About the Choir

The Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir (GNICC) gives talented Indigenous children the opportunity to share the voice of their generation with the nation and the world.

Under the direction of Artistic Director & Founder Lyn Williams oam, the GNICC developed out of a successful collaboration between the Sydney Children’s Choir and children in communities across the Torres Strait Islands during 2008 – 2009. GNICC choristers join with their peers from across Australia to take part in musical, social and cultural education and performance opportunities. Their inaugural performance in 2008 was with Gondwana Voices and Sydney Children’s Choir at the Papal Welcome for World Youth Day in Sydney.

 

Watch a short DVD about the Gondwana National Indigenous Children's Choir’s first performance season.

 

With the support of Major Partner Qantas, the GNICC most recently performed with the Sydney Children’s Choir to an audience of over 10,000 at The Dreaming Festival, one of Australia’s largest international Indigenous arts festivals in Woodford, Queensland. (pictured above)

 

The GNICC is featured in the new Qantas television commercial launched in 2009. Tyus Arndt, one of our choristers from the Torres Strait Islands, is the feature face for the campaign.

Gondwana Choirs is currently working to secure additional corporate, philanthropic and government funding to further develop the GNICC program beyond 2010.

 

Joining the Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir

 

A three-step pathway exists for entry into the Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir.

 

Indigenous children aged approx. 8 – 16 with musical potential are initially identified through the Community Workshop Program; singing and movement workshops in schools and communities with a high proportion of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children. The workshops are led by Artistic Director Lyn Williams and highly respected Indigenous musicians and artists such as Aboriginal singer Deborah Cheetham and Torres Strait Island choreographer Sani Townson.

 

Participants in the Community Workshop Program are invited to audition for a Regional Music Camp. Here Indigenous children have the opportunity to learn new skills, draw on their creative talents and meet other talented Indigenous children from their region, again working with some of Australia’s most respected conductors and music educators. Gondwana Choirs is developing a rich repertoire of song in Indigenous languages and collaborates with local linguists, musicians and artists for the Regional Music Camps.

 

The final step is then into the GNICC for major national and international performance opportunities.  These are an important goal for the children to work towards and a means for them to inspire their peers from across the country and share their talent with Australia and the world. With the support of Major Partner Qantas, the GNICC most recently performed with the Sydney Children’s Choir to an audience of over 10,000 at The Dreaming Festival, one of Australia’s largest international Indigenous arts festivals in Woodford, Queensland.

 

Should you know of anyone who would be interested in participating in the Choir please contact erica@gondwanavoices.com.au.

 

 

 

Supporting the choir

 

‘They’re pioneers!  That’s what I always remind them because that’s what they are.  They are ambassadors for their people; their professionalism and example paves the way for future opportunities being opened to other Indigenous children.  Our involvement with Gondwana Choirs and all that has stemmed from it has been incredible and our lives are all the richer.’
– Rubina Kimiia Music teacher Education Queensland
and GNICC chaperone

 

Gondwana Choirs has been a client of Artsupport Australia since 2005 and is working to secure philanthropic support for the continuation of the Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir into a fully national program by 2012. If you are able to support this valuable initiative, please contact our Philanthropy Manager Clare Ainsworth on 02 9251 4226 or at clare@gondwanachoirs.com.au.

 

Founding Partner and Major Partner,
Community Workshop Program

Major Partner