"Empowering Trans Voices in the Choral Context"

2:15-3pm Saturday

Elliot Rentoul

Elliot Rentoul

Elliot Rentoul is a Brisbane-based composer, music educator and choral specialist. They are passionate about inclusive music education that sparks curiosity and fosters community. In 2017, Elliot was awarded First Class Honours for their research project “Queering the Chorus: A Case Study of the Brisbane Pride Choir”, which was a pilot study on the LGBTIAQ+ choral movement in Australia. Elliot was appointed Musical Director of the Brisbane Pride Choir in late 2018, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Elliot was also appointed Musical Director of the Brisbane Combined Unions Choir in 2020 and is a current member of the Brisbane Chamber Choir.

Tina Beh

Tina Beh is classroom music specialist at Pine Community School on the northside of Brisbane. Originally working in high school settings, Tina has been in the primary classroom space since 2010. Her passion and joy in facilitating music making with others for health and wellbeing finds expression in the classroom and in the community choir she began in 2010 and continues today. Tina has completed all four levels of the Orff Schulwerk Teacher Training Courses, which has greatly supported her ability to facilitate joyful, inclusive and collaborative music making spaces. She is currently Vice-President of QOSA (Queensland Orff Schulwerk Association). Tina regularly presents workshops for QOSA and has begun her journey as a presenter of the nationally accredited Orff Schulwerk Teacher Training Levels Courses. She is delighted to create opportunities for the Orff Schulwerk approach to be experienced by all.

Candace Kruger

Candace is a Yugambeh yarrabilginngunn (song woman) and proud Kombumerri (Gold Coast) and Ngugi (Moreton Island) Aboriginal woman. She is an author, musician, composer, as well as educator, and is the founder and director of the Yugambeh Youth Choir. Candace’s Doctoral study and research interests are investigations in the fields of Indigenous musicology, Indigenous studies and Anthropology. Candace’s research captures the songwoman’s work, contributes to the development of Indigenous methodologies, and demonstrates one way in which an Aboriginal community are reconstructing Aboriginal knowledge for sustainability and legacy outcomes. Candace’s co-composed piece ‘Morning Star and Evening Star’, which incorporations a Yugambeh songline community narrative, is one example of this work and was the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Online Orchestra, National 2021 music piece. Candace has taught in the classroom for over 27 years, and now lectures in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University.

Shelli Hulcombe

Shelli Hulcombe is a Senior Lecturer in Vocal Studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University. She completed performance studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, furthering her studies in the UK at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Other qualifications include a Graduate Diploma in Music (Sydney University) and a Master of Music Studies majoring in Vocal Pedagogy (Griffith University). Shelli has appeared in principal operatic roles and concert performances with many of Australia’s leading state orchestras and ensembles, as well as undertaking international engagements in the UK, Europe and South East Asia. Shelli is a passionate educator of both singers and singing teachers. She served as President for ANATS (The Australian Association of Teachers of Singing) from 2017-2021 and is an active member of ANATS, AVA and NATS. She is in demand as an adjudicator and masterclass presenter across the state. Shelli’s research interests include the use of cross-genre training to improve vocal outcomes for the classical singer and she is currently completing PhD studies in this area. She has presented conference papers and workshops for the International Congress of Voice Teachers, The Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Australian Voice Association, and the Queensland Music Teachers Association.

John Rotar

John (b. 1995), described by Limelight magazine as a 'young, talented and innovative composer', is an up and coming composer and conductor based in Brisbane, Australia. Across this varied body of work the music is characterised by a strong sense of attachment and commentary on the institutions and history of music; it is a music which is full of life and always strives to emotionally communicate to and resonate with those who are willing to listen. Growing up in a musical family, John's passion for music started at an early age, after starting piano at age six John turned his hand to composition at eight and at twelve had his first orchestral work performed by the Bundaberg Youth Orchestra. Since then John has had over 130 works commissioned, recorded or performed by many leading arts organisations across Australia, Europe and North America. John is also an active performer and is the current Artistic Director and Conductor of The Australian Voices as well as the organist at the historic All Saints Church in the CBD of Brisbane.

Dr Anthony Young

Dr Young is an accomplished educator, with a PhD in Music Education from QCGU & a Masters in Music Studies (Choral Conducting & Musicianship) from UQ. He is a Lead Endorser & Chief Confirmer for Music with the QCAA, and has presented for a range of organisation including Education QLD, the Emerging Music Teachers Network, International Kodaly Academy, and ANCA National Conferences. He holds teaching roles at St. Laurence's College, the University of Queensland School of Music, and the Sound Thinking Australia Summer School and has worked as a Choral Director for various SHEP programs across QLD. His research and academic writing has been widely published by Oxford University Press, the Australian Kodaly Journal, Springer Publications, & ACER Publications. In 2015, Anthony was recognised with the Dr Alan Druery OAM Excellence in Teaching Award from the QLD College of Teachers, and in 2017 received the Spirit of Catholic Education Award from the Queensland Catholic Education Commission.

Jacqueline Larsen

Jaq has been helping people find themselves and their tribes through singing for nearly 30 years (ouch!). She is passionate about creating safe and joyful places for people to sing, regardless of their musical experience or ability, knowing the group singing is a life changing, and sometimes even life saving activity. Having directed community choirs in Edinburgh and Perth, Jaq went on to found Soul Song Choirs in Cairns in 2010 as a part time source of joy to compliment her events and communications business. Following a move to Brisbane in 2017 and the unexpected interrupted of COVID shut down, she made the unplanned and unexpected move into choir directing full time with the foundation of Viral Choir - an online global community formed specifically to sing together in a virtual way when they could no longer sing together in person. Thanks to the Viral Choir and the investment into running Soul Song Choirs as a full time gig, Soul Song exploded into a network of over 400 members across 4 groups, with 3 choirs now in Brisbane, the original group in Cairns, and Viral Choir which is home to singers all over the world. In addition to Soul Song, Jaq also directs Sound Avenue, an auditioned boutique vocal group singing pop, jazz and gospel, predominantly a cappella and Moorooka District Community Choir.  She regularly conducts one off singing workshops and performance coaching and is open to any idea that will get people singing! She’s currently working on a joint initiative to take 100 singers from Queensland to perform at the Adelaide Fringe 2024. 

Julee-anne Bell

Julee-anne Bell studied voice at The University of Queensland where she obtained an honours degree in performance as well as a masters in choral conducting and advanced aural studies. She has a passion for helping people to find their voices as soloists or choristers and she believes that everyone has the right to sing and be heard. Julee-anne has extensive lived experience as a performer, teacher, conductor and creator who lives with a disability and she strives to help others reach their potential in an honest and authentic way. She believes that difference and diversity create a rich musical tapestry but she also insists on high standards from those she mentors, teaches and conducts. She has always said that disability need not mean inability but that every singer needs to be evaluated on their merits and needs to be able to respond to constructive feedback in order to find the very best they can bring to their choral or solo performance.

Julee-anne focuses on function and wellness rather than a deficit standpoint. Her lived experience of disability as well as her extensive performing and teaching experience places her in the perfect position to speak about inclusion in a no-holes barred manner that aims to destigmatise disabilities in the vocal space.

Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié

Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié enjoys the adventure and global embrace of a career dedicated to music. She thrives on the creative discovery that flows from collaborative musical opportunities, whether working with combinations of choirs or with other composers, dancers, visual artists and cultural groups: the challenge often as rewarding as the music. Debra’s career has taken her from Hungary and through western Europe to north America. She attended Indiana University in the United States where she obtained a Master of Music Education degree and a Doctor of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Invitations to present at conferences throughout Australia and internationally have included the National Conference of the American Choral Director’s Association in New York in 2003, NZ Summer School in 2009, National guest conductor at ACCET 2010, 2016, 2020, and repeated appearances at the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) Choralfest since returning to Australia.  Prior to arriving in Brisbane in 2003, Debra directed the Indiana University Children’s and Youth Choir, was assistant director to maestro, Paul Hillier with the Pro Arte Singers, and Director of the International Vocal Ensemble at Indiana University for two years. From 2001-2002, Debra was Musical Director of the Northwest Girlchoir in Seattle, a 400-voice organisation of young women who performed frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In 2005 she was appointed Director of Music of Brisbane Concert Choir, in 2006 founded Vox Pacifica Chamber Choir and in 2009 founded Fusion, a semi-professional adult a cappella ensemble. Her most recent vocal ensemble is Vintage Voices, involving a program for elders to engage with community through singing, and she is continually in search of opportunities to collaborate with the wider music arts community.

Joshua Clfford

Joshua Clifford is a conductor, singing teacher, performer, and lyricist based in Meanjin/Brisbane. He has a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) in classical voice from the University of Queensland, and a Master of Music Studies from the Queensland Conservatorium majoring in vocal pedagogy, where he was awarded a Griffith Award for Academic Excellence. Joshua currently works at Kenmore State High School, Centenary State High School and Ambrose Treacy College as a singing specialist teacher and Choral Director. Managing a busy teaching schedule, the diverse range of high-school ensembles he conducts includes a youth treble choir, two changed & changing-voice male choirs, and three mixed-voice ensembles. In 2023, Joshua’s SATB ‘Chorale’ at Kenmore SHS were a Metropolitan Regional Finalist in Choral Fanfare, receiving a ‘Most Outstanding Secondary Performance’ award; two of his other choirs received Gold awards in the Metropolitan Regional Heats. With Voices of Birralee, Joshua served as Senior Musical Assistant for several years and toured internationally to Canada, Austria, France, Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia. He has also been involved in production work on Don Giovanni (2018) and Tosca (2019) with Opera Queensland and Il Trittico with the Cuskelly Summer School. Musical collaborative work includes; accompanist for QLD Music Festival’s ‘Help Is On Its Way’ (2019) and ‘Absolutely Everybody’ (2021) choral projects, led by Dr Jonathon Welch; lyricist for composers including Joseph Twist and Paul Jarman creating new Australian choral pieces; UQ Chorale’s language coach for Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ (2019) in Hebrew; and chorusmaster for composer Corinna Bonshek in development of a new chamber opera. Joshua regularly adjudicates vocal & choral competitions, such as the Clayfield College Music Festival vocal section (2021), Somerville House ChoralFest (2023), and the Gillies Chamber Music Competition – Vocal Division at Brisbane Girls Grammar School (2023). He has held workshops for school and community choirs (including Brisbane Girls Grammar School in 2022 and Somerville House in 2023), been an invited conductor for the Empire Theatre’s Sing On Opera Project, toured his school choirs to ‘Festival of Voices’ for five days in Hobart/nipaluna, and is the current President of the QLD/NT Chapter of the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA).

Peter Ingram

Peter Ingram is a noted conductor of school, university and community choirs throughout Australia. He is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and Florida State University (U.S.A.) where he gained his master’s degree in choral conducting under the guidance of Rodney Eichenberger and Andre Thomas. Previously the conductor of various choirs at both the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University) and the University of Queensland, he currently conducts two choirs as part of the acclaimed community arts organization Voices of Birralee: young adult ensemble Resonance of Birralee (co-conductor) and project-based adult choir Birralee Recycled. Peter is Head of Music at Brisbane Grammar School where he directs several choirs including the Grammarphones which, in 2018, were place second in the Youth Choir section of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod where Peter was awarded the prize for the most outstanding conductor. He is a long-serving committee member of the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) at both state and national levels, serving as national president for three years and president of the Queensland Chapter for five years. He was chair of the organising committee for the ANCA national conference Choralfest in 2017. He is in demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician and workshop leader at various choral events throughout the country.

Conference Opening Concert

Soul Song

Conductor: Jacqueline Larsen

• Symphony................Sheppard
  
• Make Your Own Kind Of Music.............Mana Cass
  
• Truly Brave...............Cyndi Lauper & Sara Bareilles
  
• Fall On Me...............Great Big World
• Joy...............Andy Grammer
  

MACapella

Conductor: Tamara Luski

• Good Night, Dear Heart.............Lyrics by Robert Richardson and Mark Twain, Music by Dan Forrest
  
• Killing Me Softly.............Charles Fox & Normal Gimbel, arr. by Citizen Queen
• Put Your Records On.............Written by Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck & Steven Crisanthou, arr. by David Das
• Hey Momma/Hit The Road Jack.............Mayfield & Olusola, arr. by Ben Brams & Pentatonix
• Toxic.............Written by Cathy Dennis, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winberg and Henrik Jonback

Resonance of Birralee

Conductors: Paul Holley OAM & Peter Ingram

Accompanist: Brendan Murtagh

• My Grand Dream................Music & Lyrics by Paul Jarman
  
• Gather the Stars................Words by Carl Sandberg, Music by Daniel Brinsmead
  
• When David Heard.............By Richard Burchard
  
• I’ve Got The World On A String...............Ted Koehler & Harold Arlen, arr. by Paul Langford
  

Soul Song

Director: Jacqueline Larsen

Soul Song - choir but not as you know it!

"Sing – Laugh – Sing – Cry – Repeat” - this all-inclusive network of community choirs builds their repertoire around songs that members love to sing and that audiences love to hear. Their secret weapon lies in the way they do things - their rehearsals are judgement free places where members can sing in safety regardless of experience or ability and both find and lose themselves in the music. With 3 choirs in Brisbane, one in Cairns and a large worldwide online membership, Soul Song has been on a mission since 2010 just to get people singing by providing a fun and funky space for people of all musical experience to sing together with music that is good for the soul. But be warned - we play as hard as we sing! Soul Song is all about community and we have regular social events and performances and most rehearsals end up at the bar.

Founder and director of the Brisbane choirs, Jacqueline Larsen (Jaq) also runs regular one off Singing Sesh events in the form of one off afternoon sings, corporate team building workshops, choir coaching and is currently developing a choir show for the Adelaide Fringe that will also later tour Queensland. 

Soul Song is looking to expand and is currently recruiting directors for new choirs across Brisbane. If you are energetic, a great people person and love the idea of bringing people together to make a joyful noise, then get in touch!

MACapella

Director: Tamara Luski

MACappella is an auditioned female vocal ensemble from MacGregor State High school comprised of 16 students from Years 8 to Year 12. The ensemble formed in 2019. They are a diverse vocal ensemble who sing a variety of repertoire from traditional choral SSAA to contemporary pop often with student devised choreography. Their repertoire is predominantly acappella but they occasionally perform with accompaniment. MACappella regularly perform at school and community events, most recently at the Sunnybank RLS Anzac Day Ceremony. Each year they participate in a regional schools tour with MacGregor’s Show Choir and Big Band where they enjoy the opportunity to instil a love of singing in younger students through performances at regional state schools in Queensland.

MEN ALOUD!

Directors: Jonathon Welch AM

MEN ALOUD! is a program of Play It Forward inclusive arts programs, created by multi award winning conductor, singer and composer Jonathon Welch AM. MEN ALOUD! originated in Melbourne in 2015 as a way of building positive mental health and wellbeing through singing and was then recreated in Brisbane as part of QMF's "Help Is On It's Way" project in 2018, where they first performed at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of the 3000 massed choir, singing out to support men's and boy's mental health in Queensland. Since then, MEN ALOUD! has now expanded to the Redland Bay area has over 50 singing members aged 18 to 80 years of age, that enjoy the experience of singing and performing together. MEN ALOUD! Brisbane has since performed at the Tattersall's Club, Brisbane where they also rehearse, the Gold Coast with Vocal Waves and more recently at the Redland Performing Arts Centre as part of Play It Forward's ROCK CHOIR project and SING FOR A CURE fundraising concerts under the direction of Jonathon Welch AM.

Other Music

Other Music is an online & education musical instrument store that opened in July 2019 which is owned and operated by Sarah Whiting. She has over 30 years of music education retail experience and has a long association with ANCA. Aside from Other Music, Sarah also spends her time performing in community musical theatre, concert bands and choirs so is well qualified to help with any inquiries you might have. Other Music is here to assist schools, teachers, students and parents with everything music-related. Including band & orchestral instruments, classroom resources, guitars, amps, drums/percussion, pro-audio, recording, keyboards, accessories and sheet music. They are also able to offer studio set-up advice and training. During the Conference, you’re invited to check out their display in the bottom floor of the Mary Place Building. There will be a wide range of sheet music and other goodies, all aimed at singers!! We’d like to thank Sarah & Other Music for their support of ANCA & Mind Body Soul Song.

ANCA.ORG.AU