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Choir Cecilia

Choir Cecilia

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Choir History

A Brief Historyof Choir Cecilia.

Choir Cecilia was formed in 1991 when a group of teachers, parents, and students, in Mount
Barker, inspired by their interest in and love of choral music, formed a choir that became
known as Choir Cecilia. They held early rehearsals in the Waldorf School Mt Barker, under the
baton of Lyndon Piddington. In 1992, they staged a production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas
which delighted the local community. They went on to perform in concerts of choral music from
all over the world and across the centuries.
Subsequently Tom Lambert led the choir until 1997 when Peter Webb OAM became the
Musical Director and led the choir until his retirement in 2022. He effectively nurtured and
maintained a high standard of performance of repertoire that was varied but mainly classical.
Following his retirement, Heather Elliott directed the choir for a short period and then in 2023
Choir Cecilia combined with Mount Lofty Singers to perform two concerts under Olga Strizhak,
and then Janet Leitch conducted several performances. In 2024 Brian Chatterton OA flourished
the baton for the choir to perform several concerts which contained many opera choruses
amongst other pieces.
In 2025, Jeremy Tatchell was appointed the Musical Director and continues to lead the choir in
varied but mainly classical genre of choral music.
We have been fortunate to have a number of talented accompanists including Gillian
Middenway, Audrey Collins, Bronwyn Simpson, Cheryl Bayliss from 2001 to 2007, Sarah Clay
from 2008 to 2015, Heather Elliott in 2016 after being the guest accompanist on a number of
occasions and then from 2018 to 2022, and Brenna MacKay from 2017 to2018. From 2023 until
now, Ruth Murcutt has been the accompanist.
Rehearsals have been held at various sites in the vicinity of Mt Barker and are currently held in
the Mt Barker Anglican Church Hall.
Choir Cecilia is an SATB choir that performs a variety of musical works, predominantly classical,
as well as a variety of popular folk songs from different countries. Performances have been held
in locations including Strathalbyn, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge and Mount Barker, and in a
number of venues in Adelaide. As well as concerts in the middle and end of the year, the choir
has sung on a variety of other occasions including, Remembrance Day ceremonies, and at the
Mount Barker Christmas market, Retirement villages and Rest Homes.
The Choir is a not for profit, incorporated body with a membership of around 30 to 40 singers
who live in the Hills and in near Adelaide areas.
 
We continue to pride ourselves on our professional delivery and we enjoy sharing the joy of
music with our audiences as well as belonging to a friendly community of singers.

By Super User
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Youth Award

Choir Cecilia – Youth Encouragement Award.

Choir Cecilia is a community choir based in Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills. Singers come from all over the Adelaide Hills and beyond and are bound together by their love of music and singing. Choir Cecilia sings a varied repertoire leaning towards traditional and classical works but also perform contemporary, folk, and spiritual music from many cultures and centuries.

The Musical Director is Jeremy Tatchell, and the Accompanist is Ruth Murcutt.

In the true spirit of “community”, the Choir Cecilia Youth Encouragement Award was instigated in 2013, to help fulfil one of the objectives of the Constitution: “to foster young talent”.

The award is presented annually to a young Adelaide Hills person who demonstrates outstanding musical talent, in the hope that it will encourage them to pursue their love of music and to continue to develop their musical talent. The award consists of a certificate, a sum of money determined annually, and the recipient’s name engraved on the Youth Encouragement Award Plaque which is located in the Mount Barker Community Library.

The criteria for selection will be that the applicant is a secondary school student who resides in the areas of either the Mount Barker District Council or the Adelaide Hills District Council, and that they play an orchestral instrument.

Download Application Form here:


Dib
By Super User
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Patrons


Choir Cecilia is privileged to have the patronage of two of Australia’s highly esteemed singers.

Elizabeth Campbell appeared regularly as a guest with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House, and with all the state opera companies and symphony orchestras. Her opera roles include Azucena (Il Trovatore), Sesto (Julius Caesar) Carmen, Xerxes, Clairon (Capriccio), Frika/Waltraute (Wagner’s Ring Cycle), and Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) for which she won two Green Room Awards. For her performances in the State Opera’s productions of Dead Man Walking and Aida she won Helpmann Awards for the best supporting female performer. In 2004 she repeated her roles in Wagner’s Ring Cycle for the SA State Opera company.

TomThomas Edmonds AM established himself as one of Australia’s leading lyric tenors. His early training was with Arnold Matters at the Elder Conservatorium in SA. In 1970 he continued his studies in London. He then divided his time between Europe and Australia moving to and fro many times. He performed some fifty operatic roles, as well as being a leading concert and recording artist. In the 1982 Australia Day Honours he was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his contribution to music in the country. His services were further acknowledged in the 1987 Queen’s Birthday Honours when he was made a member of the Order of Australia. In 1991 he was honoured by his own state of South Australia with an SA Great award.

Thomas recently celebrated his 90th birthday by publishing his autobiography, Ev’ry Valley: a tenor’s journey.

Elizabeth and Thomas are both featured in the Adelaide Festival Centre’s “Walk of Fame”.

They enjoy their married life together in Mount Barker, SA, with some teaching commitments as well as having time to enjoy reading, cooking, gardening, entertaining, and of course supporting Choir Cecilia and attending their concerts.


Jeremy Tatchell
By Peter Goldsmith
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Musical Director


Jeremy Tatchell.

Our recently appointed Musical Director is Jeremy Tatchell, a New Zealand-born baritone who first began singing in choirs at the age of 9. In 1995 he joined the National Youth Choir of Australia for their inaugural season and subsequently performed and toured as a member until 2001.

Jeremy studied both viola, voice and choral & orchestral conducting at the ANU School of Music before joining Co-Opera in 2003, touring in major roles throughout Australia, Asia and Europe. 

Since moving to Adelaide in 2011 he has sung numerous roles for State Opera South Australia and is much sought after as a concert, recital and National Anthem performing artist in Adelaide and throughout Australia.

Jeremy recently performed the role of Minskman in State Opera SA’s critically acclaimed production of Jonathan Dove’s “Flight”, and he will perform the role of Gregorio in Gounod’s "Romeo & Juliet" with the company later this year.

Jeremy teaches voice at a number of schools around Adelaide and hopes to further encourage the love of singing to all generations.

 

An Autobiography

Tom's book

 

 A riveting read by one of Australia’s most revered tenors. The book covers his nine decades - growing up on a farm in SA, through to becoming a leading international performer of opera, concert and popular music. 
To order your copy. (rrp $39.99) please email edcamtd@gmail.com.

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