2011 Guest Ensembles

Australian Boys Choir Kelly Gang

The Kelly Gang comprises former choristers of the Australian Boys Choir and is named in honour of the Choir’s founder, Vincent J Kelly. The group’s focus is on training rather than performance, with heavy emphasis on vocal technique – especially learning to cope with the “new instrument” of the changed voice – and musical development. The group has not performed often in public, although they sing from time to time with their “big brothers”, The Vocal Consort, and the boys of the Australian Boys Choir.

Birralee Boys

The Birralee Boys were formed especially for the Pemulwuy Male Voice Festival and are made up of boys who are already part of the Voices of Birralee program as well as new boys from the local community. Aged between 10 and 14 years they have had a wonderful time preparing their music at weekly rehearsals and both conductor and singers have thoroughly enjoyed the unique ‘boys only’ atmosphere. 

Blokes of Barker

Blokes of Barker are the year 11 and 12 tenors and basses from Barker’s award winning senior choir, and are very excited to be invited back again to this year’s Pemulwuy! National Male Voice Festival as the NSW representatives.    Blokes of Barker would like to acknowledge the generous financial support of Friends of Barker Music in contributing to the costs of us attending this year’s festival.

Brisbane Boys' College Camerata

The Brisbane Boys' College Camerata for this festival is made up of some of our regular Camerata (SATB) and number of our Collegians (TTBB) ensembles.  These groups perform mainly for the large number of annual College functions, services and concerts but have also performed for the City Hall Concert Series and the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Brisbane's iconic Anzac Square.  
The boys range in ages from 9 years to 17 years of age and many undertake Trinity College of London vocal exams and occasional Trinity College of London Choral exams.  There are six choirs at The Brisbane Boys' College including two curriculum ensembles in the Junior School.

Brisbane Grammar School Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir is one of five choral groups at Brisbane Grammar School.  It is an auditioned group of thirty treble singers who are all undertaking vocal tuition.  They sing in three parts and regularly perform at School Concerts, Church Services and Nursing Homes.  In 2009 the Chamber Choir toured to Tasmania, performing at the ASME National Conference as well as the Hobart Festival of Voices.  In 2010 they were invited to perform at the KMEIA National Conference in Melbourne, taking with them the exciting new Paul Jarman piece “Parkour”, which they commissioned.  They are very excited to be involved in the Pemulwuy Festival and are greatly looking forward to hearing outstanding male choirs from around the country. 

Brisbane Grammar School Grammarphones

The Grammarphones is an auditioned TTBB ensemble consisting of the most experienced singers from Brisbane Grammar School’s extensive choral program. Their repertoire is wide and varied, ranging from Renaissance to contemporary styles. They also regularly explore new Australian choral repertoire and enjoy collaborating with local composers. Their outstanding work was recognised in 2010 on their concert tour of Europe when they were awarded the City of Vienna Prize for Most Outstanding Choir of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival. They were one of the guest choirs in the inaugural Pemulwuy Festival and are delighted to be involved again in 2011.

The Brotherhood from St Laurence's College

The Brotherhood from St Laurence’s College has a strong reputation as a substantial Male Changed Voice School Choir in Queensland. The primary role of the choir is to lead the school in worship but the ensemble is also involved in concerts in the community. The choir is auditioned by attendance. Those who are willing to attend rehearsals and concerts are welcome. The choir has toured interstate and overseas and enjoys working collaboratively. Last year the choir was honoured to perform with the Queensland Pops Orchestra and the QPAC choir in their Best of British concert.  

