Information current as at AUGUST 2005

(03) 5277 9768 (AH)

Choir's Email Address: pandapil@tpg.com.au

Choir's Website: www.thegeelongchorale.org.au

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To sing high quality choral music in and around Geelong, at a high standard

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both accompanied & unaccompanied

Year Choir formed: 1953

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 32 Desired: 30-45

Musical Repertoire: Classical

Musical Director: Rick Prakhoff

No. of years in current post: 10

Previous musical experience: A classical guitarist, singer and conductor of choirs, orchestras, contemporary ensembles, opera and musical theatre; past Chorus Master and singer for the Australian Opera in Perth; has sung with the WA Opera Company as a soloist and chorus member; past Musical Director of the Victorian Youth Orchestra, the Monash Undergraduate Choral Society and Monash Chorale; from 1995 to 1998 he successfully auditioned for 1 of 8 of the Westfield Young Conductor of the Year Competition and Course; has conducted the Adelaide and Queensland Symphony Orchestras and the State Orchestra of Victoria in workshops; in Melbourne, Rick has performed widely with a number of orchestras, choirs and musical theatre companies; in 2000 he conducted La Bohème with Eastern Metropolitan Opera; in June 2004, he conducted the Australian premiere of English composer Michael Nyman's opera The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, with Opera Live

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Local and other orchestras, open rehearsal with local and regional choirs, St Cecilia's (Ballarat)

Audition: Yes - scales for voice range and pitch, sight-reading test

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $135 p.a. ($75 membership fee, $60 concert fee)

Ability to read music: Highly desirable

Sight-reading ability: Highly desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Monday

Suburb: Highton

Rehearsal venue: St Luke's Uniting Church

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Ladies - long sleeved white shirt, long black skirt or slacks; Gents - Dinner suit

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 4

Av. No. of Performances/year: 6-8

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: All Saints (Newtown), St Paul's (Geelong), Alcoa Hall, Ford Theatre, Belmont Freemason's Centre, Kirrewar Court, Art Gallery

Examples of musical pieces performed: Mass in D (Dvorak), Vespers (Rachmaninoff), Ave Verum (Mozart), Missa Brevis (Palestrina)

Touring: No

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Management Committee - 7 members and ex-officio Librarian

Types of Committees: Music Selection, Fundraising, Special Performance

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes