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Recent Tours

2nd National Bilby Day - Charleville
8-10 September 2006

Very early on Friday morning 8 September, around 60 QYC members, chaperones and staff left Brisbane by coach to attend the 2nd National Bilby Day festivities in Charleville. The first major stop on the way was Roma, where the choir performed to a small but appreciative audience at Chapters of Roma, a book and coffee shop in the centre of town run by Margaret Tiller, an ardent supporter of the arts. Chapter also provided lunch for the group prior to embarking on the final leg of the 11-hour journey to Charleville.

On the Friday evening, members attended a barbecue meet and greet, joined in bush dancing to the strains of local band Ned and the Kellies, and then spent a very exciting time at the Bilby Centre where they got to see bilbies scampering about under night lights and foraging for food in their natural environment.

Saturday morning saw performances at several locations down town, culminating in a 30 minute concert at Historic House. Then it was on to two major concerts at the Nocturnal on Saturday evening. During the second performance the choir presented the Bibly Brothers - Frank Manthy and Peter McRea - with the 1000 copies of the Bilbies' Lament CD that the choir put together to support the fundraising activities of the Save the Bilby Fund. Also at the Nocturnal the choir was presented with a plaque recognising QYC's appointment as official ambassador for the Fund. And our special congratulations to Hannah Wilson (Junior Conservationist of the Year) and Anya Winch (Junior Ambassador of the year) who were presented with their own commemorate plaques.

Whilst only short in duration, this was an immensely enjoyable and highly successful tour. The social interaction between all tour members, from the youngest to the oldest, was an absolute highlight. The friendliness of the locals and the event organisers, along with the enthusiasm with which our performances were received will remain in the memory for a long time to come.

We were invited back to the 3rd National Bilby Day even before the final performance was complete!

European Winter Tour - Finland, Estonia, Sweden, England
January 2006

On Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 40 members of VoiceWorks and Vivace Voices along with four members of staff assembled at Brisbane International Airport to board their Singapore Airlines flight for the first leg of the European Winter Tour, which was to take in Finalnd, Estonia, Sweden and England. We were pleased to welcome back Michelle Muirhead as accompanist, joining Sandra Milliken (Musical Director), Murray Milliken (Tour Manager) and Nicole Hartwich (Assistant Administrator).

The group’s forward journey to Helsinki via Singapore, Frankfurt and Stockholm, although long, proceeded smoothly, with the only ‘problem’ being the tedious check-in procedure at Brisbane airport and the eight sets of luggage that did not arrive with the group in Helsinki (but fortunately turned up on the next flight). Luckily the experience at Brisbane International was not repeated at any of the other airports we passed through!

Throughout the tour, accommodation was provided in a mix of hostels, hotels and home-stays. Everyone enjoyed the homestays in Finland (Turku) and Sweden (Uppsala). This gave our group the opportunity to meet new friends and to see how people live (mostly in small apartments) in these countries. While all of our members had gifts for their host families, many of them also received gifts from their hosts in addition to being provided with meals and accommodation!

Each of the host choirs made an outstanding effort to make us welcome and to look after us during our time with them. Their efforts on our behalf included:

• arranging concert venues and joint performances;
• provision of dinners, lunches and suppers (Klaukkala, Tampere, Turku, Uppsala, Southend, Farnham);
• organising social activities so that members could get to know each other better (Klaukkala, Uppsala);
• organising a morning of snow activities (Tampere);
• arranging buses to collect us from the station (Tampere, Uppsala);
• organising homestays (Turku, Uppsala);
• a two-hour city bus tour with guide (Turku);
• organising workshops (Turku, Stockholm, Southend); and
• a one hour guided walking tour (Uppsala).

The choir presented eight concerts during the course of the tour:

• at Temppeliaukio (the Church in the Rock) in Helsinki with Grex Musicus
• at the Church of Klaukkala with Laurus Nuorisokuoro and Laulu Joutsenet
• with Solenne in Tampere
• at St Michael’s in Turku with Chorus Iuvenalis and Camis Chamber Choir
• at Santa Clara’s Church in Stockholm (lunchtime concert)
• with Musikskolas Kammarkor in Uppsala
• with Southend Boys and Girls Choir in Southend, and
• with Farnham Youth Choir in Farnham.

While our visit did not coincide with the best time for presenting concerts – is was cold, dark early and followed a plethora of concerts over the Christmas period – it is estimated that QYC performed to in excess of one thousand people. We had prepared our own program booklet for distribution at the concerts, which explained who we were, presented Sandra’s CV, referenced our two CDs, listed and notated our repertoire, and provided a little Australiana by way of some favourite Aussie recipes. It was very well received.

