Information current as at SEPTEMBER 2009

Choir's Email Address: exaudiyouthchoir@gmail.com

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: The choir's goal is to provide rewarding musical experiences for young singers and improve their musicianship skills through high calibre performances of excellent music; it supports Australian composers, especially young composers developing their craft; the choir seeks to build bridges with other organisations and further develop the choral arts in Australia; members are 18-28 years of age, and are music students at various tertiary schools or graduates from secondary school music programmes who want to keep singing with people of their own age group; the choir has an "open door" policy and invites potential members or interested conductors to attend rehearsals

Voice type: Children's/Youth (SATB)

Choir performs: Both accompanied & unaccompanied

Year Choir formed: 2007

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 30 Desired: 40-50

Musical Repertoire: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th and 21st century, Australian, spirituals and some world music; the choir tries to commission and encourage new compositions

Musical Directors: Robert Stewart and Claire Preston

No. of years in current post: since 2007

Previous musical experience:

Claire is Head of Choral Studies at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School; a conductor of Gondwana Chorale; guest conductor of Sydney Children's Choir; former head accompanist and coach of Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus; former accompanist for Canada’s longest running professional choir, the Elmer Iseler Singers; she has served as accompanist for Sir David Willcocks, Helmut Rilling, Lydia Adams and Doreen Rao

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Festival of Voices (Hobart), VCA Orchestra, Australian Pops Orchestra, Arden Crescent Concert Series, Victorian Music Teachers Association, University of Newcastle Chamber Choir, Birralee Blokes, Australian Society of Music Educators

Audition: Yes - contact the choir for an audition and to attend a rehearsal

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $5 per rehearsal to cover rental of hall and music purchasing

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable but willing to train

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Monday

Suburb: Richmond

Rehearsal venue: Richmond Uniting Church, 314 Church St (cnr Church and Bridge Road)

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Women: black dress/skirt, black shoes and black hose with purple flower (provided); Men: black trousers, black shirt, black shoes with purple tie (provided)

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 4-6

Av. No. of Performances/year: 6

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Melba Hall (University of Melbourne), Hobart Town Hall, Melbourne Town Hall, Richmond Uniting Church, Monsalvat

Examples of musical pieces performed: Mass in G (Schubert), Regina Coeli (Mozart), I carry your heart with me (van Teinen), Ubi caritas (Durufle), Jauchzet dem Herrn (Mendelssohn), Waltzing Matilda (Philips), J'Entends le Moulin (Patriquin), Tshotsholosa (traditional), Mickmaq Honour Song (Adams), Red Earth (Leek), Jabula Jesu (Hatfield), Exsultate Justi (da Viadana), Choral Fantasia (Beethoven), Dona Nobis Pacem (Vaughan Williams), Festive Alleluia (Nickson), Wheatbelt (Grandage)

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

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Committee of Management

Types of Committees: a committee structure is being put in place

Own collection of music scores: No