Information current as at MARCH 2008

Choir's Email Address: dacaposingers@yahoo.com.au

Choir's Website: www.geocities.com/dacaposingers/

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To perform choral music to a high quality and to facilitate and promote the performance and appreciation of choral music in the community; we aim to perform choral music from a variety of styles, eras and cultures with a particular emphasis on supporting original music written by Australian composers

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1997

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 17 Desired: 20-24 (5-6 voices per section)

Musical Repertoire: A broad range of quality music from all styles and periods of music; currently focusing on contemporary Australian music

Musical Director: Simon Loveless

No. of years in current post: since Jan 2007

Previous musical experience: BMus (Melb), LMusA (Piano); Simon is currently the director of the RMIT Concert Choir and the Da Capo Singers; previously he has directed the Berwick Youth Choir Chamber Singers, and was assistant musical director of the Cranbourne Chorale; Simon works primarily as an accompanist, and in that role has worked with many of Melbourne's choirs; currently he is accompanist and tutor at Berwick Youth Choir and Yarra Ranges Children's Choir; in addition to his activities as a conductor and accompanist, Simon sings in the Melbourne Chamber Choir, and serves on the ANCA Victorian State Committee

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Berwick Youth Choir, Kodaly Choral festivals, Dandenong Ranges Music Council Centenary of Federation project, Maroondah Symphony Orchestra, Yarra Valley Singers, Yarra Ranges Childrens Choir, Cecilian Singers, Concordis

Audition: Yes - based on musical literacy, aural skills, voice quality; previous choral experience desirable

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $50/quarter ($40 conc.)

Ability to read music: Essential

Sight-reading ability: Highly desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Sunday

Suburb: Berwick

Rehearsal venue: Berwick Masonic Hall, High Street

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Black, with red tie or scarf (provided), choir polo shirt for some casual performances

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 2

Av. No. of Performances/year: 5-10

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Melbourne Concert Hall, Christ Church (Berwick), Sale Cathedral, Storey Hall (RMIT) (Choralfest 2000), Coatesville Uniting Church, Robert Blackwood Hall (Kodaly Choral Festival), Clover Cottage, eisteddfods including Waverley and Royal South Street (Ballarat), Melba Hall, Wesley College, Xavier College Chapel

Examples of musical pieces performed: Three Australian Bush Songs (Grandage), Four Romantic Choruses (Brumby), Hush (Grandage), Morning Song For The Christ Child (Sculthorpe), Rockin Jerusalem (Thomas), I'm Gonna Sing 'Til The Spirit Moves In My Heart (Hogan), Sail Away (Dalglish), A Gaelic Blessing (Rutter), Cantique De Jean Racine (Faure)

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

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: The choir is an Incorporated Association

Types of Committees: Management Committee, sub-committees are formed around specific projects as required

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes