Information current as at JUNE 2014

Choir's Email Address: rmp@rmp.org.au

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: To promote the knowledge, love and performance of fine music to the people of Victoria; to aim for excellence in all aspects of music making; to foster and encourage young singers and instrumental musicians in our community, to regularly commission and perform Australian compositions, and to perform public concerts to a high standard; to provide Australia's finest soloists with the chance to perform

Voice type: SATB (divisi)

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied (usually with professional orchestra)

Year Choir formed: 1853

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 100 Desired: 120

Musical Repertoire: All forms of choral repertoire, from major concert works of all periods, to oratorio, sacred music, opera, contemporary compositions, and sound recordings/backing vocals in all styles

Musical Director: Andrew Wailes - 0433 661 971 musicdirector@rmp.org.au

No. of years in current post: since 1998 (previously Assistant Music Director 1995-1998)

Previous musical experience: An extensive biography of Andrew Wailes can be found at rmp.org.au/conductor/

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: RMP frequently appears with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, and regularly with Orchestra Victoria and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; RMP also collaborates frequently with Melbourne University Choral Society, and The Australian Children's Choir, as well as groups such as the Australian Army Band Melbourne, and the Melbourne Youth Orchestra

Audition: Yes - sing an "own choice" song, as well as various scales, arpeggios, basic ear and rhythm tests, basic sight-reading

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $250 p.a. (Full), $170 p.a. (Conc.), $25 p.a. (for auditioned students under 21)

Ability to read music: Essential

Sight-reading ability: Essential

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1 (occasionally 2)

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday, occasionally Friday

Suburb: Melbourne CBD

Rehearsal venue: Drill Hall, 239 A'Beckett St (opp. Flagstaff Gardens)

Off-street parking: Limited

Performance Apparel: Ladies - long-sleeved blouse or shirt (usually black), long black skirt or full culottes; Gents - Dinner suit and black bow tie with white shirt; All - black shoes and hose; black music covers

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 6-7

Av. No. of Performances/year: 10-15

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: Hamer Hall, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Deakin Edge (Federation Square), Rod Laver Arena, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, St Patrick's Cathedral, Sacred Heart Cathedral (Bendigo), St Paul's Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral (Ballarat), Sydney Opera House, Costa Hall (Geelong), Federation Hall (Hobart)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Messiah (Handel, performed at least once every year since 1853, a world record), The Dream of Gerontius and The Music Makers (Elgar), Opera Choruses (Wagner), Toward the Unknown Region (Vaughan Williams), Ein Deutsches Requiem and Shicksalslied (Brahms), Lux Aeterna (Morten Lauridsen), Anastasis (Christopher Willcock), Hieratikon (Stefan Cassomenos), Gloria (Rutter), Elijah (Mendelssohn), Ninth Symphony, Mass in C and Choral Fantasia (Beethoven), Requiem and Solemn Vespers (Mozart), Requiem (Faure), Stabat Mater (Dvorak), Messa da Requiem (Verdi), War Requiem (Britten), Symphony No. 8 ("Symphony of a Thousand") and Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") (Mahler), Requiem (Sculthorpe), St John Passion (Bach), The Bells (Rachmaninov), Symphony of Psalms (Stravinsky), Carmina Burana (Orff), Dido and Aeneas and Come Ye Sons of Art (Purcell)

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area/Regional Victoria/Interstate

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Executive Committee, General Committee

Types of Committees: Sub-committees and working groups as needed, eg. Social Events, Fundraising, Concert Production

Own collection of music scores: Yes - extensive

Available for hire to other groups: Yes - limited

Hiring fees apply: Yes - depending on relationship/circumstances