Creating a forum for musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds since 1979, The Boite is a broad reaching community-based organisation in Melbourne, bringing rarely heard music and cultural practises to Australian audiences.  

This year, as part of the ALWAYS LIVE program, Boite Voices, a massed choir project of 180 singers from all over Victoria, will perform across two days in Melbourne and Ballarat in a celebration of traditional language and culture of the Torres Strait Islands. Maiem aims to provide an entry point of discovery into the journey of own personal cultural histories, as First Australians, new Australians and migrant Australians. 

Bringing together singers of all ability levels, of all ages and from the farthest reaches of the state for 45 years, The Boite creates a vital link to community and opportunities for regional and metro folks to immerse themselves in culture and music.    

“Just like food, music brings us together.”  

Deb sees The Boite as a conduit for cultural understanding, explaining that language and culture varies greatly in the Torres Strait, but music stands as a reminder of solidarity, of oneness and provides a powerful sense of community.  

Boite Voices: Maiem Songs of the Torres Strait Islands Islands will take place across two performances: Saturday 30 November at Melbourne Recital Centre, featuring an exclusive appearance from Christine Anu.  Plus, a matinee performance at The Goods Shed Terminus Theatre in Ballarat on Sunday 1 December will follow the next day.  

Therese explains that “These choirs that The Boite produces, are always un-auditioned choirs, and one of the challenges for the singers and the choir director is to get a really good sound out of a really mixed bunch of people, and it’s something that I marvel at: how well our choir leaders are able to do that, every time we do one of these projects, and having come from the rehearsal this morning, Maiem is going to be lovely.”  

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