Information current as at FEBRUARY 2012

Tony Way, Director, (03) 9639 4560 (BH)

Choir's Email Address: stfmusic@blessedsacrament.com.au

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: St Francis' Choir is committed to serving the liturgy at St Francis' Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria's oldest Catholic church; it presents a wide variety of music in a liturgical setting and promotes wider community interest in choral liturgical music; it also encourages the growth of Australian liturgical music by commissioning and performing new works

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both accompanied & unaccompanied

Year Choir formed: 1845

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 45 Desired: not specified

Musical Repertoire: St Francis' Choir performs a wide variety of music from plainchant through to contemporary Australian works; it has a strong tradition of performing masses from the classical repertoire with orchestra (eg. Haydn, Mozart, Schubert)

Musical Director: Tony Way

No. of years in current post: since 1998

Previous musical experience: After studies at the universities of Queensland and Melbourne, Tony began his involvement with St Francis' Choir in 1986 as choir organist; his career highlights as Assistant Director of Music at St Francis' include playing for Mass in the presence of Olivier Messiaen, being the organist for the National Liturgical Music Convention of 1993, and accompanying the St Francis' Choir on its European tour in 1990-91; apart from his work at St Francis', Tony has regularly reviewed recordings of classical music for the Melbourne Age and continues to compose liturgical music, much of which has been published by various Australian and American publishers; Tony has also completed a Master's degree in Music at the Australian Catholic University

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: The choir regularly performs with orchestra and brass ensemble; it hosts an annual Schools' Mass at which the choirs of secondary colleges are invited to perform with St Francis' Choir

Audition: Yes - All applicants are required to pass a simple audition and interview; the audition includes a range test and a sight-singing test

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: Joining fee $20, and annual subscription fee $30 ($15 conc.)

Ability to read music: Essential

Sight-reading ability: Highly desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 2

Usual rehearsal night(s): Thursday Night and Sunday Morning

Suburb: Melbourne CBD

Rehearsal venue: St Francis' Hall

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Choir robe provided

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: not specified

Av. No. of Performances/year: 46

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: St Francis' Church (Melbourne)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Coronation Mass (Mozart), O Nata Lux (Lauridsen)

Touring: No

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Director and General Committee

Types of Committees: General

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes