KEY PEOPLE

Patron       

Artistic Director

Artists for 2010

Co-ordinators

Patron - Richard Gill OAM   (back)

Richard Gill OAM is one of Australia's most respected music educators and conductors, with a particular interest in opera, musical theatres and vocal training. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Richard has played important artistic roles with Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony and West Australian Conservatorium of Music and is currently Music Director of Victorian Opera.

He has nurtured the careers of hundreds of musicians across the country and conducted works with Opera Australia and all the major Australian orchestras. Richard is the recipient of the 2006 Don Banks Music Award.

Richard says of the Moorambilla Voices program:

Moorambilla Voices is a vital and specific program which nurtures the preservation of culture while encouraging the birth of new work. In her tireless work Michelle Leonard brings special qualities of  expertise, commitment, hard work and determination to make this succeed. It is an unique project and one that should serve as a benchmark for communities nationwide. 

As Patron of Moorambilla Voices I commend her, her program and the concept wholeheartedly.

Artistic Director – Michelle Leonard ( back)

Michelle Leonard is the founding artistic director and conductor of the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, the Moorambilla Voices Regional Children’s Choirs and Festival Director of the Moorambilla Festival. 

Michelle is widely sought after as a choral clinician particularly on Australian repertoire and she facilitates choral skills and compositional workshops for special projects. She is regularly an adjudicator for the International music festival – choral section and the Sydney Eisteddfod McDonalds Performing Arts Challenge choral section.

As a board member of the Music Council of Australia and new national choral mentor for the Music in Communities Network, she is actively involved in advocating for choirs through articles, presentations and workshops. In 2008 the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus was the inaugural winner of the National music in communities outreach award in recognition of their contribution to their community and communities in western NSW through touring, their extensive commissioning program of new Australian works, and commitment to working with leading professionals in performance.

Michelle is a past assistant conductor of Sydney Children’s Choir and was conductor in residence for Junior Gondwana choir at the 2008 National Choral School. Michelle was recently Choir Master for the Festival of Sydney’s Lost and Found Orchestra and also for the 2010 Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Michelle conducted the inaugural Moorambilla Voices touring choir in their performance at the Sydney Opera House for the international audience at the Sydney Peace Prize lecture by Patrick Dodson in November 2008.

Michelle is originally from Coonamble and has two beautiful children Sofia and Maximillian.

Artists for 2010  (back)

Under the artistic direction of Michelle Leonard the following composers and artists will be directly involved in the Moorambilla Voices project for 2010:

Luke Byrne - Accompanist, composer and arranger

 TaikOz - Ensemble in residence

Dan Walker - Composer in residence (MAXed Out)

Gerard Brophy - composer

Ben van Tienan - composer

Moorambilla Chamber Ensemble

Click here for artist’s biographies     

Co-ordinators  (back)

Jeanne  Kinninmont is the General Manager of Moorambilla Voices and is always available to answer your questions and will be the main contact for schools, registration forms, payments and the camp logistics. Jeanne has been extensively involved in the organisation of tours and concerts with the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus since 2005. She was involved in the organisation of the Moorambilla Regional Children’s Choir camps as assistant to the artistic director in 2007 and managed the choir in 2008 and 2009. Growing up in rural NSW, she has an in-depth understanding of the issues and resources needed to undertake this project. Jeanne accompanied Michelle on the 2010 audition tour and met many of the teachers and children who will be involved.

Contact Jeanne  Kinninmont - phone 0439 160 576

or email moorambilla@bigpond.com   Fax (02) 98103549

The Moorambilla Mum is the fabulous Liz Markey from Coonamble, who after being integral to the success of the last four years’ camps, is well known to many of the parents and schools. Liz is the parent contact person who is available to answer your local queries as well as co-ordinate camp supervisors and car-pooling for transport. Liz is happy to answer any questions for first-time parents about Moorambilla Voices and the opportunities it offers.

Camp supervisors are parents and teachers who give their time to contribute to the success of the project. All staff and volunteers are experienced in this area and all have undertaken the appropriate working with children checks.

Contact Liz Markey - phone (02) 6824 1550 or mobile 0428 241 552 

or email markey5@bigpond.com