Thank you to all of our donors who gave so generously in our End of Financial Year campaign.
From our beginnings almost 30 years ago, creativity has been a constant. Lyn William’s innovative vision has been made possible by individuals for whom supporting Gondwana Choirs is an investment in access to excellence for young people throughout Australia.
Our greatest advocates are parents of choristers who see firsthand an environment where young people have extraordinary and unique experiences that, for them, are normal.
A special thank you to the group of former choir parents who pledged to match individual donations up to $20,000. This total was met with over a week to go and we sincerely thank these donors for their belief in Gondwana Choirs.
These parents said to us that:
“Every parent enjoys seeing their own child up on stage and we certainly did that, but some of the most memorable and moving moments of our time with the choir have been seeing children who would not otherwise have had an opportunity like this, up on stage, singing their hearts out with huge smiles on their faces.”
Donations to Gondwana Choirs go to wide range of programs, projects and new works. One of the most valued areas that the organisation undertakes that is not part of core funding is outreach into regional and remote areas.
In late June, Lyn Williams and Amandine Petit led the SCC Junior Performing Choir on a four-day tour to Albury and Wagga Wagga where school children from across southern NSW had the unique opportunity to rehearse and perform with them. In preparation for the tour, local choral conductors were treated to advance workshops by Elizabeth Vierboom, Gondwana Choirs’ Associate Conductor, where they learned new repertoire and conducting techniques. Participation in these activities was provided to the local young singers at no cost to them or their families – a wonderful example of how individual donors to Gondwana Choirs are making a difference in the musical education of young people in regional areas.
Residential camps are an important component of all Gondwana Choirs programs, giving choristers the opportunity to work on new repertoire and extra activities in an intensive environment. In May this year, Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir undertook their annual camp where they had the opportunity to focus on learning newly-commissioned works by Alice Chance of stories from the Torres Strait. This camp is supported entirely by donors and makes a demonstrable difference in the choir’s musical development.
Christopher Zilm, Executive Principal of Cairns State High School, sees the impact that the GICC program has in the lives of his students:
“I don’t think people understand how much Gondwana has changed the lives of these young people – and their families. The support and opportunities provided have opened doors to the world and taken the students out of their regional and sometimes remote communities and shown them what they are capable of achieving in the world.”
Supporting Gondwana Choirs sustains these programs and so much more. Join the Gondwana Choirs community today and be part of our incredible journey.