Pemulwuy! National Male Voice Festival Returns To Brisbane This July

The triennial Pemulwuy! National Male Voice Festival is scheduled to take place in Brisbane, gathering male singers from across Australia. Hosted by the festival’s organising body alongside the Birralee Blokes and Birralee Boys, the event is open to participants ranging from 10 to over 80 years of age.

The festival program spans several days, beginning with rehearsals and workshops on 3 July and 4 July. The schedule will conclude with a massed choir performance at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Concert Hall on 5 July. Attendees will be divided into three age specific categories for the event, which include: the Treble, Youth, and Adult strands.

To assist with preparation, registered individuals are provided with sheet music and audio learning recordings prior to the festival dates. This allows participants to learn their respective repertoire before arriving for the collaborative rehearsal sessions.

This year, organisers are placing a specific focus on adult participation, with the Adult Strand being directed by Brisbane conductor and musician Emma Dean. The Brisbane local singers will be joined by choirs, ensembles, and individual participants travelling from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and regional Queensland.

Festival Director Paul Holley outlined the broader social goals of the gathering and explained the intended impact on those who choose to take part.

Pemulwuy! is much more than a music festival. It creates a welcoming, uplifting and inclusive environment where boys and men can connect through shared artistic experiences, build confidence, form lasting friendships and experience the extraordinary power of singing together.

Registrations are currently open for individual singers who are interested in attending the upcoming festival.