Musical Marathon

MEDIA RELEASE: MUSICAL MARATHON MAN
MEDIA RELEASE: AUSTRALIA TO HOST WORLD'S TOUGHEST ENDURANCE EVENT

Commencing April 24, Scott Griffin, a singer with The Australian Voices (TAV) will attempt to run 250km across the Kimberley Desert for six days to raise money for contemporary Australian music.

Griffin is participating in RacingThePlanet a race that takes place in culturally rich locations around the world in aid of charity. Griffin has chosen TAV as his charity which is a non-profit group that tries to capture the sound of Australia and share it with the world.

“We have so many great artists, photographers and film makers but TAV is one of the only groups in the world to take inspiration from the Australian landscape and express it as music,” said Griffin.

Named by Time Magazine as one of the world’s top ten endurance events the 2010 race is in the Kimberley region - a terrain with temperatures over 30°C even in winter.

During the race Griffin will carry his own equipment and food and will only be provided with water and a tent each day where he will interact with competitors from over 35 countries.

“Part of the beauty of the 250km is running across the amazing Australian landscape that has inspired so many TAV compositions,” he said.

TAV has paid composers to write over 100 pieces about Australia including Uluru, Glasshouse Mountains and Kondalilla by Stephen Leek; Honey-White Black Stump Koori Kid by Nicholas Ng; Sky Song by Daniel Walker and Under the Shadow of Kiley's Hill by Gordon Hamilton.

TAV’s Artistic Director, Gordon Hamilton, said the singers in TAV are highly talented musicians who volunteer their lives for this very important mission of creating new Australian music.

TAV has won multiple gold medals at the international Choral Olympics and prizes at the Choir of the World competition.

“We invest so much money into sport in Australia and we get amazing results. Imagine what we could achieve if we did the same for the arts,” said Hamilton.

“Scott’s run across the Kimberly is symbolic to us because the Australian Outback is the essence of what makes Australia unique and each year we take the sound, smell and imagery of the Australian bush to audiences overseas and they love it!” he said.

Sponsors can commission new pieces for TAV for between $1000 and $5000 per piece.

Griffin said he strongly believes in TAV’s mission to raise artistic standards in Australia and hopes running 250km will help create opportunities for talented young Australian musicians and singers.

Most of the singers in TAV work multiple jobs in addition to university study just to participate in this ensemble and the funds raised will be put towards helping them take Australian music overseas.

Hamilton said TAV was grateful for the time and effort being invested by Griffin and was looking forward to cheering him across the finish line.

DONATIONS
You can support Scott and The Australian Voices by donating via the link below. Suggested donation is 10 cents per kilometre or $25. All donations are tax deductible. Sincere thanks to our supporters who have donated $1600 already!

For donations over $1000 please contact admin@theaustralianvoices.com.

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