Senior Performing Choir
The Australian Children’s Choir is the performing ensemble of the organisation and has developed an international reputation as one of Australia’s outstanding mixed-voice treble choirs. The choir is well known for its refined performances, the quality of its varied repertoire and the production of fine young musicians, many of whom have gone on to pursue successful music careers.
The ACC’s Performing Choir is made up of approximately fifty boys and girls aged 10-20 years, who demonstrate advanced musical ability, excellent concentration, and personal organisation skills as well as a commitment to excellence. The choir rehearse on Thursday evenings 7.00pm to 9.00pm, and Saturday afternoons 2.00pm to 4.30pm throughout the school year.
Tours and Performances
Regional tours and camps are held once or twice per year, and in previous years the choir has toured internationally every few years, to destinations including New Zealand, Wales, China, The USA, England, Germany, Austria, Budapest and The Czech Republic.
The Choir also perform music for Television, Film, and commercial recordings, and appears from time to time with celebrated local and international artists with professional adult ensembles such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, and the Victoria Police Showband.
Members of the Australian Children’s Choir gain many outstanding social and musical experiences, and regularly perform in the finest venues from:
The Melbourne Recital Centre,
Hamer Hall,
Deakin Edge, Federation Square
St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne,
Sydney Opera House
Angel Place Recital Hall in Sydney,
At major international venues such as
Canterbury Cathedral,
Salzburg Cathedral,
Southwark Cathedral in London.
Musical Development
In return for a dedication and commitment to excellence, the members of The Australian Children’s Choir receive an excellent musical and cultural education under the guidance of some of the nation’s leading musical educators and composers, and many wonderful musical and social experiences, which allows them to take on the role of cultural ambassadors for both the ACC and their country.
Individual attention is given to each singer as his or her voice develops, and children are regularly voice tested to ensure that they are developing to their fullest potential.
Senior Choristers must demonstrate advanced vocal technique, fluency in sight-reading and an ability to sing harmony parts. Senior Choristers master a rigorous program of challenging music ranging from contemporary works written especially for them by Australian composers, to masterpieces by the great composers like Bach and Mozart, Mendelssohn, Debussy or Britten, and contemporary composers from around the world.
Members of The Australian Children’s Choir perform two, three and four-part treble repertoire, and combine with adult ensembles performing SATB advanced repertoire, sometimes accompanied by professional orchestras.
Repertoire performed includes a significant amount of music especially commissioned for the choir by leading Australian composers. Choristers continue to develop and learn music theory, advanced aural training and hone their performance skills under the supervision of some of Australia’s leading choral experts.
Training Ensembles
The Australian Children’s Choir is made up of the following groups
Senior Performing Choir
Treble Performing Choir
Intermediate Training Choir
Harmony Training Choir
Melody Training Choir
Lyrebird Training Choir
Progression between choirs is based on developing music and performance abilities. Staff periodically assess each young person’s development and readiness for progression to the next level.
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Treble Choir
The ACC’s Treble Choir (formerly Reserve Choir) meets once per week on Saturday afternoons from 2pm to 4.30pm and provides advanced training and performance opportunities for boys and girls aged 9 – 16, depending on the musical ability and experience of the chorister. The Treble Choir is made up of advanced training choir students, who are preparing for entry into The Australian Children’s Choir. Choristers in the Treble Choir may be invited to observe rehearsals on a Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm and sometimes perform at corporate events. Music camps twice per year are enjoyed, where intensive rehearsal and individual auditioning takes place, and choristers are able to get to know their mentors in the Senior Choir.
Intermediate Choir
The ACC’s Intermediate Choir meet once per week on Saturday from 2pm to 4pm and receives training and performance opportunities for boys and girls aged 8 – 14, depending on musical ability and experience of the chorister. The choir rehearse independently with their own conductor and accompanist, and each week also train with The Treble Choir for combined repertoire.
Melody and Harmony Choirs
The ACC has two junior level choirs, and these choirs meet once per week on Saturday afternoons from 12noon to 1.30pm, and generally involve girls and boys aged between 6 – 12 years. Whilst the groups rehearse and develop independently with their own tutor and accompanist, they do at times combine with other training ensembles or each other to give the children a “massed” choral experience, and also allow the children to make friends and develop socially with other children outside their own choir group.
Lyrebirds
The Lyrebird Choir is the entry level Training Choir at The ACC. These choristers enjoy their first introduction to choral rehearsal and commence training in familiarising themselves with the music score, breathing technique, articulation, rhythmic notation, and performance in a safe and relaxed environment. Choristers ages range from 5 – 8 years.