The Contemporary Singers

The Contemporary Singers of Australia were a chamber choir based in Sydney, New South Wales, dedicated to the choral music of the 20th century. The group was formed in late 1986 by visiting Canadian composer David Colwell, with modest assistance from the University of Sydney and the NSW State Conservatorium of Music. Colwell directed it until the middle of 1987, when the leadership passed to Antony Walker and Elliott Gyger, who directed the Singers until 1999. Many of the original members were young composers including Gyger, Stephen Adams, Matthew Hindson, Canadian composer Jana Skarecky, and virtuoso recorderist Ian Shanahan.

The Contemporary Singers varied in size between 12 and 30 voices, and developed a repertoire of over 70 works by about 55 different composers, giving Australian premiere performances of many significant works for chamber choir. Some members also sang with the Sydney Chamber Choir and subsequently with Walker's professional choir Cantillation.

Their first recording, Sydney Dreaming (ABC Classics 454 510-2, 1996) showcased Anne Boyd's As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams and Veni sancte spiritus--veni creator by Jennifer Fowler, and they are featured in Raffaele Marcellino's commission for the Sydney Olympic Games, Heart of Fire (ABC 465 948-2, 2000). Their recording of Nigel Butterley's The True Samaritan on There Came a Wind Like a Bugle (Tall Poppies TD142, 2001) won best vocal or choral work of the year in 2003.

Awards and nominations

APRA-AMC Classical Music Awards

The APRA-AMC Classical Music Awards are presented annually by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australian Music Centre (AMC).^[1]

Additional References

• CD booklet notes, Sydney Dreaming by The Contemporary Singers and Antony Walker, ABC Classics 454 510-2.

• Stephen Adams (Aurora Festival of Living Music)
• Elliott Gyger (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music)
• Matthew Hindson (Faber Music)
• Jana Skarecky (Royal Conservatory of Music)
• Cantillation (Chamber Choir)