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. Jan directed the Chorale until June 2010. Over the years it has grown in size to nearly 50 members. The current musical director is Christine Mercer.
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 is a division of the West Gippsland Chorale for junior singers between the ages of 10-16 years. The youth choir was formed in 2006 with 10 members by Chorale member and former opera singer, Lynn Jones. In April 2007, the fledgling choir was sponsored by West Gippsland Chorale and incorporated in the structure of the Chorale. The Chorale has a history of promoting emerging musical talent in West Gippsland and the sponsorship of this community youth choir is an extension of its charter to foster and promote choral singing in this area. The choir is conducted by Lynn Jones, who is assisted by Janice Eshuis and Ruth Eshuis.
Since becoming part of the Chorale, Leading Notes Youth Choir has grown at a rapid rate and now boasts a membership of nearly 30 young singers - boys and girls.
Leading Notes Youth Choir made its performance debut at the Chorale's "World in Song" concert in May 2007 and was enthusiastically received by audiences for their energetic rendition of two African songs.
In August 2007, Leading Notes Youth Choir performed at the West Gippsland Music & Drama Eisteddfod, achieving Equal First Place in the Youth Choir section and winning the inaugural Karen Lindorff Perpetual Award for "Most Promising Choir".
It is anticipated that the youth choir will be a regular feature at upcoming Chorale concerts.
New members are most welcome and no formal singing experience is required. Basic choral technique and training are provided by musical directors; Lynn Jones, Janice Eshuis and Ruth Eshuis. Lynn and Janice are both singers with the West Gippsland Chorale.
The youth choir's accompanist is Janice Eshuis.
Leading Notes Youth Choir holds weekly rehearsals on Fridays during school term from 4-5pm at the Christian Family Centre, Tarwin Street, Warragul.
Enquires can be directed to Lynn Jones Ph. 5622 1113