Shortis and Simpson run a world music choir, Worldly Goods.
It is a community choir open to all comers. The repertoire is world music. No music reading skills or previous experience required. The joy of singing is the important ingredient.
Worldly Goods was formed in 1998 as the result of a large community event, The Dreamkeeper, as part of the Canberra Festival. Moya started it as a one-term project and it never stopped.
The choir has appeared as part of festivals, in large community arts projects, theatrical extravaganzas, and at their own concerts.
An active workshop program is part of the Worldly Goods calendar, and workshop leaders have included Tony Backhouse, Frankie Armstrong, Margret RoadKnight, Nino Tsitsishnili and Joseph Jordanian, Jeannie Lewis, Rachel Hoare, Theodora Volti and more.
Worldly Goods has participated in many large-scale performances with Shortis and Simpson, like…..
-John, Paul, Ringo and Georgia (2008)- The Beatles meet Georgian Polyphonic music, performed at The Street Theatre and at Hobart Festival of Voices
-Why Sing? (2009) -120 singers from 5 choirs explore the joy of finding a voice, performed at The Street Theatre and at the National Folk Festival
-Prime Time (2013) -the story of all our Prime Ministers, performed at the Q Theatre Queanbeyan
-Happy Little Copyrights (2019) -a tribute to the noble art of song-stealing, performed at the National Folk Festival
-Something Worth Fighting For (2024) -the story of Australian protesters and their songs, performed at the National Folk festival, and at the National Library
-Well May We Say (2025) -marking the 50th anniversary of the dismissal of Gough Whitlam, performed at Belconnen Arts Centre
-The World At Our Feet (2026)- with Canberra Dance Theatre’s GOLD Dancers- a celebration of community groups.
Worldy Goods meets each Monday from 7-9pm during school terms at Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon, ACT.
For more details, contact Shortis and Simpson at moyajohn@shortisandsimpson.com