Singing group embarks on trip of a lifetime

By MADELEINE McNEIL -- "Extra" Sept. 24th 2008 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2008.  All rights reserved

THE trip of a lifetime may have taken a few years to organise, but it will be well worth it for a group of south-west women who head to Italy this week. Eight Red Tent Singers will attend a week -long singing workshop facilitated by folk singer Kavisha Mazzella and English musician Helen Chadwick. The group was inspired after seeing Mazzella at a singing festival workshop at Dalesford a few years ago. Red Tent member Penny Amold said Mazzella was "very clever musically and very good at conducting groups". At the workshop they will learn songs in Italian and other languages, which they will perform at a concert in Siena, outside cultural landmark Santa Maria della Scala. "We're really looking forward to the workshop. It will be such a treat to do something we love surrounded by beauti­ful scenery," Mrs Arnold said. They will stay in a 10-bedroom villa, 25 kilometres outside the city of Siena, with people from England, Sydney and Brisbane. The group will also be treated to re­gional music and foods at a cultural exchange festival. "During the week people will bring pro­duce from their farms and we will share Australian. examples. I think I'll take some macadamia nuts, something that's easy to pack", Mrs Arnold said.. The Red Tent Singers will then separate into groups to explore various parts of Italy and France, meeting in Paris for four days before flying home together.