Time flies when you’re having fun and our choristers, artistic team and organisational team have achieved a great deal over 2019! Let’s reflect on the year that was!
JANUARY – FEBRUARY
Rehearsals for Voices of Birralee commenced for all ensembles and our first performance of the year was Brisbane Birralee Voices (BBV) performing at a Lord Mayor’s Citizenship Ceremony, conducted by Jenny Moon.
MARCH
March saw 12 of our Resonance of Birralee choristers perform at the very special Blue Planet II with Queensland Symphony Orchestra and hosted by Joanna Lumley.
In March rehearsals intensified for the over 70 choristers preparing for Voices of Birralee’s biggest tour of its 24 year history, which also marked the ninth and final tour of our five year commitment to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
APRIL
April began with the Europe Touring Choir’s Dedication Service and Concert, with the day kicking off with an interview with ABC Brisbane.
The trip was massive for our choristers, and entourage, which included Founder and Artistic Director Julie Christiansen OAM, Birralee Blokes conductor Paul Holley OAM and BBV conductor Jenny Moon, travelling from Australia, to Croatia, Austria and Italy, and France for the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux.
A highlight was singing in beautiful venues, and sharing the experience with families back home.
MAY
The Birralee Blokes performed for the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s 20th Anniversary, while our Birralee Singers, Birralee Kids and Birralee Piccolos performed at the annual Cupcake & Cushion Concert.
BBV and the Birralee Blokes also performed at Queensland Pops Orchestra’s Celtic Mist at QPAC.
MAY – JUNE
May to June was another busy time, as Voices of Birralee’s artistic and organisational teams, along with many choristers and parent volunteers, dug deep to support the running of the 52nd Queensland Youth Music Awards.
JULY
July saw Resonance of Birralee sing at the Sydney Opera House for the Gondwana World Choral Festival.
Additionally, Resonance of Birralee and Birralee Blokes performed to support men’s mental health at Queensland Music Festival’s Help Is On Its Way concert.
AUGUST
Our Birralee Blokes performed at St Paul’s Prom to celebrate 160 years since St Paul’s was built. The concert featured Brisbane City Pops Orchestra, Ipswich City Symphony, West Moreton Anglican College Chorale and West Moreton Anglican Mezzo Voce in a spectacular evening of music.
Birralee also held two concerts, Choral Kaleidoscope, featuring BBV and the Birralee Singers, and Wonder, featuring Resonance of Birralee.
SEPTEMBER
With 2019 marking the Birralee Singers’ touring year, choristers headed on their ‘The Meeting Place WA Tour’. Highlights included meeting and singing with the Bunbury Men of Song and swimming with dolphins!
OCTOBER
Resonance of Birralee performed in Eumeralla: A War Requiem for Peace which demonstrated the conflict and loss associated with the 23 year Eumeralla wars between the Gunditjmara clans of South Western Victoria and the European settlers. Some of the choristers spoke about the moving experience in our blog.
Another highlight was our gala concert, Birralee Celebrates 2019. It involved performances from all of Birralee’s ensembles, including from our annual adult community project choir, Birralee Recycled.
A group of Resonance of Birralee and Birralee Blokes also performed at Queensland Pops Orchestra’s Three Amigos at QPAC.
NOVEMBER
November kicked off with BBV performing a fun concert with The Idea of North at Brisbane Powerhouse.
And some of the Birralee Singers volunteered their time, and voices to perform a radio ad for leading child protection organisation, Act for Kids’ Christmas campaign, One Less Present.
DECEMBER
Finally! We’re in December, with festive activity including a group of Resonance of Birralee choristers performing carols at the Act for Kids’ One Less Present launch and featuring on Channel 7 News.
Other festive performances have included the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols (Combined group – BBV and Birralee Singers) and A Touch of Christmas (Resonance of Birralee and the Birralee Blokes).
During the season, choristers are also performing at Queensland Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Combined BBV and Resonance), The Lights of Christmas at St Stephen’s Cathedral (Birralee Blokes) and QPAC’s Spirit of Christmas (BBV).
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And that’s a wrap of all the major events of 2019! If we missed anything or if you’d like to share any of your highlights from the year, email marketing@birralee.org or comment below!
Thanks for an amazing year. We’ll see you in 2020 as Voices of Birralee celebrates its 25th anniversary!
If you haven’t already, make sure you register and join us for another year of singing!
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