The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (SPC), Australia's oldest and most prestigious iconic choir, continue to share the joy of choral music to both audience and singers. At the helm is its charismatic and dynamic Music Director Brett Weymark.
Passionate choristers. Fun. Demanding. Exciting. Therapeutic. Fulfilling.
As the largest choral group of Australia, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs mainly comprises the following: Chamber Singers, Symphony Chorus, Festival Chorus, and VOX youth group led by Liz Scott, Music Director.
The Chamber Singers. The dynamic Chamber Singers are renowned for their exceptional performances and professionalism. It comprises of 32-voice choir, auditioned annually to ensure the highest standard is maintained. As a flexible ensemble, they are also be engaged for commercial performances and corporate functions, Royalty and foreign dignitaries. It also performs annually in events such as the City of Sydney.
The Symphony Chorus. The Symphony Chorus, with up to 150 members, performs in concerts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra headed by David Robertson, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. It performs alongside the world's best conductors and soloists at the highest standard of excellence.
VOX. SPC's young adult ensemble led by Music Director, Liz Scott. It comprises of singers aged 18-30 (orig. 16-26) performing programs of classical, popular and contemporary works. Recent highlights have included a recording with Aria award-winning composer and pianist, Sally Whitwell, appearances at the World Netball Championships, and in the Video Games concerts at the Enmore Theatre. In 2015 they performed in A Concert for Peace with the Festival Chorus. They also performed in Holst:The Planets for Earth Hour and Danny Elfman Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Festival Chorus. The Festival Chorus is the largest of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, with 350 to 400 members who come together twice a year to perform works from a diverse musical range. Singers are selected during Festival Chorus Open Days, which are held twice each year. To join Festival Chorus all singers must attend a voice placement workshop in early February. Each session will take around an hour and a half. At the workshop, the Music Director, possibly with other vocal associates, will conduct voice placements in order for him to assess singing ability and to determine vocal range. It also comprise warm-up exercises, simple melodies, scales and easy harmony pieces to give one the feel of being part of a wonderful sea of sound. Its performances are often in collaboration with other organizations such as musical theatre company.
Recent previous Festival Chorus programs include Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Leonard Bernstein’s hit musical Wonderful Town, Rossini Stabat Mater and Elgar Dream of Gerontius. The choir has premiered compositions by Matthew Hindson and Carl Vine, and collaborates with organisations such as the Sydney Youth Orchestra. In 2018 Festival Chorus will present Haydn's The Creation and Bernstein's Candide.
Joining will give you the opportunity to perform not only with hundreds of other passionate singers but also with professional orchestral players and some of Australia’s best soloists. In 2018 you will perform in the iconic Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House and the stunning Centennial Hall at Sydney Town Hall.
Here's a sneak peek of our rehearsals for George and Ira Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing performed Sept 26 and 27, 2015, timely too, for the composer's (George Gershwin) birthday. In 1932, Of Thee I Sing was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Three other major events include: ChorusOz, Carols at the House & Handel's Messiah.
More recently, other initiatives have transpired, including: Singing at the House collaborated with the Sydney Opera House, commissioning and presenting Australian composers' works, and the Discover Series workshop.
How to Audition at Sydney Philharmonia
Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus Open Day Audition. In keeping with the times, there have been new developments in the FC audition process.
Here's Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy" Excerpt 2, performed during SSO's Season Opening Gala 2012. Sydney Symphony Orchestra with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs - Symphony Chorus, Chamber Singers and VOX. Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor, Lorina Gore soprano, Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano, James Egglestone tenor, Michael Nagy baritone.
Sharing a Favourite Quote:
"Sing, then. Sing, indeed, with shoulders back, and head up so that song might go to the roof and beyond to the sky. Mass on mass of tone, with a hard edge, and rich with quality, every single note a carpet of colour woven from basso profundo, and basso, and baritone, and alto, and tenor, and soprano, and also mezzo, and contralto, singing and singing, until life and all things living are become a song..." ~ Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley
Resources:
Beethoven Symphony No. 9: Ode to Joy Excerpt. Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs / Ashkenazy. YouTube, uploaded by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Accessed November 12, 2016.
Facebook.com/SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs. Accessed December 6, 2014.
Highlights of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed December 6, 2014.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Festival Chorus (Audition 2011). Accessed December 6, 2014.
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. YouTube uploaded by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed, November 12, 2016
The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
Twitter.com/SydPhil
Note: Originally published Dec 6, 2014. Latest update, November 12, 2016.
(c) December 2014. Tel Asiado. Latest update November 12, 2016. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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