Australia's National Children's Choir - Gondwana Voices
Guest Artists
Prue Ashurst
Conductor Junior Gondwana
Prue Ashurst is a graduate of the University of Western Australia with a Masters in Performance (Choral Conducting), Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Music (Performance). In 1985 she joined the staff of Churchlands Senior High School as Choral Specialist and in seven years established an excellent reputation for SATB a cappella singing both in Australia and abroad. Her school choirs have sung in Geneva, London, Singapore and Wales. Since 1992, Prue has freelanced as a guest conductor with the UWA Choral Society, WAAPA Conservatorium Chorale, WASO Youth Choir and the WA Opera.
Conductor Junior Gondwana
Prue Ashurst is a graduate of the University of Western Australia with a Masters in Performance (Choral Conducting), Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Music (Performance). In 1985 she joined the staff of Churchlands Senior High School as Choral Specialist and in seven years established an excellent reputation for SATB a cappella singing both in Australia and abroad. Her school choirs have sung in Geneva, London, Singapore and Wales. Since 1992, Prue has freelanced as a guest conductor with the UWA Choral Society, WAAPA Conservatorium Chorale, WASO Youth Choir and the WA Opera.
Prue delights in working with children and has been a regular guest conductor for the Australian National Choral Association's Primary Schools Choral Festival for a number of years. In 1998, Prue debuted with WA Opera in their sold out season of Britten's Noye's Fludde for the Awesome International Children's Festival. For six years, she was Education Manager for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and in 2000 commenced her appointment as conductor of the Perth Undergraduate Choral Society. Prue is currently Director of Music at Penrhos College in Perth.
Mark O'Leary
Principal Guest Conductor Gondwana Voices
Mark O'Leary is the founder and Director of the Young Voices of Melbourne, and the publisher of the Young Voices of Melbourne Choral Series. He is also the Principal Guest Conductor of Gondwana Voices with whom he has produced three CD recordings. He has conducted choirs in schools and the community for many years, and has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in music education and children's choirs, and Australian choral music. With Young Voices of Melbourne he has produced six CD recordings, toured seven states and territories of Australia and made four international tours to Europe, South Africa and North America. Mark presents many workshops each year on choral music education throughout Australia and is guest conductor at many festivals. Mark is currently President of the Victorian Branch of the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia. He holds a Masters of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education and is the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship.
Principal Guest Conductor Gondwana Voices
Mark O'Leary is the founder and Director of the Young Voices of Melbourne, and the publisher of the Young Voices of Melbourne Choral Series. He is also the Principal Guest Conductor of Gondwana Voices with whom he has produced three CD recordings. He has conducted choirs in schools and the community for many years, and has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in music education and children's choirs, and Australian choral music. With Young Voices of Melbourne he has produced six CD recordings, toured seven states and territories of Australia and made four international tours to Europe, South Africa and North America. Mark presents many workshops each year on choral music education throughout Australia and is guest conductor at many festivals. Mark is currently President of the Victorian Branch of the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia. He holds a Masters of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education and is the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship.
