Australia's National Children's Choir - Gondwana Voices

Message from the Artistic Director

Gondwana National Choral School (NCS) provides the ideal opportunity for you to indulge your passion for choral music. You may aspire to a career as a leading choral conductor, have a desire to explore the world of choral composition or simply wish to experience the thrill of participating in one of the world's finest choirs for young people.

 

NCS is a unique community of people who share a passion for choral music. From the youngest chorister, experienced singer, aspiring conductor or composer, through to volunteers, administrators and all the artistic staff, everyone thrives in the atmosphere of joyful dedication to excellence in choral music.

 

In addition to our four great national choirs, 2013 will see the opening of the Gondwana Composer School to international participants and the launch of the Gondwana Conducting Academy. The Academy will run as part of NCS under renowned conductor Graeme Morton. The course, run in conjunction with the University of Queensland, may be taken as part of postgraduate studies through the University or simply as professional development.

 

 

Our special project this year will celebrate the centenary of Benjamin Britten's birth. The choirs will perform an all-Britten program at a special mid-week concert in addition to Prelude and Choral Kaleidoscope Concerts.

 

New to our artistic staff in 2013 will be Elise Bradley, Artistic Director of the famed Toronto Children's Chorus, Elizabeth Scott, conductor of the Sydney Philharmonia VOX Choir and Jenny Moon from Voices of Birralee.

 

I look forward to working with the combined choirs of NCS and will relish the opportunity to observe all the choirs, conductors, Composer School and Conducting Academy in action over the two weeks.


Lyn Williams OAM
Artistic Director & Founder

 

Each year in January, all of the choristers, composers and conductor interns from across Australia come together for National Choral School, an intensive and inspirational two week season led by the nation's finest musicians. In 2012, National Choral School was held at Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University, NSW. Following participation in National Choral School, choristers will have the opportunity to be selected for further exciting opportunities in our 2012 program.

Sing!

Our four choirs are the foundation of National Choral School: Gondwana Chorale, Gondwana Singers, Gondwana Voices and Junior Gondwana each have their own unique sound. National Choral School includes opportunities for the choirs to sing together in combined works. Special Guest Artists for 2012 were Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill from The Cat Empire. Together they presented workshops and wrote a work for the combined choirs of National Choral School.

Compose!

Gondwana Composer School is developing the next generation of choral composers in Australia. Following the tremendous success of the Gondwana Composer School in 2011, in 2012 we provided composers aged 15-21 with the opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed Australian choral composer Stephen Leek and Gondwana choristers to develop a broader understanding of choral music and singing, text setting and writing for different age groups. The Composer School is particularly suited to upper secondary and tertiary music students.

Conduct!

The Gondwana Conductor internship is an amazing experience for aspiring conductors aged 18 -25 to work with some of Australia's finest choral conductors at National Choral School. Interns have the unique opportunity to conduct the choirs of the school and gain valuable insights and instruction from the artistic team.

 

To apply

To apply, click here.


National Choral School 2013

Sing! Compose! Conduct!
Each year in January, all of the Gondwana choristers, composers and conducting academy participants come together for National Choral School, an intensive and inspirational two week season led by national and international musicians. In 2013, National Choral School will be held at Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University, NSW. Following participation in National Choral School, applicants will have the opportunity to be selected for further exciting opportunities in our 2013 program.

 

SING! - Four national choirs for young Australians
Our four choirs - Gondwana Chorale, Gondwana Singers, Gondwana Voices and Junior Gondwana - are the foundation of National Choral School. Click here to find out about each choir.

 

Dates

  • Gondwana Voices, Gondwana Singers & Gondwana Chorale: 7-20 January 2013
  • Junior Gondwana: 9-20 January 2013
  • Family Open Day: 12 January 2013

Performance

  • 3pm & 6pm, 19 January 2013, Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Cost

  • Gondwana Voices, Gondwana Singers & Gondwana Chorale $1,410*
  • Junior Gondwana $1,300*

COMPOSE!
Gondwana Composer School is developing the next generation of choral composers. Established in 2011, Composer School is directed by internationally acclaimed Australian choral composer Stephen Leek and is open to young people aged 15 - 21. Throughout the school, young composers will work with Stephen and Gondwana choristers to develop their understanding of choral music and singing, text setting and writing for different age groups. The Composer School is suited to upper secondary and tertiary music students and will be open to international applicants for the first time in 2013.
Dates   5-13 January 2013
Cost     $930*

 

CONDUCT!
Gondwana Conducting Academy offers choral conductors the means to establish new skills or to upgrade current skills. The program is offered as a stand-alone Professional Development opportunity, or as a course contributing to a Graduate Certificate or a Master of Music degree at the University of Queensland. During the Academy, participants benefit from general plenary sessions, rehearsal observation and conducting lessons with Graeme Morton as well as forums and discussions with the conductors and choristers of National Choral School. The Conducting Academy is open to international applicants aged 18 and over. The Academy is led by Graeme Morton, whose experience is among the most diverse of any choral conductor in Australia. He is currently a Conducting Fellow at the University of Queensland, Director of Choral Music at St John's Cathedral and Director of the Brisbane Chamber Choir.

 

Dates   7-20 January 2013


Cost     $1,410* (Participants attending as part of UQ MUSC6850 or the UQ Graduate Certificate in Music will be subject to a separate fee structure).

 

*Cost includes accommodation & meals on campus, excursions, ground transfers, t-shirt, music & tuition.  Please note that return transport from each chorister's home to Sydney airport at the beginning and end of the season and travel insurance are not included.

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We aim to make our programs accessible to all young Australians through our Bursary Program. Please tick the Financial Assistance box on the application form if you would like to receive assistance with your participation fees and travel costs.

 

 

NATIONAL CHORAL SCHOOL REHEARSAL OBSERVATION

National Choral School opened its doors once again in 2012 to enable interested music students and teachers to see Australia's finest young singers working with some of Australia's finest conductors. Rehearsal observation is available from time to time at Gondwana Choirs.
For more information, contact Allison Harrigan on
(02) 8274 7004 or email allison@gondwanachoirs.com.au