An auditioned community choir, based in Warragul, Victoria, Australia, the West Gippsland Chorale consists of some of the district’s most talented male and female singers. Its wide repertoire includes madrigals, folk songs, modern songs, sacred songs and larger works. We generally have two concerts per year (Autumn and Spring) plus a Christmas concert.
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The Chorale was formed as a madrigal group in 1985 by Musical Director Emeritus Jan MacLean. Over the years it has grown in size to nearly 50 members.
Members take pride in presenting entertaining concerts of good music for the people of the region. Previous concerts have included Best of British, Dances and Romances, Bach to Bacharach, Opera Pops, European sacred music including masses and requiems, and every four years, Handel's Messiah. Soloists for most concerts are drawn from the ranks of the talented choristers. Each year we present a popular Christmas Carol Concert and we also sing at various community events. The Chorale has achieved many successes at Eisteddfods around the region and in 2006 was chosen to audition for the ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year.
The Chorale has a well established association with conductor Peter Bandy which began with an invitation to join in Verdi's Requiem in Warragul and Melbourne with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society. This was followed by Mozart's Requiem, and Carmina Burana performed in Geelong and Melbourne. Carmina Burana was repeated in collaboration with the Latrobe Chorale with performances in Warragul and Morwell. The association with Peter continued when, with the South Gippsland Singers and the Latrobe Chorale, we presented Handel's Messiah in Warragul and Traralgon in December 2004. This performance was successfully repeated the following February to raise $7000 for the Tsunami appeal.
In October 2005, the Chorale was delighted to have the opportunity to join with the Prom Coast Singers and the South Gippsland Singers to present the inaugural performance of Larry Hills' cantata Stars and Maps : Promontory Images, conducted by the composer.
2006 was the Chorale's 21st Anniversary year. To mark this significant milestone we held a series of Anniversary Concerts. In March, there was a second performance of Stars and Maps, conducted by Larry Hills, and accompanied by Brian Chapman. In May a Festival of Favourites entertained an appreciative audience and in October, Peter Bandy and an Orchestra of tertiary music students joined with us to present a number of celebratory works. Highlights were the Bach Magnificat featuring several of the Chorale's solo singers and Beethoven's Choral Fantasy with Brian Chapman delighting audiences and Chorale members alike with his virtuoso rendition of the piano accompaniment and solo passages of this demanding Choral work. December saw the final concert in the series featuring Vivaldi's Gloria and a number of carols and Christmas works.
For more than 21 years, Jan MacLean has led rehearsals, conducted performances, worked with guest conductors and occasionally sung as an alto when a guest conductor takes over final performances. Her dedication, choral experience and enthusiasm are an inspiration to Chorale members. For more details see the musical direction page.
Young, talented musicians of the region are encouraged to present items at our concerts. Members are united in the love of singing, and are grateful for the wonderful support they continue to receive from the people of the region and beyond.
Leading Notes Youth Choir Inc. is a choir for singers between the ages of 9 and 21 years of age.
The choir was formed in 2006 by Chorale Member Lynn Jones (full member of Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing) and in 2007 the fledgling choir was sponsored by the West Gippsland Chorale and incorporated into their structure.
The choir continued to grow at a rapid rate and now includes 31 members - both boys and girls.
In 2010 the choir was restructured and registered as an incorporated body and a Committee of Management (made up of parents and members of the community) was formed to run the choir. The West Gippsland Chorale continues to promote Leading Notes Youth Choir Inc. as an extension of its charter to foster choral singing in this area.
The choir made its debut performance at the Chorale's “World In Song” concert in May 2007, and continues to feature in Chorale concerts. At the “Celebrate Christmas in Song” concert in 2010, the choir performed songs ranging in style from medieval to jazz, folk and a Christmas Carol composed by young local musician Benjamin Sim.
The choir has also performed in many benefit concerts and celebrates once a year with a “themed concert”. The choir has been successful in many Warragul Eisteddfods, winning the Perpetual Trophy for “Most Promising Choir” between 2007 and 2010. In May 2011 we will join Dr Jonathon Welch AM and the “Choir of Hope and Inspiration” (formerly known as the “Choir of Hard Knocks”) for two very special concerts at the West Gippsland Art Centre.
New members are most welcome (no auditions required) and no formal singing training is necessary. Basic choral technique and training are provided by Musical Director, Lynn Jones. The choir is managed by Jan Halliwell and piano accompaniment by Vicki Remyn.
Weekly rehearsals are held at the VRI Hall in Queen Street, Warragul on Wednesdays from 5.45pm to 7pm. School terms only.
Enquiries can be directed to Lynn Jones on 03 56221113 or email montoozi@iinet.net.au