0:00:07.610,0:00:10.499
♪ I'm singing in the rain ♪

0:00:10.500,0:00:13.225
♪ Just singing in the rain ♪

0:00:13.226,0:00:16.082
♪ What a glorious feeling ♪

0:00:16.084,0:00:19.539
♪ I'm happy again ♪

0:00:19.540,0:00:22.819
There was a time when we all used to sing.

0:00:22.820,0:00:26.481
We sat around camp fires,[br]at church, and at school.

0:00:26.482,0:00:29.142
We sang our stories and our dreams.

0:00:29.143,0:00:32.342
We sang alone and we sang together.

0:00:32.343,0:00:36.008
Nowadays, not many of us sing.

0:00:36.009,0:00:38.459
We think, we can't because at some stage

0:00:38.460,0:00:41.945
someone has told us to be quiet,

0:00:41.946,0:00:46.061
or some of us judge ourselves[br]against the celebrities we idolize.

0:00:46.062,0:00:48.119
So I have a question[br]and put your hands up:

0:00:48.120,0:00:51.298
"Who in this audience[br]has been told by their parents,

0:00:51.299,0:00:55.374
teachers, kids, partner,[br]or anyone else that they can't sing?"

0:00:55.375,0:00:58.771
Hands up, please. Hands right up.

0:00:58.772,0:01:01.999
OK, so that's about 85% of you,

0:01:02.000,0:01:07.039
about 85% of people[br]who've been told that they can't sing.

0:01:07.040,0:01:10.732
When I was 14, I desperately wanted[br]to have singing lessons.

0:01:10.733,0:01:13.656
My best girl friend[br]started having lessons.

0:01:13.657,0:01:17.826
So I went around to her house one night[br]and I said, "Will you teach me the song?"

0:01:17.827,0:01:22.287
So, we sang this song together[br]a few times and at the end of it she said:

0:01:22.293,0:01:25.878
"Well, I will play the piano[br]and you sing it on your own now."

0:01:25.879,0:01:29.098
And so she played and I sang,[br]and then she said:

0:01:29.099,0:01:33.291
"Tania, I don't think you[br]should ever bother having singing lessons.

0:01:33.292,0:01:35.147
You're not good enough."

0:01:35.148,0:01:37.308
And being a 14-year-old I believed her,

0:01:37.309,0:01:40.666
just like probably many of you[br]believed it when you were told that.

0:01:40.667,0:01:44.654
And so the next year,[br]I did backstage in a school musical.

0:01:44.655,0:01:50.138
And finally, in year 11, I auditioned[br]for the Chorus of Oklahoma.

0:01:50.139,0:01:54.099
And to my amazement, I got the lead role,

0:01:54.100,0:01:56.742
and my friend didn't get in the chorus.

0:01:56.743,0:01:58.408
And ever since then,

0:01:58.409,0:02:03.252
singing has been my life's passion,[br]joy, and inspiration.

0:02:04.272,0:02:09.231
Our voices have been silenced,[br]and it's not doing us any good.

0:02:10.175,0:02:14.339
There is a taboo about speaking[br]or singing in public,

0:02:14.340,0:02:17.715
we think that people[br]will judge us or make fun of us.

0:02:17.716,0:02:21.300
Yet, we were all given a voice to tune in

0:02:22.250,0:02:24.159
and to express ourselves.

0:02:24.160,0:02:26.690
So let's not sit in silence any longer.

0:02:26.691,0:02:29.972
I want you to sit up,[br]sit up in your seats.

0:02:29.973,0:02:32.591
We're going to start off[br]with this third of the room,

0:02:32.592,0:02:34.390
so just work out which third you are,

0:02:34.391,0:02:36.363
and we are all going to sing this note.

0:02:36.364,0:02:39.815
Now, just remember, remove[br]yourselves from limiting believes,

0:02:39.816,0:02:42.836
and no one is listening[br]to your specific voice.

0:02:42.837,0:02:44.237
OK, so here we go.

0:02:44.262,0:02:47.882
We're going to go ♪ ahh! ♪[br]everyone, breathe.

0:02:47.907,0:02:50.181
Tania de Jong AM: ♪ Ahh! ♪[br](Audience) Ahh!

0:02:50.182,0:02:53.720
And in the middle: ♪ ahh! ♪[br]Breathe.

0:02:53.721,0:02:56.209
TJ: ♪ Ahh! ♪ Excellent![br](Audience) ♪ Ahh! ♪

0:02:56.210,0:02:59.289
and then the top ♪ ahh! ♪[br](Audience) ♪ Ahh! ♪

0:03:02.850,0:03:04.523
OK, we're going to do it together,

0:03:04.524,0:03:07.736
you start and then you keep going,[br]you keep breathing the same note.

0:03:07.737,0:03:10.800
When I do this, that means "crescendo,"[br]that means "decrescendo."

0:03:10.801,0:03:14.020
Breathing in and here we go,[br]♪ ahh ♪, keep going!

0:03:14.021,0:03:15.280
(Audience) ♪ Ahh! ♪

0:03:15.281,0:03:17.331
TJ: ♪ ahh ♪,

0:03:17.332,0:03:19.352
(Audience) ♪ ahh ♪[br]TJ: ♪ ahh ♪,

0:03:23.242,0:03:25.850
TJ: ♪ ahh ♪.

0:03:25.851,0:03:27.049
How do you feel?

0:03:27.050,0:03:29.751
(Audience) Whoo![br]TJ: Whoo! OK!

0:03:29.752,0:03:32.479
So, is your brain buzzing now?

0:03:32.480,0:03:35.465
Because one of the great things[br]about singing

0:03:35.466,0:03:38.759
is that it really connects you[br]to the right side of your brain.

0:03:38.760,0:03:41.410
The right hemisphere[br]of our brain is responsible

0:03:41.411,0:03:45.198
for our intuition, imagination,[br]and all our creative functions.

0:03:45.199,0:03:49.221
It connects us to a world[br]of possibilities and all that is.

0:03:49.222,0:03:52.321
The brain is like a battery;[br]the right side charges it

0:03:52.322,0:03:55.691
and the left side uses[br]the energy and empties it.

0:03:55.692,0:04:00.359
So our goal is always to keep[br]our mental battery charged up.

0:04:00.360,0:04:03.185
However, we live in a world[br]where we constantly

0:04:03.186,0:04:07.539
surrounded with so much information[br]to process and analyze.

0:04:08.400,0:04:11.114
We talk more to boxes and screens

0:04:11.115,0:04:13.402
than we do to one another.

0:04:13.403,0:04:16.064
And so, it becomes fundamentally important

0:04:16.065,0:04:19.491
to nurture the attributes of human beings

0:04:19.492,0:04:22.413
that set us apart from machines:

0:04:22.414,0:04:25.528
love, compassion, kindness,

0:04:25.529,0:04:28.643
tearing, determination.

0:04:28.644,0:04:31.759
I have a theory of boxes.

0:04:31.760,0:04:36.262
We get born in a little bassinet box,

0:04:36.263,0:04:38.327
and then we go home[br]and we live in a house,

0:04:38.328,0:04:40.787
- and if we draw it, it looks like a box -

0:04:40.788,0:04:43.949
and we go to school and we often[br]get taught to think in a box.

0:04:43.950,0:04:47.165
We go to the supermarket,[br]we come out with lots of little boxes.

0:04:47.166,0:04:48.696
And then we go to work,

0:04:48.697,0:04:51.393
and we have a box[br]in our pocket, our mobile phone,

0:04:51.394,0:04:54.473
we have a screen in front of us[br]which is our computer box.

0:04:54.474,0:04:57.060
And we have to tick the box an awful lot.

0:04:57.061,0:04:59.233
And guess what,[br]when we go out of this world,

0:04:59.234,0:05:02.308
we go out in a... Right.

0:05:02.309,0:05:05.179
So, I believe that life really happens,

0:05:05.180,0:05:08.263
and that our creative potential[br]is unlocked between the boxes,

0:05:08.264,0:05:10.847
where our mind can roam,

0:05:10.848,0:05:14.901
in that space where we connect[br]in loving relationships with others,

0:05:14.902,0:05:17.791
when we go into nature,

0:05:17.792,0:05:21.356
and where we do[br]activities, like meditation.

0:05:21.357,0:05:24.767
But do you know the best activity[br]for getting outside the box?

0:05:24.768,0:05:26.701
Well, of course, it's singing.

0:05:26.702,0:05:30.917
Because the neuroscience[br]of singing shows that when we sing

0:05:30.918,0:05:35.211
our neurotransmitters connect[br]in new and different ways,

0:05:35.212,0:05:38.532
firing up the right temporal lobe[br]of our brain,

0:05:38.533,0:05:42.104
releasing endorphins that make us smarter,

0:05:42.105,0:05:45.603
healthier, happier, and more creative.

0:05:45.604,0:05:47.868
And you know[br]what's really great about this?

0:05:47.869,0:05:52.431
When we do this with other people,[br]the effect is amplified.

0:05:52.432,0:05:56.711
A recent study measured[br]the levels of oxytocin,

0:05:56.712,0:06:00.089
the hormone responsible[br]for pleasure, love, and bonding,

0:06:00.090,0:06:04.054
in a group of people[br]before and after singing sessions,

0:06:04.055,0:06:08.479
and the levels increased significantly[br]after the singing sessions.

0:06:08.480,0:06:11.391
Further international research

0:06:11.392,0:06:16.438
shows the benefits of singing,[br]learning a language, and other skills,

0:06:16.439,0:06:21.635
for healing strokes,[br]speech abnormalities, and depression.

0:06:21.636,0:06:24.624
And when we sing together[br]like we just did, in harmony,

0:06:24.625,0:06:27.143
not only that we get[br]goosebumps, and tingles,

0:06:27.144,0:06:29.795
"crescendo" together,[br]and breathe together,

0:06:29.796,0:06:32.503
but also, as a recent study[br]actually showed,

0:06:32.504,0:06:35.071
our hearts start beating together.

0:06:35.072,0:06:37.639
I mean, this is a super duper drug.

0:06:37.640,0:06:41.853
It's free, accessible to all,[br]we all have a voice.

0:06:41.854,0:06:47.300
Other theories speculate that our brains[br]developed along with music and singing

0:06:47.301,0:06:49.138
as a survival mechanism.

0:06:49.139,0:06:52.135
So, before there were[br]governments and nations,

0:06:52.136,0:06:57.030
groups and tribes sang and danced[br]together to build loyalty,

0:06:57.031,0:07:01.062
transmit vital information,[br]and ward off enemies.

0:07:01.063,0:07:04.612
Literally, those who sang well, survived.

0:07:04.613,0:07:09.572
Well, as well as singing, a lot of people[br]also don't think they're creative.

0:07:09.573,0:07:12.351
I work with a lot of companies[br]and top teams

0:07:12.352,0:07:16.514
on building and unleashing[br]creativity and innovation.

0:07:16.515,0:07:20.834
And it's amazing how many leaders[br]say, "But I am not creative."

0:07:20.835,0:07:25.139
Yet recently, some futurists said[br]that creativity has become

0:07:25.140,0:07:29.191
the most endangered species[br]of the 21st century.

0:07:29.192,0:07:34.570
We have a broadband culture[br]but not the creative thought to fill it.

0:07:35.680,0:07:41.328
And a recent global study[br]of 1,500 CEOs by IBM

0:07:41.329,0:07:46.350
showed that in an increasingly complex[br]and uncertain global environment

0:07:46.351,0:07:50.632
the most important leadership attribute[br]is creativity.

0:07:51.462,0:07:53.235
Steve Jobs said

0:07:53.236,0:07:57.709
that creativity is just about[br]connecting things.

0:07:57.710,0:08:00.824
And I'd like to suggest[br]that those things might be

0:08:00.825,0:08:05.112
all the experiences in your life[br]up to this moment.

0:08:06.255,0:08:09.371
So, the broader and richer[br]your experience is,

0:08:09.372,0:08:12.934
the more tools you'll have[br]in your creative toolbox

0:08:12.935,0:08:15.956
for when you want or need to get creative.

0:08:15.957,0:08:19.606
And I reckon,[br]the best thing to get creative

0:08:19.607,0:08:23.333
is what I like to call[br]positive human collisions.

0:08:23.334,0:08:26.757
That is connecting with people[br]on a regular basis

0:08:26.758,0:08:30.035
who are really different from you.

0:08:30.036,0:08:34.793
You know, we spend most of our lives[br]talking with, dressing like,

0:08:34.794,0:08:39.043
feeling safe, and endorsing those[br]who are really like us.

0:08:39.044,0:08:41.510
They make us feel good about ourselves.

0:08:41.510,0:08:44.824
But I think our greatest gains[br]as human beings

0:08:44.825,0:08:49.039
are when we connect to people[br]who are really different,

0:08:49.040,0:08:51.523
who challenge us and the way we think,

0:08:51.524,0:08:54.745
who take us outside of our comfort zone.

0:08:55.915,0:08:59.999
When we connect with those[br]we feel creative abrasion,

0:09:00.000,0:09:04.695
and it's in that moment[br]where we actually disagree with someone,

0:09:04.696,0:09:09.216
where creativity and innovation can spark.

0:09:09.217,0:09:12.041
So I thought it would be really awesome

0:09:12.042,0:09:15.659
to start a social enterprise,[br]a movement if you like,

0:09:15.660,0:09:20.191
where we could bring together[br]the power of positive human collisions

0:09:20.192,0:09:23.643
with the neuroscience of singing.

0:09:23.644,0:09:27.763
And so, five years ago I set up[br]a charity called "Creativity Australia,"

0:09:27.764,0:09:31.378
and we have a program[br]called "With One Voice,"

0:09:31.379,0:09:37.387
and every week, we deliberately bring[br]together the most diverse people possible.

0:09:37.388,0:09:41.670
We bring together CEOs, doctors,[br]lawyers, grandmothers with students,

0:09:41.671,0:09:44.200
people with depressions and disabilities,

0:09:44.201,0:09:46.363
migrants and jobseekers,

0:09:46.364,0:09:51.047
age from 9 to 90, of all faiths[br]and all backgrounds.

0:09:51.048,0:09:54.520
Most of the people come along[br]saying, "But I can't sing."

0:09:55.262,0:10:00.431
We help them find not only[br]their voice, their singing voice,

0:10:00.432,0:10:04.808
but their voice in life,[br]their meaning, and their purpose.

0:10:04.809,0:10:10.646
At choir each week, we sing,[br]but we also share supper.

0:10:10.647,0:10:15.472
We share our hopes,[br]and dreams, and challenges.

0:10:15.473,0:10:20.212
We have a really innovative part[br]of our program, called "The Wishlist."

0:10:20.213,0:10:25.867
Anyone in the choir can ask[br]for a wish from anyone else,

0:10:25.868,0:10:31.450
and so people ask for things like:[br]"I would love help with my résumé,"

0:10:31.451,0:10:35.018
"I'd like to find a job,"[br]"I'd like someone to walk home with,"

0:10:35.019,0:10:37.332
"I'd like to find a boyfriend[br]or a girlfriend,"

0:10:37.333,0:10:40.531
"I'd like free guitar lessons."

0:10:40.532,0:10:43.727
Because everyone is[br]in such a receptive headspace

0:10:43.728,0:10:48.237
because of those fabulous endorphins,[br]and feeling much more creative,

0:10:48.238,0:10:52.672
we've literally connected people[br]to most of their wishes.

0:10:52.673,0:10:55.529
We've created hundred of jobs,

0:10:55.530,0:10:58.953
work experience,[br]and mentoring opportunities.

0:10:58.954,0:11:02.167
We've connected people to health services,

0:11:02.168,0:11:04.892
and we've even had a marriage.

0:11:04.893,0:11:10.512
And we've connected people[br]to incredible hope, joy, and inspiration.

0:11:10.513,0:11:13.336
One choir, "Melbourne Sings [Choir]"[br]has now expanded

0:11:13.337,0:11:17.824
to 15 choirs all around Victoria,[br]and Sydney, starting in Brisbane.

0:11:17.825,0:11:21.505
And we have inquiries from[br]all over Australia and other countries

0:11:21.506,0:11:24.571
for our unique "With One Voice" model.

