Information current as at DECEMBER 2006

Choir's Email Address: n/a

Choir's Website: www.vicnet.net.au/~esschor

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To provide an opportunity for those people in the community who wish to rehearse and perform worthwhile choral music, and to enhance and develop skills for this purpose; a number of members have formed a smaller group known as the Weekday Singers, who perform during the week, usually for various nursing homes and small local organisations

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1979

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 50-70 Desired: 70+

Musical Repertoire: Classical choral works - oratorios, sacred music and opera; light music - folk songs, sea shanties, Christmas carols

Musical Director: Greg Hocking

No. of years in current post: 17

Previous musical experience: Greg has conducted the Melbourne University Choral Society, Wahringah Symphony and Choral Society, Queensland Bach Society Choir, Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Youth Orchestra, and other musical organisations; professionally, Greg is an entrepreneur and theatrical producer and runs the Athenaeum Theatre and the Comedy Club; Greg regularly conducts operas, such as L'Elisir d'amore, and Verdi's A Masked Ball, for various Melbourne Opera companies, and has also conducted operas in Europe for the past several years

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Haydn Chamber Orchestra, Napier Chamber Orchestra, Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra, Box Hill Choral Society, Dandenong Choral Society, Preston Symphony Orchestra

Audition: No

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: No

Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $100 p.a. ($50 p.a. concession)

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday

Suburb: Essendon

Rehearsal venue: Penleigh and Essendon Grammar Junior School Hall

Off-street parking: No

Performance Apparel: Ladies - long black skirt, long-sleeved white blouse; Gents - Dinner suit, white shirt, black bow tie

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 2

Av. No. of Performances/year: 10

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Melbourne Town Hall, St John's Uniting Church (Essendon), St Monica's Catholic Church (Essendon), Essendon Civic Theatre, Camberwell Civic Theatre, St John's Church (Camberwell)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Elijah (Mendelssohn), selection of Australian folk songs used for Citizenship ceremonies - Country Places, Ballarat, Song of Australia, Gundagai, I Still Call Australia Home

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area, Regional Victoria

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: President, Secretary, Committee

Types of Committees: General Management, Fundraising

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes