Pemulway

The Kelly Gang comprises former choristers of the Australian Boys Choir and is named in honour of the Choir’s founder, Vincent J Kelly. The group’s focus is on training rather than performance, with heavy emphasis on vocal technique – especially learning to cope with the “new instrument” of the changed voice – and musical development. The group has not performed often in public, although they sing from time to time with their “big brothers”, The Vocal Consort, and the boys of the Australian Boys Choir.

The Birralee Boys were formed especially for the Pemulwuy Male Voice Festival and are made up of boys who are already part of the Voices of Birralee program as well as new boys from the local community. Aged between 10 and 14 years they have had a wonderful time preparing their music at weekly rehearsals and both conductor and singers have thoroughly enjoyed the unique ‘boys only’ atmosphere. 

The Chamber Choir is one of five choral groups at Brisbane Grammar School.  It is an auditioned group of thirty treble singers who are all undertaking vocal tuition.  They sing in three parts and regularly perform at School Concerts, Church Services and Nursing Homes.  In 2009 the Chamber Choir toured to Tasmania, performing at the ASME National Conference as well as the Hobart Festival of Voices.  In 2010 they were invited to perform at the KMEIA National Conference in Melbourne, taking with them the exciting new Paul Jarman piece “Parkour”, which they commissioned.  They are very excited to be involved in the Pemulwuy Festival and are greatly looking forward to hearing outstanding male choirs from around the country. 

The Grammarphones is an auditioned TTBB ensemble consisting of the most experienced singers from Brisbane Grammar School’s extensive choral program. Their repertoire is wide and varied, ranging from Renaissance to contemporary styles. They also regularly explore new Australian choral repertoire and enjoy collaborating with local composers. Their outstanding work was recognised in 2010 on their concert tour of Europe when they were awarded the City of Vienna Prize for Most Outstanding Choir of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival. They were one of the guest choirs in the inaugural Pemulwuy Festival and are delighted to be involved again in 2011.

The Brotherhood from St Laurence’s College has a strong reputation as a substantial Male Changed Voice School Choir in Queensland. The primary role of the choir is to lead the school in worship but the ensemble is also involved in concerts in the community. The choir is auditioned by attendance. Those who are willing to attend rehearsals and concerts are welcome. The choir has toured interstate and overseas and enjoys working collaboratively. Last year the choir was honoured to perform with the Queensland Pops Orchestra and the QPAC choir in their Best of British concert.  

The Canberra Grammar Chamber Choir was originally formed in 2006 as a touring choir to represent Australia and the school at official events associated with the celebration of ANZAC Day on the Somme, France and in London, England. The Choir has undertaken two European tours; In  2007 and  2009, performing at Westminster Abbey London, St George’s Chapel Windsor, Christchurch Cathedral Oxford, Notre Dame, St Madeleine and under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.   In 2010 the Chamber Choir became a permanent part of the music program at Canberra Grammar School, drawing membership from students in year 5 to 12. 

The Hutchins School is an independent K – 12 boys’ school located in Sandy Bay, overlooking the Derwent River in Hobart. The school is one of Australia’s oldest, founded in 1846. The Hutchins Senior Choir comprises boys from years 7 – 12 with changed or changing voices, and performs repertoire from all periods and styles. In 2010 the boys combined with St Michael’s Collegiate Girls’ School to perform John Rutter’s Requiem.  The Hutchins Chamber Choir is a small touring group drawn from the Senior Choir. Their first trip was 2010 with the TSO Chorus, performing Mahler’s Eighth Symphony at the Adelaide Festival.

Kenmore State High School is one of Queensland’s finest secondary State Schools. Located in the Western suburbs of Brisbane, the enrolment has grown to almost 1700 students in 2011. The school has a long tradition of choral programs, but the unique Male Chorus was started by Brett Gordon in 2008, and participated in the first Pemulwuy Festival in that year. Since then the choir has won Gold Awards in the Prestige Music competitions in 2009 and 2010.  In 2009 Male Chorus was one of five choirs that made it to the Brisbane Metropolitan Finals of Choral Fanfare – a State School Choral competition. The group is open to all boys who love to sing, is therefore non-auditioned, and rehearse for 30 minutes a week. The group has grown to 35 members and enjoys singing a variety of original and arranged works by their conductor Mr Brett Gordon. 

Melbourne High School is a select entry government school which was the 2009 national winner of ABC Flame Awards for its whole school singing program. There are also some choirs at MHS including this small auditioned group, The Melbourne High Singers. Founded in 1978 as a pop choir, the group has diversely sung backings for Barry Manilow, also performed Schoenberg’s “Survivor from Warsaw “and recorded for Jonathan Walsh’s recent solo CD “With A Song in My Heart”. The group has a strong focus on student compositions and arrangements in its 43 minutes of rehearsal each week.

The Senior Choir is boys from years 8-12 at the school who love singing enough to commit to rehearsing on Fridays at lunchtimes. Since 2008, when Peter Deane took over as conductor, they have toured overseas twice, won first prizes at local choral competitions and performed at many school and community events. They have sung full services in St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide, 90th anniversary services for the fallen on the Somme in France and in Westminster Abbey, sung in cabaret and even at barbershop events!   Thank you to Paul Holley, Paul Jarman, Noel Ancell , the Spooky Men and all who have gone before for all the inspiration! 

The Southport School has a long, proud tradition of choral music dating back to the early part of the last century.  The Senior School choir, aptly named ‘Band of Brothers,’ consists of 30 boys from year 8 to year 12 who meet once a week to rehearse a wide range of music that includes both secular and sacred repertoire.  The Choir participates in many school and public performances and is often asked to sing at important Gold Coast ceremonial functions.   In 2011, we are thrilled to have Paul Jarman work with the boys as their Choral Director.  He will, of course,  provide to the students his wonderful expertise, enthusiasm and  pure joy of music making!