CALL OUT TO CHOIRS - Woodend Winter Arts Festival

3:00am, Sat, 10 Jun 2023

  • Event Details
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  • Organisers: WOODEND WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL (WWAF)
    Type of event: Choral Festival
    Start time: 3:00am
    End time: 10:00pm
    External website related to this event: https://www.trybooking.com/CFNXN
    Venue: Choral Marathon: Woodend Community Centre & High Street Woodend, Victoria
    Description:
     










    CALL OUT TO CHOIRS!
    Woodend Winter Arts Festival has teamed up with the Australian National Choral Association to present the inaugural WWAF Choral Marathon, as part of the Woodend High Street Festa on Saturday 10 June 2023.
     
    WOODEND WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL (WWAF) HIGH STREET FESTA
    For the first time, on Saturday 10 June, Woodend Winter Arts Festival brings colour, light and sound into High Street by night with a projected art exhibition on the heritage buildings of Woodend, extended trading hours and musicians and song warming the winter’s night. Artwork by local artist Mary Larnach-Jones will illuminate Woodend’s beloved facades and music will be heard from street organs and hundreds of voices together in song. Alongside the street festivities will be the Choral Marathon in the Community Centre Hall, showcasing choirs from across Victoria and a glorious range of choral talent.
    WWAF CHORAL MARATHON
    The Woodend Winter Arts Festival Choral Marathon is a five-hour long event that will showcase ten great Victorian choirs on the Kings Birthday long weekend amidst one of Victoria’s best food & wine regions. Ten choirs will each perform a 25-minute program of their own choral music to an audience of up to 100 people in the Woodend Community Centre Hall and also perform a 10-15 minute set to an outdoor audience on Woodend High Street. At the conclusion of all the choirs’ indoor performances, the singers from each of the choirs will come together in High Street for a mass choral experience, under the hands of Choral Director Jenny Mathers, to the backdrop of the illuminated outdoor art exhibition for the delight of festival audiences and local community members alike.

    SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
    Saturday 10 June 2023
    3.30-8.30pm Choral Marathon: Woodend Community Centre & High Street
     8.40-8.45pm Big Sing conducted by Jenny Mathers: Woodend High Street

    CHOIR PARTICIPATION BENEFITS
    • Performance experience at one of Australia’s most established and renowned regional arts festivals
    • Sing under the direction of Jenny Mathers
    • Exposure to new audiences
    • Hear, meet and mingle with singers from other choirs in a relaxed and fun festival setting
    • Spend time in an inspiring artistic regional festival environment
    • Fundraising (see more details below)

    REGISTRATION, TICKETING AND FUNDRAISING
    Each choir that submits an application must pay a non-refundable registration / administrative fee of $50.

    Woodend Winter Arts Festival sells tickets to all festival events. When patrons purchase a ticket to the Choral Marathon event, they will specify which choir they would like their ticket purchase to support. Tickets are $20 each or $15 for pensioners, students and children. There will also be the option to make a donation nominated to support your choir, for patrons who would like to support your choir and the festival but are unable to attend in person.

    Of each ticket sold to the Choral Marathon event, your choir will receive 50% of the ticket value of the sales specified to support your choir. Following the festival, this amount will be communicated to you, and will be paid upon receipt of a valid invoice.

    Registrations open on Sunday 5 February and close on Sunday 5 March 2023. Choirs will be notified of selection in early March and programming details will be confirmed by 21 March.

    Register your choir at: https://www.trybooking.com/CFNXN
     
    TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    CHOIR ELIGIBILITY
    Choirs are selected based on a number of criteria including diversity and quality of choral technique.
    Choir performances should include a minimum of 10 singers. There is no maximum number of singers although space limitations would suggest a maximum of around 80 people per choir.
    For logistical reasons, a cappella performances are preferred. However, ANCA will provide an electronic keyboard with weighted keys in the hall should some repetoire require it.
    Choirs are welcome to use other acoustic instruments for accompaniment at their discretion.
    Choirs must be able to present a well-rehearsed 25-minute performance of choral repertoire. The performance on High Street will be a repeat of repertoire presented in the indoor performance.
    There is no specification on the genre of choral music performed (eg. classical, opera, sacred, broadway, contemporary, etc). Diversity is encouraged!
    Choirs must be prepared to receive and rehearse in their own time the piece that will be provided for the finale mass outdoor flashmob sing.
    Choirs are to be at least 80% adults. Predominantly children’s or teens choirs are not eligible.
    Choirs from Melbourne and regional Victoria are encouraged to register.
    Choirs must hold a Certificate of Currency for their own Public Liability Insurance.
    Choristers are to be available to be in Woodend for the full timing of the event (3.30-8.45pm).

    VENUE & EQUIPMENT
    The Choral Marathon performances will be held at the Woodend Community Centre, cnr High St & Forest St in Woodend in the Hall.  The Choral Marathon venue contains a small stage. There is no piano supplied at the venue, however an electronic keyboard with weighted keys will be provided. The room seats approx. 100 people. Choirs are required to supply their own risers, music stands, microphones and any accompanying instruments. Choir members will have access to a warm-up space and green-room space. Woodend Winter Arts Festival can take no liability for any items lost or damaged during participation in the Choral Marathon. Outdoor performances will be held on High Street by the Woodend Clock Tower. The event of inclement weather conditions an alternative suitable location on High Street will be activated. There will be no supporting infrastructure (staging/risers/amplification) for these performances. Note that Woodend is quite chilly in the winter so choristers are advised to dress appropriately!

    PROMOTION
    The event will be promoted through Woodend Winter Arts Festival’s promotion channels, gaining significant national exposure and promotion of the event and the choirs. The Australian National Choral Association will promote the event through its website and newsletters, reaching a national readership. Selected choirs are requested to promote their participation in the event through their own promotional channels. The event may be filmed for archival and promotional purposes.
    Register your choir at: https://www.trybooking.com/CFNXN
    We are using TryBooking to assist us with collecting registration fees and information. Note you are not booking a ticket to any event, and check-out through Trybooking does not guarantee selection for WWAF Choral Marathon 2023.
     
    ABOUT WOODEND WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL (WWAF)
    For nearly two decades the Woodend Winter Arts Festival has brought together acclaimed Australian and international talent with the music, literary and arts community of the stunning Macedon Ranges over the June (Queen’s/King’s Birthday) long weekend. The result is a world-class showcase of vibrant, traditional and thought-provoking performances and events in the heart of one of Victoria’s best food and wine regions. www.woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au/

    JACKY OGEIL, FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
    Dr Jacqueline Ogeil (B.Mus, B.Mus Ed, M.Mus, PhD) is an internationally respected artistic leader, performer and musicologist with over 30 years experience in education and the arts. Founder and Artistic Director of the highly acclaimed Woodend Winter Arts Festival, and Director of the Baroque ensemble Accademia Arcadia (finalist for 2007 ARIA award in Classical Music) she was Executive Director of Montsalvat, Director of Duneira. and is currently Director of Music at Braemar College. In 2014 she was a recipient of a Margaret Lawrence Bequest for Women in Arts Leadership, in 2015 was named by Westpac and the Financial Review as one of the 100 Women of Influence and in 2019 awarded an Australia Day Arts Ambassador Award from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. www.accademiaarcadia.com/biographies/jacqueline-ogeil

    AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHORAL ASSOCIATION
    The Australian National Choral Association is Australia’s peak body for choral music. The formation of The Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) took place in 1989 and was seen as a benchmark for development in quality and quantity of choral directors, choirs and choral literature. The objectives of the association are to stimulate interest and participation in choral music and related activities, linking choral musicians throughout the country and nurturing growth of all choral activities. www.anca.org.au

    JENNY MATHERS, CHORAL MARATHON DIRECTOR
    Jenny Mathers is the Director of Music at Korowa Anglican Girls’ School and Principal Artistic Director of Chime Choir. She has enjoyed many forms of music making including playing the clarinet (L.Mus.A), accompanying students on the piano (A.Mus.A) and singing (AMus.A) in choirs including the notable Ensemble Gombert. Jenny has studied conducting throughout her career, including a Masters of Education majoring in Choral Conducting from the Florida State University in 1997. Jenny is currently the Secretary of the Victorian/Tasmanian branch of the ANCA Committee.

    www.chime.org.au/chime-choir-staff.html