0:11:24.572,0:11:26.928
Before I'll show you a short video,

0:11:26.929,0:11:30.079
I'd like to tell you two short stories.

0:11:30.080,0:11:33.979
This is Natalie on the screen.[br]Natalie is from Cameroon.

0:11:33.980,0:11:38.343
She came to Australia a few years ago,[br]and she joined the choir.

0:11:38.344,0:11:39.956
Her sister was massacred,

0:11:39.957,0:11:43.841
and she now brings up[br]her two children, and her sister's child.

0:11:45.111,0:11:48.394
She had been looking for[br]a job as an accountant for four years,

0:11:48.395,0:11:50.156
when she joined the choir.

0:11:50.157,0:11:52.889
On the second time she came[br]to choir, she was crying,

0:11:52.890,0:11:56.027
we said, "What's wrong?"[br]and she said, "I've got a job interview."

0:11:56.028,0:11:57.573
I said, "That's wonderful."

0:11:57.574,0:11:59.867
She said: "No. I don't think[br]I can get the job."

0:11:59.868,0:12:04.846
She had experienced so much discrimination[br]that she didn't believe in herself at all.

0:12:04.847,0:12:09.344
So we gave her mock interviews,[br]but most of all, we gave her love.

0:12:09.345,0:12:12.201
And a little bit of her[br]started to come back.

0:12:12.202,0:12:14.514
And two weeks later,[br]she came back to choir

0:12:14.515,0:12:17.659
and she was beaming,[br]and she got the job in the call center;

0:12:17.660,0:12:18.949
not as an accountant,

0:12:18.950,0:12:23.238
but she was just wrapped to have a job[br]to contribute to her new homeland.

0:12:23.239,0:12:26.285
A few weeks later,[br]the choir started being asked to perform

0:12:26.286,0:12:28.411
at various major events and conferences,

0:12:28.412,0:12:33.175
and we'd teach each of the people to share[br]their story and what the choir meant,

0:12:33.176,0:12:37.614
and the choir would sing, and inevitably,[br]the audience would stand and cheer,

0:12:37.615,0:12:40.003
and literally grown men were crying.

0:12:40.004,0:12:41.360
It was really powerful.

0:12:41.361,0:12:43.875
A few weeks later,[br]she emails me and she says:

0:12:43.876,0:12:45.979
"Tania, I can't come to choir anymore.

0:12:45.980,0:12:48.868
My hours have gone[br]from 9 to 5 to 9 to 7.30,"

0:12:48.869,0:12:51.426
and I write back:[br]"And who is going to feed your kids?

0:12:51.427,0:12:54.009
Can we speak to your supervisor?[br]Can you speak to him?"

0:12:54.010,0:12:56.918
She said: "No. He never speaks[br]to any of the migrants."

0:12:56.919,0:12:59.039
Well, fate intervened.

0:12:59.040,0:13:03.202
I was asked to present a key note speech[br]at a major business conference,

0:13:03.203,0:13:05.942
and the theme of the conference[br]was diversity.

0:13:05.942,0:13:07.314
And I said to the organizer:

0:13:07.314,0:13:10.829
"I've got this amazing diversity choir[br]called 'Melbourne Sings [Choir].'

0:13:10.830,0:13:13.954
Do you think that they could perform[br]at the start of the dinner?"

0:13:13.955,0:13:17.716
And she said OK, had a look online,[br]and she made a donation to the choir.

0:13:17.717,0:13:20.227
They performed three songs, three stories,

0:13:20.228,0:13:21.944
and at the end of each song,

0:13:21.945,0:13:25.390
the audience spontaneously stood[br]and cheered, and they were all crying.

0:13:25.391,0:13:28.706
At the end of the third song,[br]this woman comes running up to the stage

0:13:28.707,0:13:30.647
and she says, "Can I have the mic?"

0:13:30.648,0:13:32.471
OK. She's got tears on her face.

0:13:32.472,0:13:35.873
And she get's up and she says:[br]"My name is Catherine,

0:13:35.874,0:13:40.423
and I am the Managing Director[br]of ANZ Private Bank -

0:13:41.573,0:13:46.292
Did I mention that Natalie's job interview[br]was for ANZ Bank?

