Information current as at JULY 2022

Christine Matthews, Secretary

Choir's Email Address: esschoralsoc@gmail.com

Choir's Website: essendonchoralsociety.org.au

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To provide an opportunity for those people in the community who wish to rehearse and perform worthwhile choral music, and to enhance and develop skills for this purpose; a number of members have formed a smaller group known as the Weekday Singers, who perform during the week, usually for various nursing homes and small local organisations

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1979

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 25-40 Desired: 60+

Musical Repertoire: Classical choral works - oratorios, sacred music and opera; light music - folk songs, sea shanties, Christmas carols

Musical Director: Greg Hocking

No. of years in current post: since 1989

Previous musical experience: Greg has conducted the Melbourne University Choral Society, Wahringah Symphony and Choral Society, Queensland Bach Society Choir, Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Youth Orchestra, and other musical organisations; professionally, Greg is an entrepreneur and theatrical producer and runs the Athenaeum Theatre and the Comedy Club; Greg is a founding director and resident conductor of the Melbourne Opera Company, and regularly conducts operas, such as L'Elisir d'amore, and Verdi's A Masked Ball, for various opera companies in Melbourne; Greg has also conducted operas in Europe for the past several years

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Haydn Chamber Orchestra, Napier Chamber Orchestra, Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra, Box Hill Choral Society, Dandenong Choral Society, Preston Symphony Orchestra, Monash University Choral Society

Audition: No

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: No

Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $135 p.a., Student discount available

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday

Suburb: Essendon North

Rehearsal venue: North Essendon Uniting Church, 132 Keilor Rd

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: Ladies - all black, long skirt, long-sleeved blouse; Gents - Dinner suit, white shirt, black bow tie

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 3

Av. No. of Performances/year: 5

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Melbourne Town Hall, The Clock Tower (Moonee Ponds), St John's Uniting Church (Essendon), The Ukrainian Hall (Essendon), and the Collins Street Baptist Church (CBD)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Elijah (Mendelssohn), Coronation Anthems (Handel), The Creation (Haydn), Carmina Burana (Orff), concert versions of various Gilbert and Sullivan and other operettas, annual People's Messiah (Handel), and a variety of shorter items including Australian and folk songs

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area, Regional Victoria

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

Types of Committees: General Management, Fundraising

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes

Hiring fees apply: Yes