Released 21st June Make Music Day
Performed by Gabriella Di Laccio (DONNE Foundation Women in Music), Kira Topalian (Beyond Skin), Siobahn Brown and members of the Cairde Community Choir - Deanne Jones, Ann Neeson, Lorraine Shields, Masako Carey, Colette Moore, Diane Tipping.
The documentary and music video was recorded and filmed at Start Together Studios & Oh Yeah Music Centre and the stunning Lagan Meadows in South Belfast. Audio engineered by Niall Dornan and film produced by Kaja Choma. Supported by Belfast Music (Belfast City Council), Arts Council Northern Ireland and Make Music Day UK
The DONNE Foundation makes a positive change in readdressing the gender inequality within the music industry and beyond. They began with their inspirational project DONNE, Women in Music with their future goal to expand the promotion of women in all artistic fields including music, film, theater, dance, literature as well as producers and many other sectors of the entertainment industry.
The DONNE Foundation was founded by Gabriella Di Laccio, an international award-winning soprano, recording artist, curator and activist who has become one of the leading voices on the fight for equality in classical music. Recognised by Sir Charles Mackerras as “a singer of outstanding talent”, Gabriella is a most unique and innovative artist whose expressive qualities have earned her recognition and praise from international audiences. She was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 most inspirational and influential women in the world in 2018.
Gabriella Di Laccio - Se L'aura spira ft. Gabriella Di Laccio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD4SK3NrqTk
Cairde Community Choir is led by soul singer Siobhan Brown of the soul funk band Manukahunney. Siobhan is also a conservation architect, director of Flamma Fire protection services & culture awareness trainer. Her aim is to teach people to enjoy and reap the benefits of singing no matter what level of singing ability people have. Her chosen medium for this is to teach the choir to sing in Acapella (without music) a skill that once mastered holds the key to the freedom and enjoyment of singing anytime anywhere.
Cairde Community Choir ‘Run’ for Make Music Day 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4NwCOSrTP8
The project is managed by Kira Topalian, Assistant Operations Manager at Beyond Skin. Kira is also a musician, songwriter, and actor, with an extensive background in the arts. Kira is a recent Master’s graduate of Queen’s University in the field of Conflict Transformation & Social Justice and has a passion for human rights and peace and reconciliation. She is especially passionate about the intersection between the arts and conflict transformation, and the positive and profound impact the arts have in these arenas.
The production was filmed by Kaja Choma, a multi-media content creator working in the areas of photography, video production and project management. Kaja specialises in filming interviews, talks, keynote speeches, and corporate soundbites edited specifically for social media use and virtual distribution. The project is supported by Belfast City Council Belfast Music in partnership with Beyond Skin and Make Music UK.