Bunbury Men of Song

Bunbury Men of Song was formed in 1998 and has a membership of 35 aged from 18 to 80.  Men travel from all across the greater Bunbury Region to participate in rehearsals and performances.
The choir’s repertoire includes songs from shows and musicals, the classics, gospel, Australian, even rock and roll all with the unique BMOS style of ‘fair dinkum South West'.
Bunbury Men of Song is fortunate to have Ian Mills as our musical direction. Ian has been a music teacher for 27 years, and is currently working for 4 Catholic Primary Schools in the Bunbury Region. 
Ian is also the Musical Director of the Bunbury Young Voices, with performances for Channel 7’s Telethon, Governor of WA, Chorale festivals, award winning performances in WA Performing Arts Eisteddfod and recordings of C.D’s, they have a prestigious reputation. In its 25th anniversary year (2009) Ian directed the Bunbury Young Voices in a highly acclaimed performance of Alice- the Musical. Ian teaches piano, keyboard, and electric organ at his private studio.
Bunbury Men of Song Accompanist is Greg Ross. Greg was a regular pianist for Bundaberg Players Incorporated, Youth Theatre, Pantomimes and the major musical productions of the company for almost eight years. Greg was the Accompanist and Deputy Musical Director with the Buderim Male Choir from 2002 until January 2010 when be moved to Bunbury.

Canberra Grammar School Chamber Choir

The Canberra Grammar Chamber Choir was originally formed in 2006 as a touring choir to represent Australia and the school at official events associated with the celebration of ANZAC Day on the Somme, France and in London, England. The Choir has undertaken two European tours; In  2007 and  2009, performing at Westminster Abbey London, St George’s Chapel Windsor, Christchurch Cathedral Oxford, Notre Dame, St Madeleine and under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.   In 2010 the Chamber Choir became a permanent part of the music program at Canberra Grammar School, drawing membership from students in year 5 to 12. 

Gondwana National Indigenous Choir

The Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir (GNICC) under the direction of Lyn Williams OAM, 
brings talented Indigenous children together for musical, social and cultural education and performance, 
sharing the voice of their generation with the world.   Since 2008, over 750 Indigenous children from across Australia have taken part in our activities, at no cost to themselves or their communities. Choristers learn new skills, develop on their creative talents and work with some of Australia’s most respected conductors, music educators, musicians and artists.   We are developing a rich repertoire of songs in Indigenous languages (including the acclaimed children’s opera Ngailu – Boy of the Stars) and providing our choristers with major national and international performance opportunities, including the Pemulwuy National Male Voice Festival 2011! 
 
Gondwana Choirs is grateful to both Voices of Birralee and QPAC for their generous support of GNICC’s 2011 Pemulwuy season.

Gondwana Singers

Gondwana Singers is a national choir for talented young singers aged 13-16, including boys with changed/changing voices, as well as treble voices. It is one of four Gondwana National Choirs, which include Gondwana Voices & Gondwana Chorale.   Under the direction of Artistic Director & Founder Lyn Williams OAM, the Gondwana Choirs have built a worldwide reputation for choral excellence.  In July 2010, Gondwana Singers joined with all the Gondwana Choirs, including the Sydney Children’s Choir, to celebrate our 21st Birthday with a critically acclaimed concert at the Sydney Opera House.  
The tenors and basses of Gondwana Singers will be taking part in Pemulwuy 2011, and the sopranos and altos will be joining in the Youth Stream of Tasmania’s Festival of Voices in July this year.

Hutchins Chamber Choir

The Hutchins School is an independent K – 12 boys’ school located in Sandy Bay, overlooking the Derwent River in Hobart. The school is one of Australia’s oldest, founded in 1846. The Hutchins Senior Choir comprises boys from years 7 – 12 with changed or changing voices, and performs repertoire from all periods and styles. In 2010 the boys combined with St Michael’s Collegiate Girls’ School to perform John Rutter’s Requiem.  The Hutchins Chamber Choir is a small touring group drawn from the Senior Choir. Their first trip was 2010 with the TSO Chorus, performing Mahler’s Eighth Symphony at the Adelaide Festival.

Kenmore Male Chorus

Kenmore State High School is one of Queensland’s finest secondary State Schools. Located in the Western suburbs of Brisbane, the enrolment has grown to almost 1700 students in 2011. The school has a long tradition of choral programs, but the unique Male Chorus was started by Brett Gordon in 2008, and participated in the first Pemulwuy Festival in that year. Since then the choir has won Gold Awards in the Prestige Music competitions in 2009 and 2010.  In 2009 Male Chorus was one of five choirs that made it to the Brisbane Metropolitan Finals of Choral Fanfare – a State School Choral competition. The group is open to all boys who love to sing, is therefore non-auditioned, and rehearse for 30 minutes a week. The group has grown to 35 members and enjoys singing a variety of original and arranged works by their conductor Mr Brett Gordon. 

Melbourne High Singers

Melbourne High School is a select entry government school which was the 2009 national winner of ABC Flame Awards for its whole school singing program. There are also some choirs at MHS including this small auditioned group, The Melbourne High Singers. Founded in 1978 as a pop choir, the group has diversely sung backings for Barry Manilow, also performed Schoenberg’s “Survivor from Warsaw “and recorded for Jonathan Walsh’s recent solo CD “With A Song in My Heart”. The group has a strong focus on student compositions and arrangements in its 43 minutes of rehearsal each week.

St Peter's College Senior Choir - Adelaide

The Senior Choir is boys from years 8-12 at the school who love singing enough to commit to rehearsing on Fridays at lunchtimes. Since 2008, when Peter Deane took over as conductor, they have toured overseas twice, won first prizes at local choral competitions and performed at many school and community events. They have sung full services in St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide, 90th anniversary services for the fallen on the Somme in France and in Westminster Abbey, sung in cabaret and even at barbershop events!   Thank you to Paul Holley, Paul Jarman, Noel Ancell , the Spooky Men and all who have gone before for all the inspiration! 

The Southport School Band of Brothers

The Southport School has a long, proud tradition of choral music dating back to the early part of the last century.  The Senior School choir, aptly named ‘Band of Brothers,’ consists of 30 boys from year 8 to year 12 who meet once a week to rehearse a wide range of music that includes both secular and sacred repertoire.  The Choir participates in many school and public performances and is often asked to sing at important Gold Coast ceremonial functions.   In 2011, we are thrilled to have Paul Jarman work with the boys as their Choral Director.  He will, of course,  provide to the students his wonderful expertise, enthusiasm and  pure joy of music making! 

Vocal Consort

The Vocal Consort is one of Australia’s leading male voice ensembles. An ecstatic New York Times critic wrote: “The Vocal Consort sang superbly…a smooth, seamless blend” and the ensemble continues to earn superlatives from critics and audiences alike.

Originally formed in 1984 to complement the work of the Australian Boys Choir, the group also has a separate life of its own, presenting approximately 12 major concerts and other performances each year. The group is developing new audiences and formats for vocal performance and setting a standard rarely achieved by other Australian groups.

Most members of the Consort gained their early training through the Boys Choir and now provide inspiring role models for the boys in repertoire ranging from plainchant and polyphony to various contemporary styles. 

The Vocal Consort has toured internationally eight times, in particular to Europe, Asia and North America. They regularly perform throughout regional Australia and in 2008 were a featured group at the Hobart Festival of Voices.

Conductor Noel Ancell is a former President of the Australian National Choral Association and Advisor to the International Federation of Choral Music. He has conducted the Victorian Secondary Student Honour Choir and the National Youth Choir of Australia (NYCA). He teaches voice and conducting, composes, and runs workshops in Australia and abroad. In 2009 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to music.

The Consort has contributed to several recordings with other performers, and has released two “solo” CDs: Sweet and Low; and Journeyings.
Platinum Sponsors
qpac
bccjpg
Silver Sponsors
anca-logo-cropped
Other  Music  Logo-page- 001
crescendo-music-education-logo
bgs
Presented By
Voices of BirraleePhone (07) 3367 1001