Adelaide Chamber Singers is immensely proud to bring together five of Australia’s outstanding chamber choirs on Kaurna country for the first ever national Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival.
As Adelaide Chamber Singers approaches its fortieth birthday it asks: What better way is there to celebrate than by making sublime choral music with other distinguished choristers from around Australia?
For three thrilling days from Friday 6 October to Sunday 8 October 2023, five of Australia’s leading chamber choirs will converge in Adelaide for the very first Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival — a sonically sublime celebration of choral music stemming from the early Renaissance through to the genre’s thriving present-day — presented over five unique concert programs, with seven world premiere performances.
Hosted at three iconic Adelaide choral venues (Elder Hall in the city and North Adelaide’s St Peter’s Cathedral and Christ Church) and featuring more than 100 choral singers from the equally revered Adelaide Chamber Singers (SA), Brisbane Chamber Choir (QLD), Polyphonic Voices (VIC), Sydney Chamber Choir (NSW) and Voyces (WA), this unique music festival was conceived and curated by Dr Carl Crossin OAM — Adelaide Chamber Singers’ Founder and Conductor Emeritus.
“The Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival is the natural extension of over 10 years of connection and collaboration that I’ve been privileged to experience first-hand between Adelaide Chamber Singers and several of Australia’s finest chamber choirs and their conductors,” says Dr Crossin.
“Choral music has always been integral to who I am as a musician and, as well as sharing the pure joy of experiencing a live choral performance with both seasoned and new audiences, I hope this festival encourages even greater ‘choral connectedness’ across the country.”
Initially slated for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival returns bigger than originally planned, with options for audiences to attend performances in person in venues renowned for their excellent acoustics, or to live stream the concerts via the Australian Digital Concert Hall, from the comfort of home.
The imaginatively diverse three-day program comprises a global repertoire of choral music written by established and emerging creatives — including 16 works by Australian composers, 12 from women composers, and four world premiere performances.
“I believe this program succeeds in showcasing the rich history of choral music, as well as both the maturity of Australian choral music and our flourishing contemporary community,” says Dr Crossin.
“Along with exquisite works by established Australians such as Paul Stanhope and Joe Twist, and South Australia’s own, Anne Cawrse, concertgoers can look forward to innovative new music by rising stars like Elizabeth Younan and Lachlan McDonald.” says Dr Crossin. “We also have a wonderful opportunity this year to contribute to global celebrations marking the great William Byrd’s 400th anniversary, and have included four works from this giant of the Renaissance within our program.”
Each concert features at least three of the participating choirs, with all five combining on 8 October for an unmissable finale featuring the world premiere performance of There Will Come Soft Rain — composed by Dr Crossin and commissioned by Adelaide Chamber Singers.
“Sunday will be a fitting conclusion to a festival celebrating Australian choral collaboration, composition, and performance,” said Dr Crossin. “performing around the audience in the magnificent St Peter’s Cathedral — including myself and the brilliant Christie Anderson, Adelaide Chamber Singers’ current Artistic Director — everyone will feel positively ‘bathed’ in sound!”
Conductors
Sam Allchurch, Sydney Chamber Choir (NSW)
Christie Anderson, Adelaide Chamber Singers (SA)
Dr Robert Braham OAM, Voyces (WA)
Michael Fulcher, Polyphonic Voices (VIC)
Dr Graeme Morton, AM, Brisbane Chamber Choir (QLD)
Concert 1 | 6pm Fri 6 Oct 2023
Christ Church
62-72 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide
- Adelaide Chamber Singers
- Sydney Chamber Choir
- Voyces
Concert 2 | 8pm Fri 6 Oct 2023
Christ Church
62-72 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide
- Adelaide Chamber Singers
- Brisbane Chamber Choir
- Polyphonic Voices
Concert 3 | 6pm Sat 7 Oct 2023
Elder Hall
University of Adelaide, North Tce, Adelaide
- Adelaide Chamber Singers
- Brisbane Chamber Choir
- Polyphonic Voices
Concert 4 | 8pm Sat 7 Oct 2023
Elder Hall
University of Adelaide, North Tce, Adelaide
- Sydney Chamber Choir
- Voyces
- Adelaide Chamber Singers
Finale | 3pm Sun 8 Oct 2023
St Peter’s Cathedral
27 King William Rd, North Adelaide
- Adelaide Chamber Singers
- Brisbane Chamber Choir
- Polyphonic Voices
- Sydney Chamber Choir
- Voyces
The 2023 Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival is presented by Adelaide Chamber Singers in association with Brisbane Chamber Choir, Polyphonic Voices, Sydney Chamber Choir, and Voyces — with support from Arts South Australia and the Adelaide Chambers Singers Supporters Fund.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW – book online via adelaidechambersingers.com
Single tickets: Adults $40 + Booking Fee / Concession $35 + Booking Fee
Four Concert Package*: Adults $140 + Booking Fee / Concession $120 + Booking Fee
*Package option does not include Sunday Finale concert
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