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Bonding voices to strike the right chord

The name’s Bond. Vox Bond.

Mission? To take the voices of Bond University out into the Gold Coast next year as part of a development of a student/staff choir.

Maggie Blades is the highly-esteemed violinist, conductor and teacher who is the agent leading the songstars with a simple mantra with music: “To reach people.”

The former West Australian has called the Gold Coast home since January 2024, and is the driving force behind the gathering of an eclectic mix of young and old voices each week in the Chancellery building.

Every Tuesday afternoon choristers create what Maggie calls “the most beautiful sound is when voices sing together”.

“Here at Bond it brings a connection between students and teachers who might not otherwise have met.

“I want these students particularly to have music as a part of their university life.

“I’m excited Bond is enabling this to happen, and that music is being taken seriously.”

The very talented Ms Blades spent many years as a leader and violinist of various orchestras, including the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, and others.

Now she’s focusing on melding a choir of disparate voices which she sees as “something really rewarding and challenging for me”.

“Anyone can sing. If you can talk you can sing.

“When we sing together it’s a truly wonderful thing.”

The Vox Bond also sings a cappella and delivers a range of scores from well-known musicals to contemporary favourites, she said.

Although the Vox Bond is in its infancy, Maggie has big plans for the choristers to spread their wings and perform more widely.

“We have a lot of turnover with students, but many universities have musical choirs which is great for the mind and body.”

There’s a concert planned in the Architectural building on Bond’s campus in October and plans for a range of concerts on the Gold Coast in 2025.

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