Gondwana National Choirs

Bravo to Sam Allchurch for this wonderful appointment as Director of Music at Christ Church St Laurence, and also for his new position as Gondwana Choirs' Associate Artistic Director - inspiring choral singing for people of all ages - congratulations Sam!

We're hiring! Could this be you?
A rare opportunity for someone with an appreciation and understanding of choral music; outstanding management skills; and the capacity to thrive in an always busy environment.
Gondwana Choirs seeks expressions of interest from applicants either wishing to be considered for the Festival Producer position (part time, fixed term) or Artistic Producer (part time, ongoing), or for both positions on a full-time basis for a fixed term. These roles work closely with Artistic Director Lyn Williams OAM, to effectively plan and oversee implementation of the organisation’s extensive training and performance program.

University of NSW - our hosts for #NationalChoralSchool 2019 have their open day coming up soon. Details here.. https://www.facebook.com/unsw/

Applications are open for National Choral School, Composer School and Conducting Academy. https://secure.gondwana.org.au/apply-ncs2 019/

At this January's Gondwana Composer School, emerging composers will have the golden opportunity to learn from one of the country's finest composers - Paul Stanhope, composer In this video Stanhope's "The Acrobat" is performed at National Choral School by Gondwana Voices. https://www.gondwana.org.au/choirs/ncs-20 19/…

Chorister Jesse, who has plenty of experience over six years of gaining acceptance into National Choral School, gives his Top Ten Tips for a winning audition... https://www.gondwana.org.au/…/a-winning -audition-10-top-ti…/

Lachlan our artistic coordinator has just added this Runestad "Come to the Woods" video to our YouTube channel. Performed by Gondwana Chorale at #NationalChoralSchool this year. Lachlan highly recommends this one for when you have a spare 12 minutes, so sit back and enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_oSeilBM jc

With #NationalChoralSchool auditions soon to begin, we asked Kim Sutherland OAM, who runs the Newcastle auditions, what she'll be hoping to see in candidates: "I will be looking for a clear singing voice and the ability to sing in tune. Some sight singing ability is also important," she said.
Kim added that, although having had singing lessons is not essential, some experience of singing in a choir would be helpful.
Members of Kim's Hunter Singers have been to past Schools ...and she says they loved the experience and that there was a tremendous culture of support. "My singers have found the experience life-changing. their skills developed enormously over the two weeks." In the picture - Kim conducting at National Choral School.
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Know a young person aged 18-25 who wants to take the next step in their career? Create NSW Young Creative Leaders Fellowships are open. Apply now for up to $10,000 http://bit.ly/2NFQUXt Applications close 17 Aug 2018. #CreateinNSW

What an achievement! Luke Byrne has won the Best Musical Award for 'Between The Sea and Sky' following its performance at the recent New York Musical Festival. Luke has had a long association with #NationalChoralSchool and Gondwana’s choirs as a pianist, commissioned composer and Composer-in- Residence.
Among his compositions enjoyed by Gondwana is Desert Sea, which is performed in this video by Gondwana Chorale at National Choral School 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...v=j0RbpR FEcTU
Experienced and emerging composers will find a wealth of knowledge and inspiration at this year’s Gondwana Composer School – an Associated Project at National Choral School. https://www.gondwana.org.au/…/gondwana- composer-school-2019/
Between the Sea and Sky was commissioned by MLC School. Its other awards were Best Director, Best Music, Best Ensemble (full cast award), and Best Overall Design. http://www.nymf.org/festival/2018-events/ between-sea-and-sky
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You too could shine among the Stars! This is a Festival of Summer Voices concert performance from the last #NationalChoralSchool. Apply here..closing soon! https://www.gondwana.org.au/choirs/ncs-20 19/
Gather the Stars (Brinsmead) was specially commissioned for National Choral School and premiered by Gondwana Chorale & Gondwana National Choirs Singers, conducted by Carl Crossin. Lyrics are drawn from "Stars, Songs, Faces" by American poet Carl Sandberg, and it reflects the poem's themes of optimism, love, and impermanence.

It's not too late to join National Choral School 2019. From all around the country young singers come here to make music and memories that will last a lifetime. Applications closing...don't miss out. https://www.gondwana.org.au/choirs/ncs-20 19/

Ryan, Sophie, James and Lotti are great ambassadors for National Choral School. The young ones who are all turning up again for next NCS are throwing down the welcome mat and say there are plenty of reasons to head for Sydney and join the fun.
Ryan: “It is a really great environment where you can make friends from all around Australia. The songs you learn will stay with you for many years!”
James: “I love the incredible opportunity to sing with amazing choristers from across ...Australia and to be sorted in choirs, all producing beautiful music, regardless of age.”
Sophie: “The thing I love most is the people, the bonds that I’ve made are tighter than lots of the people I’ve been at school with. Everyone is friendly, and the community is very open. Making music is better when the people you do it with are better.”
Lottie: “I love the opportunity to sing a lot of new repertoire from around the world as it is really interesting. I also really enjoyed being able to choose an elective as it really expanded my knowledge on musical theatre which I could apply to activities I pursued after NCS. It is an incredible experience that allows you to work with incredible conductors, but it is also lots of fun.”
Applications close Monday - https://www.gondwana.org.au/choirs/ncs-20 19/
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This Saturday night at City Recital Hall, the Sydney Chamber Choir celebrates the 75th birthday of Ross Edwards, one of Australia’s greatest composers. The Sydney Chamber Choir will be joined by Synergy Percussion - the country’s leading percussion ensemble. Together SCC and Synergy perform some of Ross Edwards’ most joyous pieces for voices and percussion, alongside music by two of the composers who have most inspired him: Hildegard von Bingen and Peter Sculthorpe. The ense...mbles also perform works of Paul Stanhope and Clare Maclean - composers who have in turn found inspiration in Ross’s dancing rhythms and transcendent harmonies – and two newly commissioned pieces by young Australian composers Josephine Gibson and Olivia Swift. Conductors are Sam Allchurch, Paul Stanhope and Nicholas Routley. Info & Bookings - https://www.cityrecitalhall.com/ev…/cel ebrating-ross-edwards
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Memories from #NationalChoralSchool 2018. Put yourself in the picture for 2019 and apply now. Applications close Monday.https://www.gondwana.org.au/choirs /ncs-2019/

In at Fine Music 102.5 this morning Bernie Heard and Jerome Studdy spoke with presenter Simon Moore about all the news from #NationalChoralSchool - Listen here - https://bit.ly/2LOs0aQ Accompanying the interview was music by Kenneth Lampl - Lie Light Dear Heart performed by Gondwana mass treble choirs and On The Night Train by Joseph Twist, performed by Gondwana Chorale.

Tune in to Fine Music 102.5 at 8am tomorrow and catch our Executive Director Bernie Heard talking to Simon Moore about National Choral School 2019. Jerome Studdy, a chorister who notches up 10 years at Choral School, joins the interview to tell us what has kept him coming back year after year. Here's a pic from Trinity Church, New York where Jerome performed with Gondwana Chorale - the touring choir was chosen from National Choral School choristers.