QYC also sang for church services at Temppeliaukio in Helsinki and at St Olaf’s in central Stockholm. The opportunity to present concerts and sing at services in beautiful churches and cathedrals, many of them hundreds of years old, was a highlight of the tour.

All of the performances were extremely well received, even in those couple of instances when the audiences were only small, and we received several standing ovations. The repertoire focused on Australian compositions and our audiences were very interested to hear this material which is significantly different from their traditional fare. They also very much enjoyed our gospel music and were blown away by our choreography.

At each of the concerts we had copies of our two CDs for sale along with an assortment of bilbies in aid of the Save the Bilby Fund. By the end of the tour we had over 120 CDs (mostly New Leaves which had been prepared especially for the tour) and all of the soft and pewter bilbies we had taken with us.

QYC members presented two workshops for schools in Turku and Braxton (on the way to Southend), where Sandra took them through some new and novel warm-up exercises, the choir introduced them to an eclectic mix of Australian repertoire, and they learned some traditional Australian songs (with moves).

The group also had the great experience of a two-hour workshop with Gary Graden (the director of music at St Olaf’s in Stockholm) and composer Steve Dobrogosz. Steve is an absolutely amazing jazz musician/pianist and this was an opportunity to work with him on his very interesting Jazz Mass, which QYC hopes to present in Brisbane at some time in the future.

Free time of around one full day or more was available in Helsinki, Turku, Stockholm and London. Shorter times were available in Tampere, Tallinn and Uppsala. These periods gave members the chance to ‘do their own thing’ in smaller groups. Activities included shopping, sightseeing, ice skating, visiting museums, meeting up with friends, playing in the snow, restauranting, shopping, going to the theatre, shopping and, for a few, more shopping.

Having a bus organised to take the group to and from the two concerts in England also gave us the opportunity to incorporate a one hour tour of London highlights on the first day, and visits to Stonehenge and historic Winchester (the original capital and seat of Alfred the Great) on the second.

Prior to the tour, the tour group attended 12 additional rehearsals from July onwards to achieve the high standard of professionalism and performance excellence across the extensive repertoire required for the concerts and workshops throughout the tour. Their dedication, passion and sheer hard work were rewarded by audience responses that were highly appreciative and most enthusiastic.

Tour Photos

Click on the images below to see a full-size photo.

	Helsinki, Finland		Helsinki		Klaukkala, Finland
The first concert of our tour in Temppeleliaukion Kirkko - The Church in the Rock		On the steps of Helsinki Cathedral		Evening concert in the Church of Klaukkala
	Tallinn, Estonia		Tampere, Finland		Tampere
A day at leisure in the medieval city of Tallinn		In rehearsal with Solenne		Fun in the snow
	Turku, Finland		Turku		Stockholm, Sweden
Workshop with students at Puolalanmäki School		Concert with Chorus Iuvenalis and Camis Chamber Choir		Saint Clara Church - venue for a lunchtime concert
	Stockholm		Uppsala, Sweden		Uppsala
Workshop with Gary Graden and composer Steve Dobrogoz		"Down Under"		The QYC men teach our hosts the moves for "Banana"
	Brentwood, England		Southend, England		Stonehenge
Workshop with the girls at Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School		Performing with Southend Boys' and Girls' Choirs		Visiting the heritage site at Stonehenge
	Winchester, England		Farnham, England		London, England
The famous landmark, Winchester Cathedral		In concert with Farnham Youth Choir		Getting acquainted with the native fauna in Hyde Park

Choralfest 2004 - Adelaide
September-October 2004

On Sunday, 26 September, 28 members of VoiceWorks and Vivace Voices departed for Adelaide and Choralfest 2004, the bi-annual choral music festival conducted by the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA). Enroute with QANTAS, the group entertained with a rendition of the company’s theme song - I Still Call Australia Home - as well as singing “Balia de Sehu” in Venezuelan, complete with bongo accompaniment!

On arrival in Adelaide the choir checked into their accommodation at the YHA and then enjoyed a free afternoon exploring the shopping options, with many members stocking up on their groceries. To some, it was their first time grocery shopping and planning meals. It was quite an experience to see and hear about! Sunday evening was rehearsal time and then free time.

Monday was spent on a guided tour of the Barossa valley, which included wine tasting at three wineries, a winery tour (behind the scenes), and a three-course luncheon. Although the morning began with rain showers, the day quickly cleared up and the group had a marvellous time. Included was a visit to the “Whispering Wall”  – a phenomenon of great acoustic interest - and time to shop in Tanunda. The countryside was totally green – a stark contrast to dry Queensland.

Tuesday morning was a QYC community effort at pancake making with no less than eight chefs! Musical Director, Sandra Milliken, gave an hour long radio interview on 5MBS with another conductor, Michael Griffin from Brighton Secondary School. An afternoon tour of Haig’s Chocolate Factory not only smelt great but tasted great and had a great price-tag. Nevertheless, everyone left with bags of chocolates - "to support the industry". Tuesday evening, the group attended the opening night concert. Our "Announcement Quintet" was invited to perform their mobile phone song at the commencement of the concert, much to the delight of composer, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, who was in attendance.

Wednesday was the first full day of sessions, activities and concerts. Sandra presented a 30 minute vocal warm up session to the entire conference, well supported by QYC, who were the only choir wholly represented and on time for the start. The group rehearsed again in the afternoon and later attended the evening concert.

Thursday QYC attended the morning plenary session as well as the lunchtime concert and then had a brief rehearsal in Elder Concert Hall in the afternoon - loved the acoustics. In the evening, the Announcement group performed two pieces. QYC's concert program was very successful and it was quite special to have three of the composers (Walker, Mäntyjärvi and Milliken) on our program present for acknowledgement. The premiere performance of ”Waiting for the Sun” was well received and will be included on the upcoming recording "New Leaves". There were many positive comments from conductors who were very impressed with the choir, including Leon Thurman who we had met at Festival 500. 

After a short morning rehearsal on Friday, QYC performed at Scots Church for a lunchtime concert. The program presented a more eclectic mix of entertaining repertoire which was greeted by thunderous applause and positive comment. "Lulu's Back in Town", with choreography, was a showstopper!!

On Saturday, everyone attended the evening concert and then it was up early Sunday morning at 4.00 for the taxi at 5.00 and flight home at 6.15 am. A very quiet flight as many choristers were rather tired  by this time.         

Overall, a most enjoyable tour, in which everyone enjoyed some new and interesting experiences.

Canada
June-July 2003

During the first week of July 2003, 25 members of the Queensland Youth Choir (QYC) joined 38 children’s, youth and adult choirs from around the world at Festival 500, an international choral festival held every two years in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Sub-titled “Sharing the Voices”, this invitational festival is structured to provide participants with the opportunity to sing with and for each other, and to share this experience with the public.

Festival 500 was established in 1997 as part of the celebrations making the 500th anniversary of the arrival of John Cabot, under the patronage of King Henry VII of England, on the coast of Newfoundland in 1497.

During the week of the Festival, QYC presented four concerts under the direction of Sandra Milliken and participated in two massed choir performances, as well as attending workshops and three evening concerts featuring other choirs.

QYC’s principal “World of Music” concert was presented at Gower Street United Church in association with Bonisudumo Choristers from South Africa and Quintessential Vocal Ensemble from St John’s. The “Sold Out” sign went up early in the afternoon of the concert and meant an audience of approximately 800. In its segment, QYC presented a program of Australian repertoire that included two world premieres.

The program opened with Stephen Leek’s Tunggare and was followed by world premiere performances of Bora Ring – a setting of Judith Wright’s poem by Sandra Milliken – and Gawura, a commissioned work* by Dan Walker that depicts the annual migration of humpback whales along the east Australian coast. The enthusiastic audience was then treated to further sights and sounds of Australia through the evocative Three Bush Songs of Iain Grandage. The choir’s rendition of the Queensland Folksong Suite brought the audience to its feet and the program concluded with a choreographed performance of Kathy Hirche’s arrangement of Down Under. There followed a sustained standing ovation that affirmed the recognition of the Queensland Youth Choir as one of the outstanding performances at Festival 500.

The “World of Music” concert concluded with a massed choir performance of two gospel songs – It’s My Desire and Praise His Holy Name – under the direction of Horace Clarence Boyer, a noted authority on gospel music from the Smithsonian Institute. To produce this part of the program, Horace had worked with the three choirs for several hours earlier in the day. This session proved to be one of the highlights of the Festival, with the choristers learning so much about the history, meaning, style and presentation of gospel music from a wonderfully warm and inspiring person who is absolutely passionate about his music.

With their reputation now preceding them, each of the subsequent QYC performances received standing ovations and overwhelming praise from members of the public, fellow choristers and choir directors.

The “Concert in the Afternoon” at St Thomas Anglican Church was presented in association with the High Park Choirs of Toronto and Arviat Imngitingit, a group of Indigenous Inuit singers from Nunavut in the Artic region of Canada.

QYC’s lunchtime concert was scheduled for the foyer of the Aliant Telecom building, Aliant being one of the major sponsors of the Festival. While the choir had anticipated this concert would involve singing to the passing parade of lunchtime office workers, they were surprised to find, on arrival, a substantial audience already assembled complete with folding chairs, Aussie flags and assorted toy koalas, kangaroos and other Australian animals! At the end of the concert, these latter and their owners made, or renewed, acquaintance with the choir’s own mascots – “Bruiser” the kangaroo and “Crikey” the koala – who had become an integral part of the Australian contingent since their appearance at the Festival’s Opening Ceremony.

The final QYC appearance was the Sunday morning service at the First United Church in Mt Pearl (an outer suburb of St John’s) where the choir sang the Introit and the Collect, as well as presenting a selection of songs of praise in place of the sermon. Included in the program was a new setting of the 23rd Psalm composed especially for the tour by Jason Barry-Smith, a founding member of QYC and now a professional singer and performer.

Festival 500 concluded with the Grande Finale concert in Mile One Stadium. Playing to a capacity audience of around 6000, the program included performances by the massed children’s choirs under the direction of Erkki Pohjola, the massed adult choirs with Bobby McFerrin, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. QYC was part of the adult project, which brought together approximately 600 members of the various adult choirs in a performance of selected choruses from Carmina Burana, accompanied by the NSO.

Throughout the week, QYC members had the opportunity to attend a number of workshops presented by experts in various fields associated with choral performance. The most popular workshops included those by Leon Thurman dealing with vocal health, Horace Boyer’s “Come on children let’s sing”, South African traditional and gospel music with Ludumo Magangane, and Bobby McFerrin.

The 2003 Festival 500 was an extremely well organised and exciting cultural event, set in the very picturesque and friendly environment of St John’s, the capital city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It brought together some of the best choirs from the province, other parts of Canada, the United States of America and countries around the world. It featured truly outstanding professional guest performers in Bobby McFerrin, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, and the mind-blowing group Rajaton from Finland. Guest conductors included Erkki Pohjola (founder of the Finnish Tapiola Choir), Brainerd Blyden-Taylor (an internationally respected conductor, clinician and adjudicator) and Horace Clarence Boyer (an outstanding performer of gospel and jazz music).

The young people ranging in age from 15 to 24, who made up the QYC tour choir, were immersed in an experience that will remain with them for many years to come. The opportunity to travel overseas (many for the first time), to sing with and for so many others who share their love of choral performance, to learn so much about singing through workshop and rehearsal activities, and to form friendships with other young people from around the world was an incredible experience.

Prior to the tour, members attended approximately 36 hours of additional rehearsals during the first half of the year to achieve the high standard of professionalism and performance excellence across the extensive repertoire required for the individual and massed concerts. Their dedication, passion and sheer hard work were rewarded by audience responses that were far beyond expectation. The Queensland Youth Choir has much to be proud of, with its experience at Festival 500 confirming its world-class status as a vital and respected youth choir.

Tour Photos

Click on the images below to see a full-size photo.

	Tour group		Opening ceremony		Swap meet
At the final rehearsal prior to departing for Canada		Ready for the Opening Ceremony, armed with Aussie flags, and accompanied by mascots "Bruiser" the kangaroo and "Crikey" the koala.		Swapping pins carrying the logos or emblems of choirs, states and countries was a favourite activity.
	Rehearsals		Down Under		Gospel music
Rehearsals on-the-run and in exotic locations were a feature of the week.		QYC's performance of Down Under at their World of Music Concert was a hit!		Performing gospel music with Bonisudomo Choristers and Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, directed by Horace Boyer (at the piano).
	Horace Clarence Boyer		Free day		In concert
QYC with their favourite conductor of gospel music.		The free time on Wednesday provided members with an opportunity to explore St John's and its environs.		The "Concert in the Afternoon" at St Thomas Anglican Church.
	Meeting the fans		Warm-ups		Grand finale concert
QYC members mobbed by an enthusiastic audience following their lunchtime concert at Aliant Telecom.		Members of the Adult Project massed choir warm up in preparation for rehearsal with Bobby McFerrin.		The massed choir performs Carmina Burana under the direction of Bobby McFerrin and accompanied by the Newfoundland Symphony.