1. Educational Objectives
The Sydney Children's Choir's Choral Training Program aims to develop participants' skills in the following areas:

Singers in school Years 1 and 2 are not required to take a placement test, but are instead placed in the Choir on a first come, first served basis.

Choristers joining in school Year 3 or above need to take a simple, non-intimidating placement test to determine which of our choirs is appropriate for them. If successful, singers are placed in one of four Saturday training choirs: the Paul Jarman Choir, the Dan Walker Choir, the Michael Atherton Choir or the Paul Stanhope Choir. Placement tests are held several times throughout the year depending on the availability of places in the Choir. A fee of $15 is charged for sitting the test.

In addition, internal placement tests are held every year to assess each chorister's progress and to determine whether they are still in the choir most appropriate to their skills and needs.

For information on how to apply, CLICK HERE and complete the Enquiry Form.

3.Saturday Choral School
Saturday Choral School is a busy day of rehearsals and classes held at The Wharf Rehearsal Room, Pier 4, Hickson Road, Millers Point. Six choir groups of the Sydney Children's Choir's rehearse and there is also a full timetable of theory and musicianship classes, as well as sight-singing classes for senior choristers.

Whilst choristers in the Saturday choirs can expect to take part in one major performance during the year, in general these choirs are training choirs. Learning to sing in a choir, without the pressure of an upcoming performance, is the first vital part of training with the Sydney Children's Choir.

Music Craft & Musicianship
Developing knowledge of music theory, aural skills and sight singing are vital to becoming a good musician and enable our choristers to participate in performances at a professional level. We offer AMEB Music Craft and AMEB Musicianship classes on Saturdays. In 2008 and beyond, AMEB Music Craft Levels Preliminary and Level 1 will replace our Theory Grades 1 and 2 classes. Music Craft has aural skills, theory and sight singing components which combined, we believe, has more of an immediate practical application for our choristers than just Theory. We will still offer Grade 3 Musicianship in 2008. Please note that Grade 1 Music Craft or Grade 2 Theory are prerequisites for entry to the Senior Choir. From 2009 onwards, Preliminary Music Craft will be a prerequisite for entry to Stephen Leek Choir. Choristers may study Music Craft, Theory and Musicianship outside of the Sydney Children’s Choir and choristers are not required to do AMEB exams but may sit our in-house test instead. We recommend that choristers begin their Music Craft training when they are in Year 4 at school.

Vocal Coaching
Vocal coaching is also offered on Saturdays. Vocal coaching classes are available for children of all different stages of vocal development. They are designed to help choristers develop confidence and vocal technique and are based on fun and enjoyable repertoire. The classes contain a maximum of 4 children and run for 30 minutes. We recommend that choristers take part in vocal coaching for no longer than one term so that the maximum number of choristers across the Choir can benefit from this opportunity.

Choristers in school Years 1 and 2 each have their own special choirs. The size of these groups is kept deliberately small to encourage individuality within the group and so as not to be intimidating. Singers are taught songs and musical games to develop skills in pitch, rhythm, concentration and co-ordination, as well as learning how to use their voices properly.


4. Sydney Children's Choir's Weekday Choirs

Senior Choir
The Senior Choir is the Sydney Children's Choir's main performing and touring choir. It has a very strong reputation, both in Australia and overseas, for being a choir of exceptional standard which performs interesting and demanding repertoire. Such a reputation is gained and maintained through the work and dedication of the choristers. As well as attending weekly rehearsals, choristers must attend a three-year sight-singing course held on Saturday afternoons. It is exceptionally rare for new auditioning choristers to be directly offered a place in the Senior Choir.

Elena Kats-Chernin Choir & Stephen Leek Choir
These choirs focus on developing the advanced choral and performance skills required for the performance of choral music at a high level. A strong emphasis is placed on the development of part-singing and sight-singing skills, and on assisting choristers in learning to work independently within the group. Choristers are expected to take a professional attitude towards their choral singing; therefore good behaviour and attendance at all rehearsals are required. These choirs increasingly represent the Sydney Children's Choir in public performances.

5. Membership

The Sydney Children's Choir is operated by Gondwana Voices, a company limited by guarantee. One parent in each family is required to become a member of the company. The parent member is then entitled to vote at the AGM and also to stand for election to the Board. Membership costs $40 per year (included in the term fees) and members' liability is limited to $20. The memorandum and articles of the company are available for viewing at the office. For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Cameron, Gondwana Voices General Manager,

on (02) 9251 4226 during business hours.

6. Funding and Fees

2008 Choral Training Program Fees Per Semester (i.e. 2 school terms)*

Minisingers Choirs: $351

Paul Jarman Choir: $392

Dan Walker Choir: $392

Michael Atherton Choir: $468 (inc GST)

Paul Stanhope Choir: $468 (inc GST)

Elena Kats-Chernin Choir: $502 (inc GST)

Stephen Leek Choir: $502 (inc GST)

Senior Choir: $502 (inc GST)

* Company membership, Music Levy and Uniform Hire are included in the above fees.

Music Craft & Musicianship Fees 2008

In 2008, AMEB Music Craft and Musicianship exams take place in on 25 August (Music Craft) and 27 August (Musicianship), therefore our classes to prepare students for these exams run from Music Craft and Musicianship classes run during NSW state school terms from Saturday 9 February – Saturday 23 August.

To make the classes as accessible as possible, fees for Music Craft and Musicianship are payable in two equal instalments, the first at the start of Semester 1 and the second at the start of Semester 2. The fees include AMEB exam fees and text book costs (NB Music Craft text books come with accompanying CD)

Fees Per Semester

Preliminary Music Craft: $323 (inc GST)

Grade 1 Music Craft: $326 (inc GST)

Grade 3 Musicianship: $329 (inc GST)

Bursaries

The Sydney Childrens Choir has a Bursary Program for children who may otherwise not be able to participate in our activities due to financial circumstances. For information about applying for a bursary for your child, please contact our General Manager, Alexandra Cameron, at alexandra@gondwanavoices.com.au or call 9251 4226.