Bendigo RCS choir sings at art show launch
Vocal Fremitus, Bendigo RCS's student/staff choir, perform at the opening of the St John of God annual art show
Vocal Fremitus had its inaugural performance at the opening of the annual St John of God art shop in mid-May.
With the rural health program’s emphasis on developing close relationships with local health services and embedding students in the local community, the opening seemed the perfect occasion for a performance.
The brain child of Associate Professor Pam Snow and Professor Geoff Solarsh, Director of the Bendigo Regional Clinical School, the choir provides an opportunity to extend that tradition into the realm of fun and music. The choir is made up of both students and staff.
Medical students on extended clinical placements in Bendigo often seek outlets for other interests – competitive sport, outdoor recreation and music. The 18 members of the choir include students from both Monash University and the University of Melbourne who spend between one and two semesters here during their clinical training years, as well as staff members of the clinical school.
Professional choir master, James Rigby, commented that he often spends weeks coaxing a sound from a new choir. But Vocal Fremitus has enthusiastically tackled the repertoire from the start, revealing some great voices and experienced musicians in the process.
The choir was named by the students and means the vibration of the chest wall as a person speaks or sings.