Information current as at MAY 2007

Pauline Betson, President

Wendy Sharpe, Secretary, (03) 9898 4840 (BH)

Choir's Email Address: Helen.Burns@mh.org.au

Choir's Website: n/a

Vision statement / Artistic goals: A community choir open to all who enjoy singing; committed to rehearsing a wide ranging repertoire to concert standard in a friendly atmosphere

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1994

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 30 Desired: 30+

Musical Repertoire: Sacred songs, excerpts from major composers' works, folk songs, classic popular songs, jazz, spirituals

Musical Director: Michael Flaherty

No. of years in current post: 4

Previous musical experience: Michael Flaherty graduated BMus(Perf) majoring in trumpet from the Elder Conservatorium of Music (Adelaide University) in 1989; whilst there, he also studied Voice with renowned teacher and performer, Robert Dawe OAM, as the winner of the Alan's Scholarship; has sung with a wide variety of choirs, including The Adelaide Chamber Singers and The Corinthian Singers, and was a member of the State Opera of South Australia Chorus until moving to Melbourne in 2000; has conducted a number of ensembles including the Adelaide University and Flinders University Choral Societies, as well as the Hahndorf Town Band; has studied and worked with a number of world class conductors including Sir Georg Solti, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Professor Heribert Esser, Professor Rodney Eichenberger and Nicholas Braithwaite, ex-Principal Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra; Michael's interests are in all aspects of music, performing, historical, educational and musicological; he gained a Grad. Dip. in Music Theory in 1994, and is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Melbourne

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: various State-wide choirs for "Music from the Garden State", St Michael's Grammar School Recorder Ensemble, various vocal and instrumental soloists

Audition: No, but singers should have an ability to sing in tune and be able to harmonise

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: No Concerts: No

Membership Fees: $50 per term (discounts may apply)

Ability to read music: Not necessary

Sight-reading ability: Not necessary

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday, except during school holidays

Suburb: Hawthorn

Rehearsal venue: St Joseph's Church, cnr Power & Denham Sts

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Ladies - black skirt or pants, black blouse; Gents - black shirt, black trousers

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 3

Av. No. of Performances/year: 3

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Auburn Uniting Church, St Faith's Anglican Church (Burwood), All Saints' Church (St Kilda), Foyer of State Theatre complex, Christ Church (Brunswick), Immaculate Conception Church (Hawthorn), St Joseph's Church(Hawthorn)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Sing Unto God (Handel), 5 Mystical Songs (Vaughan Williams), A Child is Born (Hamson, commissioned for Swinburne Chorale's Christmas Concert 2000), Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Arlen), For The Beauty of the Earth (Rutter), works by Rachmaninov, Sculthorpe and Britten

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: President, Secretary, Treasurer

Types of Committees: Management

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes