Information current as at OCTOBER 2011

Ros Smith, President, (03) 9939 0141 (BH + AH)

Choir's Email Address: mbc@mbc.asn.au

Choir's Website: www.mbc.asn.au/

Vision statement / Artistic goals: The MBC was formed in late 2005 by Sarah Benson to perform J S Bach's St Matthew Passion in 2006; the MBC is an occasional choir dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in choral performance and committed to donating to community, aid and charity organisations; they currently support St Vincent's Hospital's fundraising for its new Cancer Centre

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Accompanied

Year Choir formed: 2005

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 90 Desired: 80-130

Musical Repertoire: Oratorios and other sacred music with focus on works of J S Bach

Musical Director: Rick Prakhoff

No. of years in current post: since 2005

Previous musical experience: Rick Prakhoff is a freelance conductor with a repertoire of over 20 operas, operattas and musical theatre works and an extensive orchestral and choral repertoire; he has conducted major works, including Bach's St Matthew Passion with the Melbourne Bach Choir and the Geelong Chorale; Rick was appointed Lecturer In Conducting at the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne where he also conducts the Faculty Of Music Choir comprising 160-240 students; he has conducted extensively with Melbourne Opera, was Chorus Master and back stage conductor for Opera Australia in Perth, and has conducted Gertrude Opera (The Opera Studio Melbourne), Stopera (Canberra), the Street Theatre (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian National University, and OperaLive (Melbourne); Rick is the founding Musical Director of the Melbourne Bach Choir; he was recently appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Zelman Symphony

Audition: Yes - the MBC requires singers to undertake a brief audition to demonstrate their vocal ability, voice type, intonation and a good ear (this is tested by being able to sing back a played or sung phrase); this usually comprises attending a rehearsal early in the rehearsal period, and then singing a passage from that rehearsal for the audition; separate auditions may also be held with a required work such as a Bach chorale; applicants may also be asked to sing brief vocal exercises during the audition

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: No

Membership Fees: $70 p.a.

Ability to read music: Highly desirable

Sight-reading ability: Highly desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Thursday

Suburb: Fitzroy

Rehearsal venue: Brenan Hall, St Vincent's Hospital

Off-street parking: Yes, Pay parking available, and also free street parking

Performance Apparel: All black

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 1

Av. No. of Performances/year: 1-2

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: All Saints Anglican Church (St Kilda East), St Paul's Cathedral (Melbourne)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Mozart Requiem, Bach Magnificat

Touring: No, but possible in the future

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Incorporated Association with committee of management

Types of Committees: as above

Own collection of music scores: No