Australian Girls Choir
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The Australian Girls Choir is a choir best known for its involvement in the successful Qantas 'I still call Australia home' campaign. It was founded in 1984 by Judith Curphy, OAM in 1984.
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[edit] History
Founder and Director, Judith Curphey (OAM) established the Australian Girls Choir in 1984. The founding philosophy of the Australian Girls Choir is that every child can sing given the correct training, opportunity and encouragement[1].
The Choir began in 1984 with four probationary groups rehearsing weekly in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood. Within a year, the first Performing Choir had been formed from the original group of 150 girls. Chapters of the Australian Girls Choir were opened in South Australia in June 1984 and in New South Wales in February 1986. In 1987 the first Performing Choir Music School was held in Victor Harbor, South Australia and in 1989 the AGC undertook its first International Tour to Canada. The choir has now also expanded to Queensland.
By 2006 there were 18 rehearsal venues across 4 states, 46 tutors, 115 classes and 3,500 girls aged between 5 and 18.
[edit] Levels
The choir has recently changed the structure of its levels and now consists of eight levels. In order they are:
- Piccolo Level (previously Junior Music School 1)
- Vivo Level (previously Junior Music School 2)
- Allegro Level (previously called Probationary Level)
- Avanti Level (previously called Training Level)
- Prelude Level (previously called Reserve)
- Concert Choir
- Camerata (in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide). It replaced Cantabile, a specialist group (see below) drawn from the Concert Choir.
- Performing Choir
[edit] Specialist groups
These groups exist in most states where the Australian Girls Choir runs classes and were created to provide additional opportunities for choristers demonstrating exceptional vocal ability. Selected choristers are nominated by their tutor to be auditioned for a place in the specialist group relevant to their level and auditions are held at the start of each year
The groups are:
- Cantissimo (Girls of Piccolo Vivo and Algero - Melbourne and Adelaide only)
- Canto (Girls of Avanti and Prelude)
- Ballare (Girls of Performing Choir especially talented in dance)
- Bel Canto (Girls of Performing choir)
[edit] Performing Choir
The highest level in the choir, Performing Choir, has between 50-80 girls in each of the four choir states. Entry into Performing Choir is determined by audition of girls from Camerata and Concert Level. The Performing Choir consists of girls aged between 11-18 and rehearses weekly.They may stay for up to eight years, but must leave at the end of year 12.
[edit] Awards Night
At the end of each year in the week before the end of year Annual Concert the Performing Choir, the most senior level of the choir, holds an awards night. The evening celebrates the year that has passed, congratulates the present leaders, scholarship winners, Year 12 choristers and tutors, and is an exciting night for all choristers. The leaders and scholarship winners for the next year are announced, and encouragement awards are presented. All leadership positions, scholarships and awards are very important to choristers, with girls striving for excellence throughout their time in the choir in order to receive an award, especially for their final year. Girls who show commitment, dedication, general excellence, leadership, musicality and talent in performance, dance and voice are awarded.
The leadership positions include:
• Choir Leader • Four Section Leaders • Canto Conductor • Dance Leader
Scholarships include:
• The June Bronhill Encouragement Scholarship • The Jean Oliver Memorial Scholarship for Choir Leader • Alumni Scholarship for Spirit and Dedication • General Excellence • Outstanding Contribution • Outstanding Performer
[edit] Uniform
For many years the choir uniform comprised navy blue culottes, navy blue stockings, black lace up shoes and pale pink polo shirt (with embroidered choir logo) with navy blue embroidered jumper. This has since been changed to navy blue dance pants, navy polo shirt with magenta accents (with embroidered and updated logo), with a magenta polar fleece. Girls from the Training level upwards wear the uniform. Concert level choristers also receive a navy satchel emblazoned with the choir's logo.
Concert wear varies from level to level.
- Junior Music School. Party dresses for both the mid-year concert (the Winter Showcase) and the annual concert.
- Probationary. Party dresses for the mid-year concert (the Winter Showcase) and white dresses with pink sashes for the annual concert.
- Training. Uniform for the mid-year concert (the Winter Showcase) and white dresses with purple sashes for the annual concert.
- Prelude. A pink dress for both concerts. This costume is worn with black Jiffies and black stockings.
- Concert. A lilac dress, similar to the Prelude costume, with flesh coloured stockings and tan jazz ballet shoes for both concerts.
- Camerata. A bright pink costume, with flesh coloured stockings and tan jazz ballet shoes. This outfit is hard to describe but looks roughly like an all in one baggy pants suit.
- Performing. A purple costume, with flesh coloured stockings and tan jazz ballet shoes. This outfit is hard to describe but looks roughly like an all in one baggy pants suit.
[edit] Concerts
In addition to its many professional performances the choir performs in three annual concerts. The first, the Winter Showcase, involves choristers from every level and takes place mid-year in all states. The second, the Gala Spring Concert, involves Camerata and Performing Choir -- as well as Concert Level in Adelaide and Brisbane -- only. The final concert is the annual concert, involving choristers from every level of the choir and takes place in each state at the end of the year, generally the beginning of December. The Sydney annual concert is always held at the Sydney Opera House.
[edit] Tours
Since the first International Tour in 1989, The Australian Girls Choir has undertaken nine international and national tours. On these tours, the choir has performed in almost every corner of the globe including England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Wales, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand the USA and Canada as well as almost every state of Australia.
Tours include:
2007 - Tasmania and Victoria
2007 - USA
2006 - New South Wales, Canberra and Victoria
2006 - Italy, Prague, Austria, France and Thailand
2005 - South Australia and Western Australia
2004 - England, France, Italy, Vietnam
2004 - New South Wales, Canberra, Victoria
2003 - Northern Territory and Queensland
2002 - Queensland
2002 - Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand
2001 - Queensland
2000 - Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney
1999 - England, France, Germany, Thailand
1998 - Canberra and Sydney
1997 - England, Austria, Italy
1996 - Northern Territory
1995 - USA
1993 - England, Wales, France, Japan
1991 - USA
1989 - Canada
[edit] Performances
The choir is best recognised for its involvement in the highly successful Qantas "I Still Call Australia Home" advertising campaigns.
Past performances of the choir include:
- Boy From Oz with Hugh Jackman 2006
- Performance for Nelson Mandela at World Reconciliation Day Celebrations in Melbourne and Sydney
- State Reception Dinner for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
- Symphony of Angels with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- Mahler Symphony No. 8 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- The Ultimate Symphonic Spectacular with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
- World Vision International Women’s Day Dinner
- An evening with President Clinton for the Westmead Children’s Hospital
- ANZAC Day Service at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
- FINA Swimming Ceremonies 2007
- AFL Grand Final
- Bledisloe Cup
- Australian Grand Prix
- Melbourne and Adelaide Cup
- Soccer World Cup Qualifier
- Carols By Candlelight Channel 9
- Carols In The Domain Channel 7
- Good Morning Australia Channel 10
- Sunrise, Channel 7
- Today, Channel 9
- Mornings with Kerri-Anne, Channel 9
- Good Friday Appeal Variety Gala Channel 7
- Recording of the Channel 7 Olympic Theme
- Official Commemoration of the Centenary of Federation, Sydney
- Australian Citizenship Ceremonies
- World Vision Fundraising Dinner
- Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Dinner
- Make-A-Wish Foundation Dinner
- "Christmas in July" Spirit of Tasmania Annual Dinner
- Morning Melodies
The choir has also sung in many concert venues in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales and have performed in nine international and eight national tours.
[edit] G'Day LA
For the past four years the choir has been invited to perform and represent QANTAS at the Australia Week G'Day LA celebrations in America organised by Tourism Australia and QANTAS. In 2007 G'Day New York began and the choir travelled to both LA and NY to perform at various events. The choir invites 20 senior girls, mainly leaders and scholarship winners, from the four state venues to attend. This is an invitation choristers work hard for, and it is a highlight of their time in the choir.
[edit] References
[edit] Links
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