Woden Valley Youth Choir is a community choir based in
Canberra
Canberra ( )
is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
,
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...
. It performs not only in Canberra, but also across
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and internationally during regular tours. The name derives from the
Woden Valley district of Canberra.
There are six choirs, within the organisation, catering for different ages and voice ranges:
* Leonis Voices (for ages 7 to 12)
* Australis Voices (for ages 12 to 25)
* Centauri Voices (for youth with low and transitioning voices)
* Pegasi Vocal Ensemble (for ages 10 to 12)
* Spectra Vocal Ensemble (for ages 12 to 25)
The Artistic Director of the choir and conductor of Australis Voices is Olivia Swift with Jade McFaul (Leonis), and Lucus Allerton (Centauri) also conductors for the choir.
One of the choir's biggest changes is the introduction of a group for young men, as previously, boys whose voices were transitioning from
soprano
A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...
and
alto
The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: ''altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by ...
to
tenor
A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...
and
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
were asked to leave the choir. Previous artistic director Kimberley Steele described the group as a "safe space to sing together" because "A lot of choirs are just treble choirs."
Centauri Voices is also notable for being one of the few vocal ensembles in the
ACT specifically for younger boys.
History
The Woden Valley Youth Choir began in February 1969 when conductor,
Don Whitbread, and his pianist wife, Barbara, soon after they moved to Canberra, issued an invitation to local children. Beginning with twenty-two singers, the Choir grew to a regular membership of 70.
Memorable performances have included:
*
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...
in
Brisbane, Queensland - performing for
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...
and the
Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh, named after the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, was a substantive title that has been created three times since 1726 for members of the British royal family. It does not include any territorial landholdings and does not produc ...
at a Gala Concert;
* for the royals again, in Canberra in 1992;
* at the invitation of the
Prime Minister of Australia
The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...
, to sing to visiting Heads of Government at international conferences in 1981 and 1983;
* as invited guest artists at
Government House, Canberra
Government House, in the suburb of Yarralumla, is the official residence of the governor-general of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Yarralumla, in the City of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. The house is set amid of p ...
, the residence of the Governor-General of Australia;
* at the opening ceremony of the World Cup Athletics meet in 1985;
* in 1988:
** a world-wide
telecast which launched Australia's Bicentennial year in 1988;
** 12 choir members were in the Choir which sang at the official opening of
Australian Parliament House
Parliament House, also referred to as Capital Hill or simply Parliament, is the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia, and the seat of the legislative branch of the Australian Government. Located in Canberra, the Parliament building is ...
;
** at Australia's official flag-raising ceremony at
Expo 88
World Expo 88, also known as Expo 88, was a specialised Expo held in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia, during a six-month period between Saturday, 30 April 1988 and Sunday, 30 October 1988, inclusive. The theme of the Expo wa ...
in Brisbane;
** at the prestigious
International Society for Music Education (ISME) Conference;
* at the ceremony for the conferring of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws on
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...
in 2000.
* at the opening of the Australian of the Year Walk in 2006.
* the opening of the Pacific School Games in 2008.
* as guest artists at the Male Choir Association of Australia 2008 Festival.
* at the Prime Minister's apology to Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants in 2009.
* singing with
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of ...
,
symphony orchestra
An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families.
There are typically four main sections of instruments:
* bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, ce ...
s, and at major
concert
A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety a ...
s with international guest artists;
* recording six albums and a one-hour television special;
* Voices in the Forest at the
National Arboretum
* many
Canberra International Music Festival
The Canberra International Music Festival is a music festival based in Canberra, Australia. It was founded by Ursula Callus (1939–2001), former President of Pro Musica Incorporated.
The first Festival was originally called the Canberra Inter ...
s
* the annual concert held every year at various locations around Canberra such as
Canberra Grammar School
, motto_translation = For God, for Church, for Country
, city = Red Hill
, state = Australian Capital Territory
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, type ...
and
Canberra College
The Canberra College (formerly known as the Phillip College) is an Australian Capital Territory public school, which educates students from year 11 to year 12. In 2022, Simon Vaughan was appointed Principal, taking over from Michael Battenally. ...
where many world premieres of pieces commissioned for the choir are held, previous examples include: 'Growing Into Me' by
Sally Whitwell, 'Hawkesbury' by
stephen Leek
Stephen Leek (born 1959) is an Australian composer, conductor, educator, and publisher who specialises in choral music.
Early life
Leek was born in Sydney in 1959, lived in Brisbane from 1964 through 1969, and then spent the rest of his childho ...
and 'Just Clowning Around' by Lucy Bermingham.
*
Albert Hall was used for the 50th anniversary annual concert
* six overseas tours
* the singing of the Australian National Anthem in the Aboriginal
Ngunnawal language
* singing for the Queen's 70th Jubilee torch lighting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
In 1996, Don Whitbread
AOM retired as president and musical director of the choir. He was named Canberran of the Year for 1996.
In 2009, the choir celebrated its 40th anniversary with a concert at Llewellyn Hall including alumni and featuring two world premiers-Paul Jarman's 'Source of Life' and 'Fortyssimo' by Michelle Leonard and Sally Whitwell.
In 2010, the choir toured South Korea, hosted by the World Vision Korean Children's Choir.
At the end of 2016, Alpha Gregory stood down as Artistic Director after 20 years. Local musician and conductor, Kimberley Steele, became the choir's third Artistic Director on 1 January 2017. In August 2018, Olivia Swift became Artistic Director.
In 2019 Woden Valley Youth Choir celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
Commissioned pieces
The choir has had many pieces commissioned for them, some of which have become famous Australian choral works. Some of the commissioned pieces include:
* Australian Proverb- B. Robinson (2015)
* Hawkesbury-Stephen Leek (2014)
* Growing Into Me- Sally Whitwell (2014)
* Just Clowning Around- Lucy Bermingham (2013)
* Phonograph- Dan Walker (2013)
* Source of Life- Paul Jarman (2009)
* Fortyssimo- Michelle Leonard and Sally Whitwell (2009)
*
Pemulwuy- Paul Jarman (2006)
Discography
The Choir can be heard on:
* I Hate Music (Collection of annual concert recordings 2013-2015)
* ''There's Nothing Like a Song (Live)'' (2010)
* ''Fortyssimo! Live'' (2009)
* ''Joyful Days'' (2007)
* ''Ancient Cries'' (2006)
* ''Holiday Lights''
* ''Shine On Me'' (2002)
* ''Listen to the Angels Shouting'' (2000)
* ''The Woden Valley Youth Choir Live'' (1990)
Other albums:
* ''Macca on Air - Songs from Australia All Over
* the international Christmas CD, ''The Children's Gift'', in company with the
Vienna Boys Choir and other world-renowned choirs.
* ''Amani Celebration II''
References
External links
Woden Valley Youth Choir
{{authority control
Australian choirs
Choirs of children
Musical groups established in 1969