Titjikala Community Projects
The Titjikala Project is an initiative by Titjikala Community in partnership with Soundstream and Artistic Director and pianist Gabriella Smart, whose family has a 50 year family connection with the community.
The project will creative economic opportunities and improves health and education outcomes by establishing a number of music program within the Tijtikala Community of the Northern Territory.
The project focuses on the Inarma Womens’ Choir, aged between 30 and 60+, the Simpson Desert Band, and the establishment of a unique Youth Saxophone Ensemble, drawn from 10 school age children and 10 post-school teenagers.
The project commenced in 2015 with community-wide consultation resulting in commitment by the Community to partner with Soundstream. This was followed by a nation-wide collection of donated instruments (36 in all), which were delivered to the community in 2016 and followed by workshops, which were funded by private donations made through Creative Partnerships Australia.
Economic benefits will be achieved by establishing regular performances for tourists within the community, performances in Alice Springs (e.g. Alice Desert Festival) and to undertake a national touring program. Employment will be provided through training potential local leaders as teachers.
Health benefits will be achieved by liunking performance with good nutrition, improved mental health and development of self-confidence and community standing through participating while also increasing school retention rates (a condition of participation) and quality education outcomes.
2022
The Inarma Choir travelled to Adelaide to present a concert as part of the On The Terrace program, presented by Chamber Music Adelaide at the State Library of South Australia on 24 April 2022.
2018
The Inarma (then Titjikala) Womens Choir performed a concert entitled Tgungu Pakani at Ayers House on August 8 2018,
The Choir enjoys a rich choral tradition that celebrates their First Nations and Lutheran through performance in Pitjantjatjara. Tjungu Pakani celebrated both this heritage and cultural exchange. The concert and exhibition were held at Ayers House, Adelaide on 8 August 2018.
The women are also gifted artists, achieving acclaim for their unique silk screening and batik practice. The concert took place alongside exhibition of their stunning silk batik fabrics featured, with additional batik workshops held by the Art Bus and artists Claire Harris, Miranda Harris, Hellen Fuller and Angelica Harris-Faull with support from Arts SA.
2017
In April 2017, Immanuel College, Adelaide, made a long-term commitment to partner with the project, donating 15 saxophones specifically for the youth ensemble.
In August 2017, the second workshop occurred over on week and included workshops for the Inarma Choir, the Titjikala Band and the Youth Saxophone Ensemble.
2016
Titjikala musicians featured at the APRA/AMCOS Awards held in Melbourne on 11 August 2016. The music for the awards was curated by Gabriella Smart and featured Titjikala Musicians Derik Lynch (vocals), Barry Campbell (guitar) with Bedra Kayser (soprano) and Derek Pascoe (saxophone).
Five workshops have taken place in the community to date that have been funded by private, tax-deductible donations made through the Australian Cultural Fund.
2015
After a nation-wide callout for instruments, Gabriella Smart and Derek Pascoe took to the road to deliver keyboards and saxophones and to undertake the first workshops in the Tijtikala Community in 2015.