Information current as at FEBRUARY 2011

Lorraine Pollard, Musical Director, (03) 9807 5936 (BH + AH)

Choir's Email Address: elpollard@bigpond.com

Choir's Website: n/a

Vision statement / Artistic goals: Maintain a high musical standard, made possible by correct placement of sounds and musicality; to achieve the appropriate style for each song; bring enjoyment to audiences and each other; this choir was formally known as the United Ladies Choir, until 2000

Voice type: All Female Singers

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1962

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 30 Desired: 25-30

Musical Repertoire: Folk songs, classical, sacred and music theatre

Musical Director: Lorraine Pollard, B.Mus.

No. of years in current post: since 1998

Previous musical experience: Singing teacher for 21 years in schools and at home; choral director of 6 choirs, SSA and SATB, spanning 25 years; soprano soloist and chorister for many years including Melbourne Chorale and University ensembles

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Performances at Festivals with choirs led by Faye Dumont, and Casey Choir

Audition: Yes - singing of 5 note scales and arpeggios, and aural tests for singers in the lower voice parts

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: No Concerts: No

Membership Fees: $100 p.a. payable in a lump sum, half-yearly or quarterly

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Wednesday morning

Suburb: Burwood

Rehearsal venue: Burwood Uniting Church

Off-street parking: No

Performance Apparel: 3 outfits: summer, winter and evening attire

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 2

Av. No. of Performances/year: 25

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Burwood Uniting Church each May, Victorian country towns, retirement villages, senior citizens' venues, church groups, community service organisations around the Melbourne area

Examples of musical pieces performed: Australian songs, eg. I Am Australian, My Country and Heritage; classical works by Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart; Scottish and Irish folk songs, e.g. Banks of Doon, The Kerry Dance; Sacred songs, e.g. For the Beauty of the Earth, You Raise Me Up; Shakespearian Madrigals, and Music Theatre songs e.g. selections from Camelot and Salad Days (Julian Slade) and a Gershwin Showcase

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area/Regional Victoria - usually only 1 country centre per year

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Committee of Management which handles general administration and bookings

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: No