Information current as at FEBRUARY 2011

Choir's Email Address: info@hcs.asn.au

Choir's Website: www.hcs.asn.au

Vision statement / Artistic goals: The singing of choral music, and the advancement of music generally, by the performance of high class musical works

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1920

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 80 Desired: more tenors and basses

Musical Repertoire: Classical sacred and secular music - part songs, oratorios, madrigals, 'Opera in Concert'

Musical Director: Peter Bandy

No. of years in current post: since 2011, and Guest Conductor of the choir in 2010

Previous musical experience: Since 1976 when Peter formed the 150 voice Peter Oratorio Choir, Peter has performed with many professional orchestras; he was Chorus Master with the Australian Opera and has been Music Director of the West Australian Gilbert and Sullivan Society; since relocating to Melbourne, Peter has been resident conductor of the Australian Ballet and performed with artists such as James Galway, Dame Joan Sutherland, Richard Bonynge, Rolf Harris and Peter Schikele; he was Music Director of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society and Director of Music at Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School; he has performed a vast repertoire of orchestral and choral music, and is also a regular presenter on 3MBS-FM, Melbourne's classical music radio station

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Essendon Choral Society, University of Melbourne Music Faculty Choir

Audition: No

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $60 per concert or $150 per annum, with reduced fees for the under 30's

Ability to read music: Highly desirable

Sight-reading ability: Not necessary

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Monday

Suburb: Ivanhoe East

Rehearsal venue: St Georges Church Hall

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Ladies - all black; Gents - Dinner suit and black bow tie, occasionally all black

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 3

Av. No. of Performances/year: 3

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: St Georges Church (Ivanhoe East), Preston Town Hall, Wangaratta Cathedral, St Silas (Middle Park), Fitzroy Town Hall, Northcote Town Hall, St Johns Anglican Church (Colac), St Joseph’s Church (Warnambool), Naracoorte Caves, St Patrick’s Cathedral (Ballarat), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Hamilton), St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church (Mt Gambier), Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (Murray Bridge), St Augustine’s Anglican Church (Unley)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Requiem (Rutter, Mozart), numerous part songs, Mass in G (Schubert), Missa in C - Spatenzenmess (Mozart), Ein Deutsches Requiem (Brahms), Dona Nobis Pacem (Vaughan Williams), Stabat Mater (Poulenc, Dvorak), Opera in Concert: Nabucco, Turandot, Macbeth (Verdi)

Touring: Yes - Wangaratta (2007); Western Victoria and South Australia (2008 and 2009), Gippsland planned for 2011

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Elected Committee

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes