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Gondwana Voices

Introduction: Gondwana Voices, the national children's choir of Australia, is made up of young singers aged 10-16 from every State and Territory. It was formed in 2008 and grew out of a collaboration between children from Sydney and communities across the Torres Strait Islands.

The GNICC has been a resounding success. In just two years since the Choir’s debut at World Youth Day - in front of a live audience of 250,000 and a television audience of millions - we have commissioned a new repertoire of music in Indigenous languages, performed overseas and in Australia at major arts festivals and events, and most importantly made a positive impact on the lives of over 750 Aboriginal and TSI children and their communities in Queensland, NSW, VIC and NT. The Choir is featured in the Qantas ad campaign and most recently sang on an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show filmed in Sydney. 

 

Conductor: Lyn Williams

Australia's leading director of choirs for young people

Founder of Sydney Children's Choir (1989), the national children's choir Gondwana Voices (1997), the Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir (2008);

Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) In January 2004 and the APRA‐Australian Music Centre Vocal/Choral Work of the Year in 2009;

 

 Grupo de Canto Coral

Introduction: GCC-Grupo de Canto Coral (Choral Singing Group) was founded in 1973 by its current Artistic Director, Néstor Andrenacci. The chamber choir is dedicated to the performance of choral music from a variety of periods including the contemporary, some works in its repertory having been written specially for the group.

GCC has performed in the most important venues in Argentina as well as in Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Switzerland, Sweden and the UK.

GCC has been awarded prizes for performances in Argentina and abroad: Award for Best Performance of a New Work at the First Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition (Germany 1989), First Prize, Coca-Cola in the Arts and Sciences, specialty a cappella performance (Argentina 1990). In 1998 Argentina's House of Representatives recognized the group's career and that of it's Director. More recently, the group was awarded the prize for best vocal chamber group of 1999, authorized by the Argentine Music Critics Association. It was nominated for this same prize in 2001. The group received the Konex Award, specialty Choral Music, in 2009.

 

Conductor: Néstor Andrenacci

Acted as Director, Teacher of Choral Conducting and singer since 1973.

 

In addition to GCC-Grupo de Canto Coral, he directs the Choir of the Argentine National Bank, Trilce (the choir of the Libraries for the Government of the City of Buenos Aires), the Cantorìa del Socorro and the Francisco Guerrero Madrigal Group.

He co-directs the Buenos Aires Orfeón.

 

He is Chair of the Department of Choral Direction in the College of Arts and Musical Sciences at the Catholic University of Argentina.

 

He has given concerts in Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Spain, France, Mexico, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

 

He also regularly works as a Guest Director, teaches courses, gives workshops and serves on panels of judges in Argentina and abroad.

 

In 1999 and in 2009, he received the Konex Certificate of Merit for Choral Direction.

 

 

Vokalna Akademia Ljubljana

Introduction: Vokalna akademija Ljubljana was established in September 2008 and consists out of the most experienced Slovenian choir singers. After a successful launching concert tour in Sardegna (Italy) in September 2009 – appearance at the Concordia vocis festival in Cagliari – the ensemble participated at the 57th international polyphonic competition “Guido d'Arezzo” 2009 in Arezzo (Italy) and astounded both the audience and the jury by its performances, winning first places in four categories (in all enrolled ones), as well as the Grand prix Citta' Di Arezzo 2009. This classified Vokalna akademija Ljubljana, as the first male choir in the history of the European Grand Prix competitions, to the competition for the European grand prix 2011 for choral singing (held in Varna, Bulgaria). Vokalna Akademija Ljubljana has among five other competing grand prix winning choirs (from the international choir competitions in Tolosa, Spain; Tours, France; Maribor, Slovenia; Debrecen, Hungary; Varna, Bulgaria; and Arezzo, Italy), as the first male choir in the history of this competition, finally won the prestigious “Grand Prix Europe 2010” award.

 

Afterwards the ensemble has, upon a special invitation, successfully participated at the world-renowned festival of professional vocal ensembles “Polyfollia 2010” in St. Lo, France (Normandy) and performed on numerous concerts in Austria, Croatia, Italy, Switzerland and Slovenia. In September 2011 Italian Ministry of Culture and the Guido d’Arezzo foundation awarded Vokalna Akademija Ljubljana (for their significant contribution to the world’s choir music development) with prestigious “Guidoneum Award 2011”.

 

The artistic director and conductor of Vokalna akademija Ljubljana is maestro Stojan Kuret. The ensemble also features the pianist Mojca Prus, the soprano Martina Burger (also as an assistant for vocal technique), the cellists Urša Kržič, Kaja Kapus and the mezzosoprano Barbara Sorč.

 

Conductor: Maestro Stojan Kuret (Italy)

 

Graduated conducting from the Music academy, University of Ljubljana and piano from the Giuseppe Tartini conservatory in Trieste, where he has been professor since 1983;

Received the Gallus commendation for extraordinary achievements in music IN 1984;

The artistic director and conductor of the renowned APZ Tone Tomšič choir of the University of Ljubljana with which he reached prestigious international artistic achievements (five Grand prizes – Tours 1999, Varna 2001, Gorizia 2001, Maribor 2002, Arezzo 2009, three-times finalist and twice the winner of European Grand prix for choral singing in 2002 in Arezzo and 2010 in Varna – as the only conductor in the history of this competition)

In 2002 he received the Commendation of the city of Ljubljana and in 2002 the Golden commendation of the Public fund for cultural activities of the Republic of Slovenia for artistic direction of the APZ Tone Tomšič choir.

The co-founder, artistic director, and conductor of Vokalna akademija Ljubljana, founded in September 2008.

 

 

 Young People's Chorus_choir

Introduction: YPC, founded by its Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez in 1988, has become one of the most celebrated and influential children’s choruses in the world, performing around the globe, releasing acclaimed recordings from across the musical spectrum, and collaborating with many of the most highly regarded composers, performers, and organizations of our time.  Through its celebrated Transient Glory® series of concerts, publications, and CDs, the chorus has commissioned more than 60 new works from composers that include Pulitzer Prize, Oscar, and MacArthur “genius” grant winners.

 

Most recently, the IFCM selected five choruses to represent five continents at the World Choral Summit in Beijing in July 2012. YPC was selected to represent North America. YPC was also selected as one of only two youth choruses worldwide to participate in the biennial Polyfollia world choral music showcase being held in Normandy, France, in November 2012.

 

The chorus holds almost a dozen gold medals won in international choral competitions as well as many other awards and honors are Chorus America’s Education Outreach Award and two Chorus America/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming.

Conductor: Francisco J. Núñez

Artistic director of the award-winning Young People’s Chorus of New York City™, is a visionary composer, conductor, leading figure in music education. In 1988 he founded the YPC to provide children of all ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds with a safe haven for personal and artistic growth. As a composer he has written compositions and arrangements in all musical genres for choirs, orchestras, and solo instruments and receives numerous commissions. He is also sought after as a guest conductor of professional orchestras, children’s choirs, and as a master teacher and advisor for choral workshops, demonstrations, and festivals nationwide. Mr. Núñez has greatly expanded the repertoire of choral music for children with dozens of new works commissioned from today’s most respected composers through his Transient Glory® series of concerts, CDs, and symposium in collaboration with Carnegie Hall. This commissioning program was recently expanded to Radio Radiance™, a new radio, digital media and internet program, presented in partnership with American Public Media. Mr. Núñez serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Chorus America and has received numerous awards, including a 2009 ASCAP Concert Music Award, the 2009 New York Choral Society's Choral Excellence Award, and the 2005 Liberty Award from the New York Post. Hispanic Business magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics of 2005, and La Sociedad Coral Latinoamericana honored him as 2009 Man of the Year.

