There are a few singers gathered around a piano. The conductor is trying to help them find the right notes. The guys are slapping their figures, tapping their feet all trying to find the beat and the tone. Over time, more and more people are called over to the piano and then sent away to rehearse. The practice happens on Monday nights at the Kowloon United Church, but the performance is coming.
The Harmonics is a LGBTI and friends choir and have been singing for 3 years. On June 9th they are holding their third major concert Unleash at Caritas Kowloon Community Hall. Tickets are still available.
“I hope our choir’s music can reach out to the people who need to know we are singing for them,” said Alex See the Chairperson of the Harmonics. “I want to extend an invitation to come out and see us and if they want to sing please join us in August.”
The singers continue to prepare for the upcoming concert. Some of the songs are their main ones like a mixture or mash-up of Brave by Sara Bareilles and True Colours by Cyndi Lauper. They continue with Bird Set Free by Sai and Don’t Stop Believing by Journey.
In the middle of the practice, some members of the choir begin singing in Chinese the song As well as I Am What I Am by Leslie Cheung. The non-Chinese members hum and provide the background melody for the lyrics making the whole scene one of inclusion and shows the strength and diversity within the choir.
“The first concert we sang about eight songs and this time we are going to do about 18 songs,” said See. “We challenge ourselves to do a lot more different genres like rock, classic rock, musicals and acapella as well as several Cantonese and Mandarin songs.”
There is dancing and choreography to go along with the music. The practice seems tedious with stops, starts and trying to bring everyone to the same sound and tone. To sing as one seems hard from the outside but the church hall is filled with laughter, smiles, and fun.
Joining the group are Andrewgyne a non-binary performer who was a contestant at the X-Factor Australia. As well as the Unsung Heros, a singing group of domestic helpers who rose to fame, in the city, through the The Helper documentary.
