture with us.”
Rachel Hore

Areyonga community taught bush medicine for the first time. Many of the senior singers of these songs are now too old to come to the Big Sing. What an amazing honour to all of us that Senior Elder Rene Kulitja and others from Docker River and Mutitjulu wanted to sing and teach Inma (dance). Music NT Divas Genise Williams (a Big Sing regular) and Casii Williams (a Big Sing first-timer) used their powerful and gentle mentoring skills to run a joyful songwriting workshop with Big Singers. Alice Springs Singchronicity Youth Choir led by the incredibly talented Glenys Rae was a highlight. Ngarrgan-Mirriiyn (Morning Star Choir — North Coast NSW) and Djinama Yilaga Choir (South Coast NSW) came and were  inspiration to build on what they are doing for language reclamation in their own communities.

We sang Rachel’s Song Beautiful Country for the first time! Rachel wrote it for Big Sing 2023 and could not have written it without having spent time with all the wonderful and generous First Nations singers who have come along and shared so much at all the previous Big Sings.

Despite our age differences (3 – 80 years!), our backgrounds and cultural differences, our language barriers, our musical abilities, whether we were a first-time singer, or experienced choir singers, we have made some beautiful and uplifting music over the years.

This page may contain images of people who have passed away.