Gondwana Choirs

Cairns State High School

Venue Partner

Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir’s long-standing relationship with Cairns State High School is an integral part of the choir’s program. The choir and school proudly recognise the importance both play in each other’s culture.

“It’s the access to experiences that make most people take for granted nowadays – that’s what makes Gondwana so special. I really don’t think people understand how much our young Indigenous students gain from being part of the program.

I also don’t think people understand how expert and technical the choirs are. They are truly impressive artists.”

Christopher Zilm
Executive Principal
Cairns State High School

Blitz Books

Supporting Partner

Samantha Coates is an Australian pianist and teacher with over three decades of experience in both private and group piano tuition. She is also the author and publisher of BlitzBooks, a music education series that has brought fun and laughter to the areas of music theory, instrumental technique and sight reading.

CMC Combined Management Consultants

Supporting Partner

Combined Management Consultants (CMC) has been in business since 1980. We specialise in providing expert and insightful guidance to help our clients assess and implement the most effective information systems and technology strategies to support their business.

CMC has specific expertise in the areas of  Software Evaluation and Selection, IT Strategic Reviews, Project Management, Project Governance & QA Review and Change Management.

CMC have a substantial team of highly qualified and experienced consultants who are completely committed to delivering results and to completing projects on time and on budget. The consistent achievement of this objective has made us a valued partner to our clients.

Clayton Utz

Supporting Partner

Pro bono is a fundamental part of Clayton Utz.Our pro bono practice has always been about access to justice. We act for low-income and disadvantaged people who cannot obtain Legal Aid, and for the not-for-profit organisations which support them, no matter where they are in Australia.

Clayton Utz is serious about pro bono best practice. We were the first large Australian law firm to establish an in-house pro bono practice; the first to appoint a full-time pro bono partner; and the first to sign the National Pro Bono Target. Since 1997, our commitment to pro bono has helped to shape what it means to be a leading Australian law firm.

Packer Family Foundation

Trusts and Foundations

Crown Resorts Foundation and the Packer Family Foundation provide support for Gondwana Choirs activities in Western Sydney, including:

the Western Sydney Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir (2015-2018), providing world-class training and performance opportunities to Indigenous children in Western Sydneyy, and
the newly formed Sydney Children’s Choir program at Fairfield Public School, where strong interest from schools and a significant supportive relationship with STAARTS, we have commenced engaging schools with a high percentage of refugee children.

Crown Resorts Foundation

Trusts and Foundations

Crown Resorts Foundation and the Packer Family Foundation provide support for Gondwana Choirs activities in Western Sydney, including:

• the Western Sydney Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir (2015-2018), providing world-class training and performance opportunities to Indigenous children in Western Sydneyy, and
• the newly formed Sydney Children’s Choir program at Fairfield Public School, where strong interest from schools and a significant supportive relationship with STAARTS, we have commenced engaging schools with a high percentage of refugee children.

The Magnolia Foundation

Trusts and Foundations

Gondwana Choirs is most grateful to the Magnolia Foundation for its ongoing support of Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir, enabling talented young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the opportunity to participate in one of the country’s most exciting performing and  choral training groups.

Marion & E.H. Flack Trust

Trusts and Foundations

One of the most important core values of Gondwana Choirs is that of Accessibility. We believe that all our young people deserve the opportunity to participate in our programs and to perform at a professional level with the finest ensembles in the country.

The conduit for these affected choristers and their families is Gondwana Choirs Bursary Fund which is supported by personal giving and trusts and foundations. Each year, 100% of the Bursary Fund is distributed to successful applicants. Applications are considered by a Board-appointed panel consisting of Executive Director Bernie Heard, Board Member Karen Mundine (CEO, Reconciliation Australia) and the relevant program managers.

Gondwana Choirs is most grateful for the major contribution to the Bursary Fund from the Marian & E.H Flack Trust, enabling choristers to participate in Sydney Children’s Choir and National Choral School.

The University of Notre Dame

Major Partner | Venue Sponsor

The University of Notre Dame is Gondwana Choir’s newest Education Partner, hosting weekday and Saturday rehearsals of Sydney Children’s Choir at the University’s Broadway Campus.

UNSW Australia

Major Partner | Venue Sponsor

Gondwana Choirs is excited to be major partners with UNSW for National Choral School since 2017. This two-week intensive camp makes the most of the University’s extensive rehearsal venues and residential accommodation. Additionally, the University’s primary performance space, the John Clancy Auditorium, is at the heart of the annual Festival of Summer Voices, the performances that are the culmination of the national ensembles during the residency.

Indigenous Langauge and Arts

Government Partner

The Indigenous Languages and Arts program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to revive and maintain languages, and to develop and present art.

Support from ILA is enabling Gondwana Choirs to commission new works in language and collect local Indigenous stories to be told in music and books illustrated by choristers.

Create NSW

Government Partner

Gondwana Choirs is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Create NSW is the NSW Government’s new arts and cultural driver, which brings together arts, screen and culture functions in a new integrated entity. Create NSW was established on 1 April 2017 and has responsibility for many of the functions previously undertaken by Arts NSW and Screen NSW.

The new entity forms part of the Arts & Culture Division within the Department of Planning and Environment and is responsible for furthering Government’s vision for NSW to be known for its bold and exciting arts and culture that engages the community and reflects the state’s rich diversity.