Hundreds of people enjoyed the Songs at the Silos event in 2025.
Photo by
Emily Donohoe
An extraordinary ensemble of performers will gather at the Rochester silos for a heartwarming community music event next month.
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The eagerly anticipated Songs at the Silos will again feature a dazzling mix of international opera stars, musical theatre virtuosos and homegrown talent.
Vocalist Alex Lapiña said the previous Songs at the Silos event “was overwhelmingly fun and it was surreal”.
“I hadn't witnessed anything like it before,” he said.
“Having such, what I thought was a small community, have such an amazing turnout and be able to utilise one of the featured landmarks as a performance venue, was quite outstanding.”
For Alex, the event marks the start of his musical career.
“I haven't had the opportunity personally, but my dad, Michael J Lapiña, is an opera singer, so I have been pretty much tagging along with him to a lot of his performances, including regional performances,” he said.
The younger Lapiña will make his debut the week after his Rochester performance with another opera company performing Elixir of Love (L'elisir d'amore) by Donizetti, where he'll play Dr Joe Kamara with Michael J Lapiña and Julia Allsop also in the cast.
“To be honest, I wanted to do musicals,” he said.
“I love classical opera techniques in terms of singing; it is very foundational.
“Further down the track, I would consider jumping into musicals, because they are more fun, in my opinion.”
Audiences can expect an eclectic mix of party favourites, which includes opera, maybe some Disney numbers, musical theatre and even some jazz songs.
Alex's personal favourite is Evermore from Beauty and the Beast, describing it as “one of my favourite pieces to get up on stage and perform”.
The performing ensemble represents the Rotaract Club of Music Makers, formed in May last year shortly after the previous Songs at the Silos.
Vocalist Alex Lapiña will perform at this year's Songs at the Silos in Rochester on March 7, 2026, from 6pm.
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Contributed
Rotaract, which stands for Rotary in Action, is a Rotary partnered service club for young people, aged 18 to about 30.
“Rotarians love having opportunities to listen to performers,” Alex said.
“When our performers actually got in contact with Rotary, the more we started to believe in the value of Rotary within the community.”
Songs at the Silos, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, is a free community celebration showcasing acclaimed performers, including Michael J Lapiña, Julia Allsop, Alex Pokryshevsky, and Eleanor Blythman.
Adding local flavour to the lineup is emerging artist Evie Scoble, who only embarked on her musical journey in 2020.
The family-friendly extravaganza kicks off at 6pm, welcoming attendees for an evening under the stars.
Organisers recommend bringing comfortable chairs, insect repellent and wide-brimmed hats for maximum outdoor enjoyment.
Food options will include gourmet barbecues, soft drinks and refreshments from a coffee van.
This smoke-free, vape-free, pet-free and alcohol-free celebration invites community members to pack picnic baskets and immerse themselves in musical performances against the backdrop of Rochester's iconic silos.
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