A feature of the annual National Choral School is Gondwana Composer School which offers an inspiring and formative experience for emerging composers. Over two weeks, composers become immersed in the highly idiomatic nature of writing for voices and vocal ensembles.
Leading Australian composer, Dr Paul Stanhope, once again shares his knowledge in this area guiding an intensive first week of the Gondwana Composer School. Those who attend the School are mentored throughout the entire creative process, including composition, revision, rehearsal, workshopping, performance at in-house concerts and recording.
Annie Kwok takes over for the second week of Composer School and she leads a new element of the choral experience with a special cross-cultural project. Kwok’s passion and love of youth choral music has seen her works performed at festivals in Adelaide, Toowoomba, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A music teacher, Kwok has also been Composer-in-Residence for Young Adelaide Voices and the Sydney Children’s Choir.
Gondwana National Choral School 2019 is held at the University of NSW and runs from 7 – 20 January. As well as composer workshops the school includes a Conducting Academy and the Choral Ideas Symposium for primary and secondary music educators. Some 300 young people aged 10-25 attend National Choral School each year.
Applications close Monday 24 September.
