Information current as at MARCH 2007

Choir's Email Address: rmp@rmp.org.au

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To promote the knowledge, love and performance of fine music, especially choral music

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied (usually by orchestra)

Year Choir formed: 1853

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 160 Desired: 200

Musical Repertoire: Mainly oratorios, but also other choral works - classical, sacred, operatic, contemporary

Musical Director: Andrew Wailes - 0412 158 247 musicdirector@rmp.org.au

No. of years in current post: 8 (previously Deputy Director)

Previous musical experience: Widely regarded as one of Australia's leading conductors specializing in choral and symphonic choral repertoire; has been Conductor of Melbourne University Choral Society (MUCS) since 1992, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra since 1998, Principal Guest Conductor of the Australian Classical Players Orchestra, Musical Director of the Box Hill Chorale (since 1995), a former Conductor and Life Member of the Monash University Choral Society, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Australian Children's Choir (since 1999); currently directs ACU St Patrick's Choir and Monash University's Viva Voce Choir; Guest Conductor of ensembles such as Chamber Made Opera, Lyric Opera of Melbourne; has been chorusmaster for groups including Kirov Opera, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Perth and Melbourne International Festivals, Australian Intervarsity Festival Choir (all states), Australian Youth Orchestra, etc; has appeared as Guest Conductor of orchestras including Orchestra Victoria, Camerata Academica Freiburg (Germany), Monash Chamber Orchestra, the Victorian College of the Arts Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Sinfonia, the Christchurch Sinfonia (New Zealand), Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Stonnington Symphony Orchestra, and has directed student ensembles at Melbourne University, Monash University, Australian Catholic University and the Victorian College of the Arts; a regular Guest Conductor of various orchestras and choirs at summer schools around the country; he has appeared with major choirs from the USA, Sweden, Canada, England, South Africa, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand as Guest Conductor; founder and Artistic Director of the Melbourne Festival of Children's Choirs, and is in demand throughout Victoria as a workshop leader, guest conductor and adjudicator; as singer, he has performed with groups such as Opera Australia, National Youth Choir of Australia, Past Echoes Early Music Group, IHOS Opera, various RSCM choirs, and numerous professional recording ensembles

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Melbourne University Choral Society, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Chamber Orchestra, Australian Classical Players; RMPS supports Primelife Independent Classics, and has been a foundation participant in their seasons

Audition: Yes - sing an "own choice" song, scales, arpeggios, basic ear and rhythm tests, basic sight-reading

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes - members are required to apply for leave if absence is to be extensive, and re-audition on return Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $220 p.a. (full), $150 p.a. (conc.), $100 p.a. (for students under 26), refundable once-only music deposit of $50

Ability to read music: Essential

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday

Suburb: Melbourne

Rehearsal venue: Drill Hall, 239 A'Beckett St (opp. Flagstaff Gardens)

Off-street parking: No

Performance Apparel: Ladies - long-sleeved blouse or shirt (usually black), long black skirt or full culottes; Gents - Dinner suit and black bow tie; All - black shoes and hose; black music covers

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 5-6

Av. No. of Performances/year: 7-10

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Melbourne Town Hall, Robert Blackwood Hall, St Patrick's Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, St Mary's Church (West Melbourne), IGGS Auditorium, West Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Costa Hall (Geelong), Sacred Heart Cathedral (Bendigo)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Te Deum (Kodaly), Elijah (Mendelssohn), Choral Fantasia (Beethoven), Messiah (Handel - performed at least once every year since 1853), Requiem (Mozart), Requiem (Faure), Requiem (Durufle), Te Deum (Dvorak), Stabat Mater (Dvorak), Requiem (Verdi), War Requiem (Britten), participant in Mahler's Eighth Symphony ("Symphony of a Thousand"), Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection" - Mahler), Requiem (Sculthorpe), St John Passion (Bach), The Bells (Rachmaninov), Symphony of Psalms (Stravinsky), Carmina Burana (Orff)

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area/Regional Victoria

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Committee, Sub-committees and working groups

Types of Committees: Social, Fundraising, Planning, Commissions

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes, depending on relationship/circumstances