Information current as at DECEMBER 2015

Grainne Black, President, 0423 769 643

Choir's Email Address: president@gisbornesingers.org.au

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

Vision statement / Artistic goals: The singing of choral music, the performance of concerts, the encouragement of people with musical talent, and the promotion of music within the Shire of Macedon Ranges

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both accompanied & unaccompanied

Year Choir formed: 1981

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 30-45 Desired: no limit

Musical Repertoire: Major classical works, e.g. Messiah (Handel), Requiem (Faure, Mozart), Mass (Byrd), plus a broad repertoire of folk songs, opera choruses and popular classical songs

Musical Director: Stephen Brockman

No. of years in current post: since 2008

Previous musical experience: Professional orchestral musician with 25 years experienc; sung in church and cathedral choirs for more than 50 years (since the age of 6); conducted school and church choirs; Musical Director of Hong Kong Singers for 6 years

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: Ballarat Symphony Orchestra, Ballarat Choral Society

Audition: No

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: No Concerts: No

Membership Fees: $120 p.a.

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1, with extras sometimes needed for separate parts or whole choir as a performance nears

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday

Suburb: New Gisborne

Rehearsal venue: Holy Cross Primary School

Off-street parking: Yes

Performance Apparel: All black with: Men - purple bow tie, Women - matching scarf

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 3

Av. No. of Performances/year: 5

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues: St Ambrose Church (Woodend), Church of the Resurrection (Mount Macedon), Kyneton Town Hall, Gisborne Uniting Church, Gisborne Mechanics Institute, Holy Cross Primary School Hall, St Pauls Church (Kyneton), Church of Christ (New Gisborne)

Examples of musical pieces performed: Cantique de Jean Racine, Madrigal, Les Djinns (Faure); The Lord Bless you and keep you, For the beauty of the earth, All things bright and beautiful (Rutter); much varied Christmas music, carols traditional and modern; Te Deum, Locus Iste (Bruckner); Zadock the Priest (Handel); Folk Songs - many and varied; Madrigals - Sing we and chant it, Now is the month of Maying, The Silver Swan, etc; Gilbert and Sullivan highlights, Best of British, Porgy and Bess, American Spirituals; To Music, O Lord God of my Salvation (Schubert); Va Pensiero (Verdi), Humming Chorus (Puccini); Ave Maria, cantatas (Bach); Stephen Foster - a complete concert; Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)

Touring: No

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: The choir is run by a Management Committee

Types of Committees: Sub-committees as needed

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes, with conditions

Hiring fees apply: Yes