Home Smart 100 2014 With One Voice Choir Program (VIC) — 2014 SMART 100

With One Voice Choir Program (VIC) — 2014 SMART 100

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This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.

1. THE BEGINNING

This innovation came to life when…

Social entrepreneur and soprano Tania de Jong AM saw the popularity of choirs and decided to reverse the “hard knocks” model to create social inclusion choirs that represent the diversity of our global community. In 2014, the With One Voice program is celebrating its fifth birthday. Today, there are 15 With One Voice choirs across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Following Tania’s recent TED talk, “How singing together changes the brain”, we’ve had inquiries from across the globe. A pilot With One Voice program is now under development in Phoenix, Arizona.

2. WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

The purpose of this innovation is to create empowered individuals and joyous, supportive communities better placed to solve some of society’s biggest challenges, such as mental illness, loneliness and isolation, homelessness and unemployment.

It does this by…

It does this by uniting people from more than 40 nationalities and all faiths, aged 9 to 90, at weekly rehearsals and performances. Families, executives, job seekers, migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, seniors and students…everyone is welcome. Through the Wish List, participants grant one another wishes like free music lessons, language tuition, work experience and jobs.

3. PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

This innovation improves on what came before because it engages the neuroscience of singing and the power of community to change lives, one voice at a time. Other programs have used choirs to support communities with specific challenges; however the With One Voice program capitalises on the extraordinary and extreme diversity of participants to create transformational outcomes. As the program grows, we will reach more and more people.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

The opportunity to connect to friends, mentors, wellbeing, creativity, self-esteem, networks, skills and employment. Participants enjoy sharing their stories, granting wishes, volunteering and taking part in amazing performances.

4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

In the past, this problem was solved by agencies working with specific groups of disadvantaged people, which can reinforce segregation and become an expensive “crutch” for communities. Australia has 750,000 of these organisations and limited funding to go around. By contrast, With One Voice choirs build diverse networks that foster understanding, inspire individual philanthropy and enable people to achieve their dreams.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Its predecessors/competitors include choirs that target specific groups, such as the homeless or stroke patients, and community choirs that do not cater for disadvantaged people. The socially-engineered diversity of participants makes the With One Voice program a ground-breaking innovation.

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5. TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Absolutely everybody! The With One Voice program has more than 600 participants. Thousands more are touched by songs and stories shared at community, corporate, multicultural and interfaith performances. This year, Sing for Spring will inspire people to sing in their workplaces, community clubs, schools and homes across the nation, share their video at the Sing for Spring website and donate to help the With One Voice program reach more people in need. 

It is available for sale through…

There are 15 With One Voice choirs across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Participants attend by tax-deductible donation. New choirs are under development and expressions of interest are invited from people interested in starting a program in their neighbourhood.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Our marketing strategy is to partner with government, corporate and community leaders, local businesses, health, employment and welfare service providers, to spread the word about the With One Voice program to diverse people. Performances, media and social media are also used to inspire people to participate. This year, Sing for Spring will form a significant part of our marketing focus.

Your Turn — VOTE!

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FINE PRINT
This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.