Information current as at FEBRUARY 2011

Choir's Email Address: victoriachorale@gmail.com

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: Quoting from the Victoria Chorale Constitution:

To present choral music at the highest possible standard to the people of Australia and of Victoria in particular; to present a diverse choral repertoire from Australia and overseas; to contribute to the raising of the standard of choral singing within Australia; to perform music in as many venues as possible, particularly within Victoria; to establish a body of persons who are knowledgeable, experienced and skilled in the art of choral singing and to provide them with opportunities of choral performance; to encourage the pursuit of excellence in standards of choral composition within Australia; to provide the experience of choral performance for its members for their enjoyment and not for profit

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both accompanied & unaccompanied

Year Choir formed: 1993

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 25-40, but can expand to up to 80 for major works Desired:

Musical Repertoire: Particularly varied and covers Renaissance music through to 20th century works; the repertoire includes mainstream classical choral, choral arrangements of folk music, religious choral works, opera choruses, works from Australian arrangers and composers

Musical Director: Raymond Yong

No. of years in current post: since 2010

Previous musical experience: Raymond Yong is known to classical music audiences both as a concert pianist and conductor; he holds a Bachelor of Music (piano) and a Master of Music (conducting - with John Hopkins); Raymond was a featured pianist at the Musica Viva Huntington Estate Festival; other career highlights include piano concerto performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Orchestra, as well as recital performances in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Malaysia; as a sought-after emerging young conductor, Raymond devotes an increasing amount of time to working with a wide range of music ensembles around Melbourne; in 2010 he continues his role as Music Director of the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been recently appointed Music Director of the Victoria Chorale and conductor of Orchestra 21; he will make his debut as Guest Conductor with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and has been selected as one of the talented participants in the Symphony Australia Young Conductor Development Program

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Orchestra Victoria, Melbourne Opera Company, Melbourne Opera Orchestra, a variety of community orchestras, and occasionally other choirs

Audition: No, but previous choral or music experience required

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: No Concerts: No

Membership Fees: Currently there is a general rehearsal fee for each concert program of approx. $25-$50; Membership fees are currently under review

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday

Suburb: Hawthorn

Rehearsal venue: St Columbs Church

Off-street parking: Yes, access from Paterson St

Performance Apparel: Varies depending on repertoire but is usually dinner suit, including jacket and black bow tie for men, black blouse and skirt relieved by gold or silver for women

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 4-5

Av. No. of Performances/year: 4-5

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: BMW Edge (Federation Square); Government House; municipal town halls including Melbourne Town Hall, Northcote Town Hall, Hawthorn Town Hall and many country town halls; performing arts centres and community centres especially Daylesford Town Hall; churches including St Patrick's Cathedral (Melbourne)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Australian premiere of Missa O Pulchritudo (Gian Carlo Menotti, 1979), Carols from around the world, Coronation Mass (Mozart)

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area/Regional Victoria

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Choir-based Management Committee

Types of Committees: as above

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes