Information current as at SEPTEMBER 2004

Choir's Email Address: info@mglc.org.au

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To strive for musical excellence and provide members with a supportive and welcoming environment that allows for enjoyable learning and performing experiences; to promote a positive image of the gay and lesbian lifestyle

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1990

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 65 Desired: No upper limit

Musical Repertoire: Ranges from traditional choral music to contemporary, gospel and show tunes; accompanied by various instruments and some choreographed movements

Musical Director: Adrian Kirk

No. of years in current post: 3 years

Previous musical experience: Completed his Bachelor of Music at the University Of Melbourne in 1998, studying piano with Dr Ian Holtham and conducting with renowned Australian conductor Graham Abbott; past musical director and conductor for the Monash University Choral Society, the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Melbourne Faculty of Music Choir; in 1999, musical director of several productions - 'The Brian Stacey Memorial Concert' at the Melbourne Concert Hall, the Australian premiere of 'A Portrait of Love', St Martin's Theatre production of 'Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude', and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Tell me on a Sunday'; since 1998, Adrian has closely collaborated with Melbourne based composer Lindsay Brunsdon and the NOW Ensemble, as musical director and conductor of his opera 'Joy', and in the 1999 premiere of the cycle of drinking songs 'I fell into a Cauldron' at Melba Hall; Adrian also conducted the 'Choralissimo' concert, a combined concert with the NOW Ensemble and the University of Melbourne Faculty of Music Choir; in 1999 and 2000, he conducted 'Three Parrots', a concert of new works by Brunsdon performed by the ensemble; in 2000, for the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, Andrew conducted musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music in the premiere of Johanna Selleck's chamber work 'Becoming', specially commissioned by the festival and recorded by the ABC; selected as one of the final candidates by Opera Australia Musical Director, Simone Young, as her "conductor in training" for 2001; in December 2000, Musical Director for a cast of 24 young musical theatre singers in a concert series 'Intimate Acquaintances' at the Malthouse Theatre, and accepted to audition for Symphony Australia's 2001 Conductor's Development Program; in 2001, accepted into the Masters of Music in Performance (Conducting) at the Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne, studying under Professor John Hopkins and co-ordinating the Opera Project Program; also conducted Michael Nyman's Chamber Opera 'Letters, Riddles and Writs' for the Port Fairy Music Festival

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Victoria Chorale, Petrunka, Melbourne Voices, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir, Canberra Gay & Lesbian Qwire, Adelaide Singers, Wollongong Lesbian & Gay Solidarity qUoir, Brisbane Gay & Lesbian Choir

Audition: Yes - a 4 week trial, followed by an audition - sing a song, short aural and rhythm exercises

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: Singing Member $200 p.a. ($160 p.a. conc.); Non-Singing (Associate) Member $10 p.a.

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Wednesday; in addition, sectional rehearsals held on a monthly basis by arrangement

Suburb: Richmond

Rehearsal venue: Ruskin Hall, Melba Conservatorium of Music

Off-street parking: Yes, approximately 20 spaces

Performance Apparel: Black shirt, black trousers or skirt, black shoes

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 2

Av. No. of Performances/year: 8

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: local churches, libraries, hospitals, theatres, civic centres, outdoor festivals, city plazas, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Town Hall, ABC Iwaki Auditorium, National Gallery of Victoria's Great Hall and Macarthur Gallery, Royal Exhibition Buildings, St Paul's Cathedral, Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Town Hall, ABC Eugene Goosens Hall (Sydney), Llewellyn Hall (Canberra), Elder Hall (Adelaide), Sydney Opera House, BMW Edge (Federation Square), The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (Federation Square), and in Europe, Vienna's Karlskirche Cathedral and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw

Examples of musical pieces performed: Rutter's Requiem, Gay & Lebian Icons, Show tunes, African/Ethnic folk songs

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

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Committee of Management, comprising the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, 2 Asst Musical Directors, Public Relations Officer, Sectional Leaders

Types of Committees: Fundraising/Social, Administration/Management, Concert Production, Publicity, Music Programming, Sponsorship/Grants

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: considered upon request