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 consists of 7 levels, with a number of specialist groups. The levels, in order, are:
- Junior Music School (levels one and two)
- Probationary
- Training
- Prelude (previously called Reserve)
- Concert Choir
- Camerata (in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide). It replaced Cantabile, a specialist group 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 Junior Music School and Probationary - not in Sydney)
- Canto (Girls of Training and Prelude)
- Ballare (Girls of Performing Choir especially talented in dance)
- Bel Canto (Girls of Performing choir)
[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 fleecy jacket. Girls from the Probationary level upwards wear the uniform.
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 costume for both concerts. This costume is worn with black Jiffies and black stockings. The costume is known affectionately to parents as "that pink sack dress".
- Concert. A long lilac dress, 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 one, called 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 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 and coincidentally always seems to take place the weekend after the Australian Idol grand final.
[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
- 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
The choir has also sung in many concert venues in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales and have performed in eight international and seven national tours.
[edit] Links
FINA Swimming Ceromonies 2007
