Her Sound, Her Story: Building Community Through Music in the Wheatbelt

Experience the creativity, connection and community spirit of Her Sound, Her Story in this short documentary capturing Mirabilis Collective's four-month Wheatbelt music initiative.

From January to May 2026, Mirabilis Collective had the privilege of working alongside the communities of Narrogin and Wagin on one of the most ambitious and rewarding projects in our history.

Together, we created seven original songs, built a community choir and vocal ensemble, reached hundreds of people through schools and community engagement, and celebrated the voices and stories of women across the Wheatbelt.

Her Sound, Her Story began with a simple idea: to create opportunities for Wheatbelt women to tell their stories through music.

What followed became something much bigger.

Seven local women wrote original songs inspired by their lives, families, communities and experiences. Together with Mirabilis Collective, those songs were developed, arranged and brought to life through months of workshops, mentoring, rehearsals and creative collaboration.

The project culminated in two sold-out public performances, but the concerts were only one part of the story.

Throughout our residency we visited primary schools, aged care facilities and community organisations, sharing music with hundreds of people across the region. We watched strangers become collaborators, experienced musicians mentor emerging songwriters, and community members discover confidence they didn't know they possessed.

By the final performances, it was difficult to tell who had learnt the most.

At the heart of the project were seven original songs by Wheatbelt women.

Each songwriter brought something unique: stories of love, belonging, resilience, migration, hope, identity and place.

These songs were then reimagined for performance with Mirabilis Collective and the Her Sound, Her Story Vocal Ensemble, creating a powerful collaboration between local songwriters and professional musicians. A community choir, formed especially for the project, also featured throughout the concerts, joining Mirabilis Collective for the finale performance of Julia Nicholls’ Accelerate.

For many participants, it was the first time hearing their own music performed by professional musicians. For us, it was a privilege.

Although the project initially focused on mentoring young women, it quickly evolved into something beautifully intergenerational. Women in their twenties worked alongside women in their seventies. Experience met fresh perspectives. Stories crossed generations.

This became one of the defining strengths of Her Sound, Her Story.

It reminded us that creativity has no age limit, and that every generation has something valuable to contribute.

Community connection sat at the centre of every aspect of the residency.

From January to May 2026, Her Sound, Her Story delivered:

• 24 individual songwriting and mentoring workshops

• 32 workshop participants

• Seven original songs developed and performed

• Five community outreach performances in schools and aged care

• Two public concerts

• Approximately 450 people reached through community engagement

• Around 180 audience members across the public performances

Perhaps more importantly, participants described increased confidence, new friendships, creative growth and a renewed sense of belonging.

One participant wrote:

"A wonderful gift... bringing our voices to life."

Another reflected:

"I've learnt so very much... Best of all — THE JOY!!!"

Many also spoke about the importance of having meaningful arts experiences available locally, recognising how projects like this strengthen connection within regional communities.

Projects of this scale are never created by one organisation alone.

We are enormously grateful to Arts Narrogin, the Shires of Narrogin and Wagin, our funding partners — The Department of Creative, Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS), Synergy and Racing WA Community Giving Funds, volunteers, venues, production team, Regional Arts WA, WAAPA, and every individual who contributed their time, expertise and enthusiasm.

Most of all, thank you to every singer, songwriter and participant who trusted us with your stories. Your courage, generosity and creativity shaped this project.

The beginning of something bigger

Her Sound, Her Story has strengthened our belief in the power of regional partnerships and artist-led community collaboration. The relationships we've built, the stories we've shared, and the music we've created together will continue to shape Mirabilis Collective's work. As we now turn our attention to our next major project, Hear Her Now , we do so inspired by everything we've learnt in the Wheatbelt.

Hear Her Now(8–19 October 2026), will continue that vision, bringing together professional musicians from across Australia to celebrate 100 works by 100 women in Australia's first chamber music festival dedicated entirely to music by women.

About the Author
Stephanie Nicholls is the Artistic Director and founder of Mirabilis Collective, an oboist, pianist, and advocate for women in music. She founded the ensemble in 2022 to champion works by women composers and mentor young women musicians entering the profession.