Information current as at JANUARY 2005

(03) 9587 3600 / 9587 0170 (BH)

Choir's Email Address: ncca@labyrinth.net.au

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: The National Children's Choir and Youth Chorale of Australia (NCCA) prides itself in offering an exemplary program, catering fully for both male and female singers up to 21 years of age and beyond; the NCCA provides its choristers with a broad musical experience encompassing theoretical and aural training, as well as vocal and performance technique; staff endeavour to model musical excellence, and to share with their choristers their passion for music and commitment to the organisation; the NCCA aims to contribute to the musical and personal development of each chorister, and to foster their sense of worth as an individual and a member of a team

Voice type: SATB, treble/children's voices

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1993

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 500 (as at late 2004) Desired:

Musical Repertoire: Music sung by the NCCA is selected because it is fun to sing, often has enticing melodies, improves musical skills and knowledge, and has audience-friendly qualities; quality arrangements of modern music, including songs from music theatre and films, and traditional choral music are sung; a wide range of music is performed, from unison to 6 part, written by composers from different centuries and nationalities, including music from the great masters

Musical Director: Tricia Brewer

No. of years in current post: 2.5

Previous musical experience: Tricia has studied music at the Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian Catholic University, where she majored in voice; she has completed a Kodaly music education course at Queensland University and has trained with numerous conducting specialists, including Rodney Eichenberger; Tricia performs on several instruments including drums, and bass and electric guitar; she has sung lead roles in musicals and regularly performs at weddings and community events; Tricia began her training as a chorister rising to the highest level of her community choir over 10 years, often performing as a soloist; she has been involved in numerous high profile performances, made recordings and been on television many times; Tricia was chosen from over 200 choristers to participate in an inaugural United States tour and was awarded the Sir Murray McInerney Scholarship for Excellence, her choir's highest award; Tricia has conducted all levels of the NCCA over the past 10 years and has been Music Director temporarily on 2 occasions, before becoming Artistic Director in 2002

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Australian Youth Band Southern Stars, Melbourne Youth Symphonic Band, Springvale Bicentennial Youth Concert Band, Salvation Army Band, Victoria Police Band, Diamond Valley Brass Band, City of Dandenong Municipal Band, Malvern Municipal Band, Bayside City Brass Band, City of Kingston Combined Bands, Moorabbin Brass Band, Liedertafel Arion (German men's choir) and St Gregorius (Dutch men's choir)

Audition: Yes - Children from 7 years (at least Grade 2) to youth aged 20 years may attend an audition to join the NCCA; these auditions are relaxed and friendly, and parents may attend if desired; children in primary school need no experience, however those who are older need some background in music; no preparation is necessary; contact the NCCA office for an appointment

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes - 80% of weekly rehearsals and all special concert dress rehearsals; members of the NCCA's SATB youth choir are required to attend about 3 Saturday rehearsals per year, one mid week rehearsal per term at another chapter (venue other than the usual weekly venue) and 1 weekend music camp per year

Minimum Attendance policy - Concerts: Yes - some concerts are compulsory, from the third level

Membership Fees: Joining Fee - $33 plus term fees; for up to date details of term fees, please see the NCCA web site (link above); a "money back guarantee" is offered

Ability to read music: Levels 1 and 2 - Not necessary; Level 3 - Desirable (children's performing choir), Some ability essential (SATB/youth performing choir)

Sight-reading ability: Levels 1 and 2 - Not necessary; Level 3 - Desirable (children's performing choir), Highly desirable (SATB/youth performing choir)

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual Rehearsal Nights, Suburbs and Rehearsal Venues: Monday - Berwick Anglican Church; Tuesday - Keysborough Christian Centre; Wednesday - Langwarrin Reformed Church; Thursday - Rowville Baptist Church

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Level 1 - "best clothes"; Levels 2 & 3 - black shoes, black NCCA trousers/skirt, NCCA polo shirt; Level 3 - youth choir - in addition, a robe, collar and skivvy

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 4

Av. No. of Performances/year: 12 - shared amongst the NCCA's children's choirs and its youth choir; Choristers in Levels 1 and 2 generally do not participate in public performances, but perform in NCCA concerts

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Robert Blackwood Hall, Frankston Cultural Centre, Victoria Police Chapel, Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, Melbourne Park, Crown Entertainment Complex including Palladium Ballroom, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Windsor Hotel, National Gallery of Victoria, Como Park, Melbourne City Square, Southbank, Federation Square, carol boats on the Yarra River

Examples of musical pieces performed: Modern music rehearsed and/or performed in last 6 months (to August 2004): I'm a Believer (Neil Diamond, from the film Shrek), Pure Imagination (Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), You Light Up My Life (Joe Brooks), Best of the Beach Boys (medley), a medley from the musical Les Miserables, River (Morricone, from the film The Mission), medley from the film Forrest Gump, Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, from the musical West Side Story), Disco Fever (medley), Under the Southern Skies (Halloran and Millward, from the 2000 Sydney Olympics);

Classical music rehearsed and/or performed in last 6 months (to August 2004): I Will Sing with the Spirit (Rutter), Ave Maria (Gounard/Bach), Humming Chorus (Puccini's Madame Butterfly), Thanks be to God (Mendelssohn's Elijah), Dies Irae (Verdi's Requiem), Gloria (Vivaldi), Ave Verum (Mozart), Zadok the Priest (Handel), Behold Now Praise the Lord (William H. Harris), Mon Coeur S'ouvre a ta Voix (Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah), Gloria in Excelsis (Bach's Mass in B Minor), Papageno (Mozart's The Magic Flute), Kyrie Eleison (Faure's Messe Basse), Dies Irae (Mozart's Requiem), Hallelujah Chorus (Handel's Messiah)

Touring: No - Whilst the NCCA recognises the benefits for choristers, it does not wish to impose substantial financial burdens on families; it is also concerned that members whose parents cannot afford for them to be involved in a tour, may feel they are not an integral part of the team

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: The NCCA is led by its Managing Director, Dawn Brewer, who has had over 20 years' experience in the choral industry as a teacher, conductor, administrator and parent; Dawn is advised by an Artistic Director and a co-ordinated team of conductors, all of whom are experts in their field and are highly respected (Conductor profiles are available on the NCCA web site - see link above)

Own collection of music scores: Yes - Treble and SATB

Available for hire to other groups: Occasionally

Hiring fees apply: Yes