 

The Asia Pacific Youth Choir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The IFCM Asia Pacific Working Committee was first formed at the IFCM Asia Pacific Choral Summit (Wuxi, China) in 2009 and was re-organized at the most recent Asia Pacific Choral Summit held in Macau, in February 2011. With committee members - conductors, administrators and other patrons of the choral arts - representing a cross-section of voices of the region, we hope to foster and nurture the development of choirs and choral music in the Asia Pacific region. Through collaboration and exchange, the APYC hope to learn from one another. Through music, the APYC hope to connect with each other, to bring together as many different peoples as possible for a singular purpose - to be instruments for peace and understanding. We began this journey of hope with the formation of the Asia Pacific Youth Choir which, after a successful debut in Macau (Feb 2011), continues to be our sounding symbol for respect, love and joy among the peoples of this culturally diverse region.

 

 

 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Choir

Junita Lamprecht-Van Dijk established the uniquely multi-cultural NMMU Choir (formerly UPE) in 1994. Sought after at choral festivals internationally they were invited to perform in, amongst others, Spain, Norway and the Phillipines. In 2007 the Choir performed in Jacksonville (Florida), with the Lyric Opera Orchestra (Civic Theater, Chicago), the Ravinia Festival and Hyde Park (NY State). Recently they performed with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (2008). In association with Norway, Junita introduced an academic choral conducting program at NMMU. Recently, Junita conducted and presented seminars at Texas State University and has received several awards for her developmental work including the Port Elizabeth Mayor’s Citizen of the Year award. Junita appears in Who is Who in Choral Music.

 

Junita Lamprecht-van Dijk (Director, NMMU Choir/Choral Conducting) writes:

 

 

“It excites me to know that the NMMU Choir’s professional and musical standing has grown exponentially, both internationally and nationally as a result of the recent highly-publicized and successful tours to the US and locally, as well as the enormous success of the Choir’s acclaimed Plea from Africa CD-DVD release (locally and overseas) - a record of a remarkable musical achievement and stylistic excellence in such culturally diverse a group.

 

 

Quite apart from enabling lesser financially endowed choir members to experience the privilege of travel, world experience and concomitant personal growth, the impact of the successfully integrated multicultural NMMU Choir has been immense and immeasurable. One small example will illustrate this point: after a performance in President Roosevelt’s old Dutch Reformed Church in Hyde Park, New York State last year, audience members were visibly moved by the obvious success of the Choir’s integration and performance energy, and in the words of one woman, ‘I can never express what this concert meant to me and how it changed my perceptions about South Africa…’ ”

 

 

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: National and International

 

 

Between 1994 and 2004 the NMMU Choir (formerly UPE) under Junita Lamprecht-Van Dijk enjoyed numerous national and international invitations, including

1996 Performing before President Nelson Mandela (Port Elizabeth)

1996 & 2000 Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, Oudtshoorn: Main Festival.

1996 & 2000 FICU International University Choir Festival, Valencia, Spain;

1998 Centennial Celebrations of Philippine Nation, Manila, Philippines.

1999 Performing before Queen Elizabeth II

1998 & 2002 Grahamstown Arts Festival: Main Festival.

1999 Voices International Choir Festival: Trondheim in Norway.

2000 Featured in a film based on the life of Nelson Mandela commissioned by Norway and filmed on Robben Island.

2004 The Windhoek International Arts Festival, Namibia

2007 Endler Hall, Kuesta University Choral Festival: Stellenbosch Horizons Tour to USA - invited by the Sister Cities Association, Jacksonville, Florida and the Chicago Children’s Choir

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE USA HORIZONS TOUR 2007

 

Nelson Mandela Trust fundraising concert at SA Embassy, Chicago - part of outgoing SA Ambassador Barbara Masekela’s farewell to the US.

Opening Concert, Ravinia - largest music festival in Chicago

Joint performance with the Chicago Children’s Choir - world premiere, Windy City Songs by South African composer, Péter Louis van Dijk

Concerts: Du Sable Museum for African American Cultural History, Chicago.

Concerts: Hyde Park (NY State) hosted by the DR Church, New York.

Concerts: Jacksonville, Florida (Univ. of North Florida, St John’s Cathedral, etc)

 

Performances at the University of North Florida and St Augustine were planned to coincide with the visit to Jacksonville by the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Nondumiso Maphazi, and her entourage. These performances were also attended by the Mayor of Jacksonville and other dignitaries.