'A-Chord' concerts to help Sydney’s Street Choir

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A passion for music and a desire to support the community’s disadvantaged are at the very heart of special concert events involving Matthew Flinders Anglican College students during their Sydney Music Tour this month.

The two concerts, celebrating the concordance of musical diversity and community, will be held in Sydney’s City Recital Hall, Angel Place on Friday, June 26. A-Chord Poster

Hosted by Matthew Flinders Anglican College, the “A-Chord” concerts will showcase the talents of three very different groups.

Just like the combination of a “chord” (the harmonious blending of three or more individual notes) and “accord” (to harmonize or go together), this shared passion for music and desire to support the community’s disadvantaged are at the very heart of the special concert events.

Bringing their talents to the stage will be the inspiring Sydney Street Choir, pictured above (photo courtesy John Marmaras), the versatile University of Newcastle Choir, pictured below, and more than 100 students from Flinders performing in the choir, band and string orchestra.

These community concerts have been organised as part of Flinders’ 20th anniversary celebrations.

This is the College’s 15th annual music tour (2008 tour group pictured below), and the efforts to host this community concert in Sydney - a major event in the tour program - fits with the College’s endeavours to foster community spirit through music. The College’s efforts have already been recognised by a National Teaching Excellence Merit Award presented to the Music Department in 2005 in recognition of community merit.

Matthew Flinders Anglican College’s Music Program has gained renown for its exceptional quality and outstanding achievements. The College’s music ensembles compete regularly in regional and state-wide competitions receiving gold and platinum awards. In 2006 the College Chorale, String Orchestra and Wind Symphony performed in the Sydney Opera House as part of the International Music Festival and were awarded gold and silver prizes. They have performed in venues including the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney Town Hall and the BMW Edge Theatre, and have also toured Europe and New Zealand.

Flinders Head of Music Nick Campbell said this year’s A-Chord concerts were a gesture of support for the Sydney Street Choir, which was similar to the Melbourne-based Choir of Hard Knocks.

Since 2001, the Sydney Street Choir has been empowering listeners and themselves through the healing power of music and song to find pathways out of social isolation.

“There’s a side to music that requires musicians to be worldly, to have a greater understanding than their immediate community,” Mr Campbell said.

“This will create an opportunity for our students to reflect that even though these people may appear disadvantaged or different to themselves, they still have the capacity to work together and share and express emotion.

“Music is a common language, regardless of background. I’m hoping these concerts will create a sense of emotion in our students, and be an enrichment to their own music experience."

Mr Campbell said the College was relying on the involvement of the audiences to support the concert events, with entry by donation and all money raised going to help the Sydney Street Choir.

Sydney Street Choir

Members of the Sydney Street Choir are homeless or disadvantaged men and women, and the only way the choir can continue to sing is through the generosity of people supporting it.

Choir members have been confronted with some of the toughest challenges life can present, and they inspire audiences with their personal stories of how they overcame their challenges, and realised their dreams. They perform mostly original songs in a unique theatrical style.

The choir has performed on various TV shows, at Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Conference Centre, and regularly visit hospitals and charity organisations. Recently they visited the Choir of Hard Knocks to join them on stage at Melbourne Town Hall.

Choir director Peter Lehner said: “Members of the Sydney Street Choir are living testament to the changes that can be made in people’s lives through the power of song and the support of the community.”

University of Newcastle Chamber Choir

Also appearing at the evening concert will be the University of Newcastle Chamber Choir. This choir won national acclaim last year when it took first place in Channel 7’s Battle of the Choirs, hosted by David Koch.

Formed in 1995, the choir consists of students and community members, all with a love of singing and who enjoy performing challenging and varied repertoire. The choir has toured internationally four times, and performed in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, Westminster Abbey, and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

In 2007, the choir won all three of the divisions entered at the National Eisteddfod held in Canberra: the Open Sacred Choral Award, the Open Contemporary Australian Choral event and the inaugural Australian Open Choir Championship.

The choir has a wide-ranging repertoire, from the Renaissance to music from this century and includes a number of Australian works.

The venue - Angel Place

The A-Chord concert venue, Angel Place, while not as famous as the Sydney Opera House, has been heralded by The Bulletin as an “acoustic and aesthetic triumph”.

Based on the classical configuration of the 19th Century European concert hall, the shoebox-shape design includes gently raking stalls and two galleries that wrap around both sides and rear of the auditorium creating a sense of intimacy between audience and performers. 

The 1238-seat concert hall regularly plays host to Musica Viva Australia, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – and now to Matthew Flinders Anglican College.

Concert date and bookings

The A-Chord concerts will take place on June 26 at 2pm and 7.30pm. Due to prior commitments, The University of Newcastle Choir will only be appearing at the evening event. Entry is by donation with all proceeds going to the Sydney Street Choir.

To book phone the City Recital Hall Angel Place on 02 8256 2222 or 1300 797 118 or visit www.cityrecitalhall.com

Matthew Flinders Anglican College will hold a Pre-Tour Music Concert on Friday, June 5 at the College Sports Centre from 7pm.

For information email Flinders music event co-ordinator Kay Jackson at flindersmusic@mfac.edu.au or telephone 5477 3258.

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