OUR MODEL & PROGRAMS
MODEL
There are several key pillars to Play It Forward's unique model today, that began over twenty years ago with Jonathon's work creating the first choir in Australia for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage, Sydney Street Choir in 2001, followed by the award-winning Choir of Hard Knocks in 2006.
As a result, the choir ‘model’ that forms the foundation of Play It Forward's work today comprises the following essential elements for success: a highly skilled, visionary teacher, an iconic space to call home, collaborations with professional artists and volunteers, the opportunity to perform in significant spaces to mainstream audiences and a commitment to sustainability and continuity over time.
Through his years of dedication, Jonathon has also evolved and created a highly innovative method of teaching to reach and engage a challenging and diverse group of participants, enabling them to build new personal, and artistic, skills and confidence.
From this strong foundation, we built the School of Hard Knocks and Play It Forward.
Today, Play It Forward brings together the worlds of the arts, health, education and welfare, volunteers, the corporate and community sectors and key venue management. Play It Forward engages the leaders from the arts, culture and well-being sectors and involves teachers and artists who might wish to volunteer their services and their talents. It also utilises spaces which are respected or iconic.
Most importantly, it provides education, engagement and respect to all Australians, especially those experiencing isolation, homelessness, disadvantage, long-term unemployment, risk of re-offence, mental health conditions or disability. To this we add opportunities for public performance and exhibition, and for long term engagement.
Play It Forward is a ’virtual institute’ always aspiring to utilize leading public and private facilities. Our rehearsal and performance spaces have included the MCG, Deakin Edge at Federation Square, Sydney Opera House and the Opera Centre, Boyd Community Hub, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne Town Hall and the Myer Music Bowl.
CHORAL PROGRAMS
Through our partnership with Opera Australia in 2013, Jonathon Welch AM founded and launched the School of Hard Knocks 'Absolutely Everybody' Choir Program which enabled the creation of several new community choirs in Brimbank, Latrobe and Casey cities that formed a 400 voice chorus led by Jonathon at the Mazda Opera in the Bowl.
In 2014, we commenced a new partnership with AMES to create our first asylum seekers’ choir, 'Voices Without Borders'. Our choirs combined with 1,200 singers for The Big Sing, again under Welch's direction, at Melbourne Recital Centre. On World Mental Health Day in 2014, the Minister for Health launched the School of Hard Knocks in Queensland, followed by new choir programs in Frankston, Pakenham, Western Health, Victoria University, Alfred Hospital in Victoria and Port Macquarie, New South Wales.
In 2015, the No Excuses! women’s choir was formed, singing out against family violence, and in 2016, MEN ALOUD! was launched to give men a voice through song. Other project choirs include Hallelujah Gospel Chorus, Only Women Aloud and more recently the Peace Choir Project, Rock Choir, Yes I Can! Gippsland Choir, Voices of Moonee Valley and Vocal Waves
OTHER PROGRAMS
In addition to Play It Forward's diverse range of choral programs, we have also developed and delivered the following highly innovative, tailored arts programs, including:
Cardboard Theatre - Drama program
ECOTORIO - climate change choral work
Keys to Happiness - Keyboard teaching
Melbourne Eisteddfod
Melbourne International Singers Festival
Permission to Shine - online vocal competition
Social Inclusion Week
Something 2 Say - Creative Writing
StreetBeats - Percussion
Streetwise Opera - in partnership with Streetwise UK
Ukelear Power - Ukulele teaching