It has been several years since the Waratah Girls Choir attended the Australian National Eisteddfod.
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But it plans to have impact in its return this year and Hunter residents get the chance to hear the choir's choral works first at the Newcastle Conservatorium on September 10.
The choir’s 34th annual concert will be held from 2.30pm in the Harold Lobb Concert Hall and provides the choir a final chance to finetune its performances for the national stage.
The Waratah Girls Choir will be Newcastle’s only representative taking part in the Australian National Eisteddfod in Canberra on September 17.
The choir was founded in 1982 by former artistic director Wynette Horne OAM.
Since then it has cemented itself as one of the most renowned choral groups Australia has to offer and, under Mrs Horne, won several national eisteddfods.
It is now under the charge of Horne’s daughter, Lindy Connett, and choir spokesperson Janelle Karbowiak said the choir was excited to be returning to Canberra for “the first time in several years” with a strong collection of songs.
“It’s hard to know how it will go and it will depend on what the judges are looking for,” Mrs Karbowiak said. “It is not a showy choir but the sound is exceptional. Lindy really stretches their ability to achieve a wonderful sound, so it will depend on whether the judges are looking for showy or technique.”
The choir will perform classical, sacred and contemporary works from Australian and international composers.
It has been rehearsing since the start of the year and its repertoire includes works from Australian artists Phil Tweed and Stephen Leek as well as German composer Johannes Brahms and American composer Irving Berlin.
The choir consists of “everyday girls” aged between 12 and 30 and Mrs Karbowiak said it brought together young girls to discover the joys of music as well as build friendships and develop strong character and leadership qualities.
“When Wynette started the choir, she believed that anybody can sing and always said if you love singing and you’ve got a heart to sing, we’ll find you a place,” Mrs Karbowiak said.
The choir toured the Northern Territory last year and has most recently toured internationally in Rome and Prague.
It has been invited to tour Japan in 2018.
The Waratah Girls Alumni Ensemble, made up of former Waratah Girls Choir members, will also perform at the choir’s annual concert.
Tickets for the 34th annual concert are available through waratahgirlschoirconcert.eventbrite.com.au