0:13:46.293,0:13:48.583
No? That's a pretty important fact.

0:13:50.173,0:13:53.993
Anyway, so what happened was[br]Catherine got up and she said:

0:13:53.994,0:13:57.219
"You know, this model[br]of social inclusion is so awesome.

0:13:57.220,0:14:00.206
Are we really listening[br]to the diverse voices

0:14:00.207,0:14:03.259
in our communities and organizations?"

0:14:03.260,0:14:06.535
I got the mic back and I said,[br]"Well, thank you so much, Catherine.

0:14:06.536,0:14:09.703
It is all about building[br]bridges of understanding,

0:14:09.704,0:14:12.255
not walls and boxes between us.

0:14:12.256,0:14:14.983
But listen, I've got[br]a little favor to ask you."

0:14:14.984,0:14:19.179
No pressure or anything, like there were[br]hundreds of people in the room.

0:14:19.180,0:14:22.701
"Do you think that you might help[br]Natalie here, from Cameroon,

0:14:22.702,0:14:24.939
with her hours at the ANZ Bank?"

0:14:24.940,0:14:26.237
(Laughter)

0:14:26.238,0:14:30.057
She handed Nathalie her business card[br]- the whole audience was cheering -

0:14:30.058,0:14:32.170
and the next Tuesday,[br]Nathalie turned back up

0:14:32.171,0:14:34.800
to the Sofitel [Hotel][br]where we ran "Melbourne Sings."

0:14:34.801,0:14:38.164
We were wrapped to see her,[br]and we said, "Nathalie, what's happening?"

0:14:38.165,0:14:40.420
She said: "I don't know[br]what's going on, Tania,

0:14:40.421,0:14:43.365
but everyday my supervisor[br]comes to my desk and asks me

0:14:43.366,0:14:46.033
how am I and do I have any problems."

0:14:46.034,0:14:47.423
(Laughter)

0:14:49.343,0:14:53.405
Catherine then spent further time[br]with her helping her with her CV;

0:14:53.405,0:14:55.715
Natalie kept applying[br]for every accounting role,

0:14:55.716,0:14:57.908
and she started[br]to really believe in herself,

0:14:57.909,0:14:59.953
and she finally got an accounting role.

0:14:59.954,0:15:02.242
Anyway, this is Beth.

0:15:02.243,0:15:04.103
Beth has cerebral palsy.

0:15:04.104,0:15:07.828
She joined our choir also,[br]"Melbourne Sings," about five years ago.

0:15:07.829,0:15:09.682
Beth changed my life.

0:15:09.683,0:15:14.851
Every week Beth comes to choir,[br]it's the highlight of her week.

0:15:14.852,0:15:17.319
She said to her mum[br]and carer after a few weeks:

0:15:17.320,0:15:20.063
"This is going to be[br]my independent activity."

0:15:20.064,0:15:22.824
She comes in the maxi taxi, we feed her,

0:15:22.825,0:15:27.941
and she knows the words[br]of every song by heart.

0:15:27.942,0:15:32.319
And every week I go along to choir,[br]hoping that Beth is there

0:15:32.320,0:15:35.175
because I might be having[br]a really grumpy Tuesday,

0:15:35.176,0:15:39.031
but as soon as I see Beth is like,[br]"Oh, my God,"

0:15:39.032,0:15:40.481
pinch,

0:15:40.482,0:15:43.241
"Tania, your problems[br]are absolutely nothing.

0:15:43.242,0:15:47.211
Here is this person who,[br]by all rights, is caught in a box

0:15:47.212,0:15:49.500
and her horizon is so big."

0:15:50.460,0:15:54.687
And she has helped us all[br]to step outside our box

0:15:54.688,0:15:57.811
into a new space of gratitude and hope.

0:15:57.812,0:15:59.825
So please, have a look at this video.

0:15:59.826,0:16:01.201
(Music)

0:16:05.220,0:16:06.703
[With One Voice]

0:16:06.704,0:16:08.068
[Unlocking Potential]

0:16:08.069,0:16:10.089
[Celebrating Diversity]

0:16:10.090,0:16:12.434
[Creating Jobs]

0:16:12.435,0:16:14.292
TJ: "It is amazing what can happen

0:16:14.293,0:16:17.431
when you come together on a weekly basis

0:16:17.432,0:16:20.583
with people who are very diverse."

