Information current as at AUGUST 2010

Belinda Ashe, Manager, (03) 9818 4818 (BH)

Choir's Email Address: info@australianboyschoir.com.au

Choir's Website: www.australianboyschoir.com.au

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To inspire and celebrate choral excellence, to provide the highest standards of choral music training and performance, enabling individuals to realise their potential

Voice type: Children's - Boys

Choir performs: Both accompanied & unaccompanied

Year Choir formed: 1939

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 30 Desired: 35

Musical Repertoire: The Choir's repertoire ranges over six centuries of international choral music, demonstrating and celebrating the richness and diversity of Australia's cultural heritage; contemporary Australian works are regularly added to the repertoire, in addition to new works which reflect the countries visited on tours

Musical Director: Noel Ancell

No. of years in current post: since 1985

Previous musical experience: MA, BMus(Hons), BEd, FTCL, MACE; Noel is the current Artist Director, is well-known throughout Australia and internationally as a conductor, composer and teacher

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: The Choir has provided music for the sound tracks of several internationally acclaimed films, including the Oscar-nominated film ‘Elizabeth', and ‘The Dish'; in addition to frequent performances and tours within Australia, the Choir has undertaken 13 overseas tours, to great acclaim; highlights include selection to represent Australia in Japan in celebrations leading up to the Winter Olympics in 1997, representing Australia at the prestigious AmericaFest festival of men's and boys' choirs in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and in 2000 the boys took part in a millennium choral festival at the Vatican in Rome; the boys have worked under many international conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Jorge Mester, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Noam Sheriff, Sir John Hopkins, Richard Divall and Sir Bernard Heinze, and with such great orchestras as the Israel Philharmonic and Melbourne Symphony; the Choir has appeared frequently on national television and radio, with Opera Australia and with the Australian Ballet

Audition: Yes - Auditions are held 3 times p.a. for boys aged 7˝ - 9 years

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: Tuition fees per term, annual camp fee

Ability to read music: Boys do not need specific skills before joining the training choirs; members of The Australian Boys Choir are highly trained and have excellent sight-reading skills

Sight-reading ability: see above

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1 beginners, 2 advanced

Usual rehearsal night(s): Monday, Tuesday, Friday

Suburb: Hawthorn

Rehearsal venue: The Auburn Uniting Church

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Concert dress is owned and maintained by the Choir

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 4

Av. No. of Performances/year: 8

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: BMW The Edge, St Paul's Cathedral, ABC Iwaki Auditorium

Examples of musical pieces performed: Gloria (Rutter), pieces by Sculthorpe & Leek, Golden Vanity Children's Opera

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area/Regional Victoria/Interstate/Overseas

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Board of Management, Artistic Director, Manager

Types of Committees: n/a

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes