GONDWANA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF NATIONAL CHORAL SCHOOL

Hundreds of talented young singers, composers and conductors from across the country will converge on Sydney for the 20th annual Gondwana National Choral School (NCS) from 9-21 January 2017.

Hosted by Gondwana Choirs, the leader in Australian choral performance, NCS 2017 brings together 329 talented young people aged 10 to 26 years for an intensive two-week training and performance season, guided by leading national and international conductors at the University of New South Wales.

Australia’s leading director of choirs for young people, Gondwana Choirs Artistic Director and founder Lyn Williams OAM, said NCS has become the premiere choral experience in Australia, with high profile alumni including singer/songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, budding opera star Alexandra Oomens and composer Joseph Twist.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate two decades of Gondwana National Choral School, having provided world-class choral training and personal and career development to more than 3,000 young people since its inception in 1997,” said Williams.

“National Choral School is a highlight on our annual calendar of events, with more than half of the young singers, composer and conductors returning to continue their learning and grow lasting friendships,” she said. 

This year, Resident Artists The Idea of North, the internationally-acclaimed Australian vocal quartet, will present their own public concert and work intensively with each ensemble, hosting A Cappella Academy workshops.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Idea of North as Resident Artists to grow the repertoire of each ensemble, and together we look forward to launching our biggest performance season yet,” said Williams.

The event culminates with the inaugural Festival of Summer Voices from 18-21 January 2017, featuring a series of five uplifting public concerts showcasing extraordinary talents at the University of New South Wales and Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Each event exhibits the extraordinary talents of the young choristers, conductors and composers and includes:

·         - Concert 1: Summer Voices Opening Gala on Wednesday, 18 January at 7pm at Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW. Experience the power of Gondwana Choirs in full flight, at the gala event showcasing the extraordinary talents of the young choristers, conductors and composers.

·         - Concert 2: The Idea of North in Concert on Friday, 20 January at 7pm at Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW. Enjoy a beautifully distinct sound and style, crossing many musical genres in an exciting and surprising way.

·         - Concert 3 & 5: A Cappella Academy | Saturday, 21 January at 3pm & 6.30pm at Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Gondwana Choirs like you've never heard them before! A celebration of 100 years of contemporary a cappella music the choristers learned with resident artists The Idea of North.

·         - Concert 4: Gondwana Chorale in Recital on Saturday, 21 January at 5.15pm at Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Hear the Gondwana Chorale national youth choir at the peak of their vocal prowess before they leave for an extensive tour of the USA, immediately after NCS 2017.

As part of a new partnership with the University of New South Wales, the NCS 2017 will be held at the Kensington campus for the first time, with participants housed in the recently rebuilt Kensington Colleges and two public concerts taking place in Sir John Clancy Auditorium.

Through the generous support of private donors, Trusts and Foundations, Gondwana Choirs provides a range of full and partial bursaries to National Choral School participants, to provide equal access to the Gondwana Choirs program.

For more information and tickets to Festival of Summer Voices events, please visit gondwana.org.au/performances/festival-of-summer-voices/

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About Gondwana Choirs
Gondwana Choirs is the leader in Australian choral performance, shaping the Australian sound through the creation and presentation of innovative new work, and providing opportunities to all talented young Australians aged 10 to 26 through world-class training by leading artists. Founded in 1989, Gondwana Choirs comprises the most accomplished choral groups of young people in Australia and has three distinct arms: The Sydney Children’s Choir, Gondwana National Choirs and Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir. Awarded the APRA/AMCOS award for Excellence by an Organisation for its 2014 Artistic Program and significant contribution to Australian music since 1989. gondwana.org.au