Lyn Williams, Artistic Director and Founder of Gondwana Choirs, has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours with an upgrade from her Medal of the Order (OAM) to become a Member of the Order (AM), in recognition of her services to the Arts and work with young people, in particular the founding and development of the Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir.
Thirty years ago, Lyn founded the first of her choirs, the Sydney Children’s Choir. Under Lyn’s inspirational leadership, the Gondwana Choirs organisation has grown to include 23 ensembles of the Sydney Children’s Choir; six choirs, a composer school and conducting academy as part of the Gondwana National Choirs; and the Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir (GICC).
Created in 2008, GICC offers a pathway for Australian Indigenous young people to take part in musical, social and cultural education and performance opportunities, at no cost to participants. Performance activities in recent years for GICC have included a tour to Austria in 2017, and the ensemble Marliya presented a thrilling performance at this year’s Sydney Festival of Spinifex Gum.
Lyn’s exceptional skill in working with young people is recognised internationally for its high artistic quality and ground-breaking innovation. Her global reputation has paved the way for this year’s inaugural Gondwana World Choral Festival, a week-long festival in July in Sydney, attracting eight of the world’s best choirs for children and young people.
Gondwana Choirs joins with the rest of Australia’s arts communities in congratulating Lyn on her successes so far and can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!