0:16:20.584,0:16:21.928
[Choir sings]

0:16:39.698,0:16:43.079
Man 1: "I joined this choir[br]since I migrated from India."

0:16:43.080,0:16:45.835
Woman 1: "I felt I found[br]a new family in Australia."

0:16:45.836,0:16:47.410
Man 2: "This hands-on experience

0:16:47.411,0:16:50.335
has [taken] my singing[br]to a different level."

0:16:50.336,0:16:53.860
Man 3: "The choir has just been[br]the most wonderful thing for my career."

0:16:53.861,0:16:56.769
Woman 2:[br]"[At the request of] a choir member

0:16:56.770,0:17:01.378
I applied, and fortunately I got the job."

0:17:01.379,0:17:04.239
Woman 3: "You know, like we say,[br]the angel was behind me.

0:17:04.240,0:17:06.009
They were my angels.

0:17:06.009,0:17:10.358
I went through[br]and I got the job at ANZ Bank."

0:17:10.359,0:17:13.539
TJ: "We're meeting together weekly[br]in these programs.

0:17:13.540,0:17:16.402
Each of these people experience

0:17:16.402,0:17:19.804
new self-esteem, hope, friendship -"

0:17:19.804,0:17:22.938
Woman 4: "Actually, we met[br]in the choir last week

0:17:22.939,0:17:26.453
and this is our second time[br]with each other.

0:17:26.454,0:17:31.315
And I feel very surprised[br]and very thankful

0:17:31.316,0:17:33.899
that I can [meet] such a good friend.

0:17:33.900,0:17:38.517
This is the most important reason[br]for me to keep coming."

0:17:38.518,0:17:42.940
Beth: "This is why I got friends[br]because I can't do anything for myself.

0:17:44.230,0:17:48.873
I can't feed myself...[br]that's why you got friends."

0:17:48.874,0:17:50.286
(Choir sings)

0:18:08.858,0:18:13.403
Beth: "I can be here who I want[br]to be, apart from my disability.

0:18:13.404,0:18:14.710
I could be...

0:18:14.711,0:18:18.457
No one sees me as a kid.[br]They see me, as a person."

0:18:18.458,0:18:22.816
Woman 5: "A highlight of out year in 2011[br]apart from, of course, this afternoon,

0:18:22.817,0:18:27.353
was to perform at the opening ceremony[br]of the New Royal Children's Hospital

0:18:27.354,0:18:30.308
which was opened[br]by Her Majesty The Queen."

0:18:30.309,0:18:34.088
Man 4: "This 'Melbourne Sings' is a group,

0:18:34.089,0:18:39.284
not only a group, [but] a family,[br]a family of singers."

0:18:39.285,0:18:42.903
Woman 3: "[Do you want to smile?][br]Do you want to be happy? Come with me."

0:18:42.904,0:18:44.241
(Choir sings)

0:18:52.782,0:18:54.082
(Applause)

0:19:05.930,0:19:08.099
TJ: Doesn't that[br]give you goosebumps?

0:19:08.100,0:19:09.961
[Do] you all want to join?

0:19:09.962,0:19:11.539
You know, it's said

0:19:11.540,0:19:16.465
that we go through our lives[br]with much of our music unplayed.

0:19:16.466,0:19:19.515
Imagine if we could just unlock[br]a little more

0:19:19.516,0:19:22.890
the creative potential of our brain.

0:19:23.680,0:19:25.732
As Mark Twain said:

0:19:25.733,0:19:28.328
"Sing like no one's listening,

0:19:28.329,0:19:31.607
love like you've never been hurt,

0:19:31.608,0:19:33.706
dance like nobody's watching,

0:19:33.707,0:19:37.052
and live like it's heaven on earth."

0:19:37.812,0:19:41.654
We are literally changing the world,[br]one voice at a time.

0:19:41.655,0:19:42.781
Thank you.

0:19:42.782,0:19:43.829
(Applause)