Regional Adult Choirs
It started in 2005 with the challenge to the local men of Coonamble to join with the boys from the Regional Choir to present the Coonamble Jubilee song and commissioned works by Paul Jarman and Michelle Leonard for the Sesqui centenary of Coonamble celebrations.
The Coonamble Jubilee song has become a fun staple of the repertoire and the men from the Songs in the Key of Bloke have grown in confidence and skill and now join in the Moorambilla Festival with the Boys choir and the men from the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus to sing specially written works that reflect their experiences and the region. The Moorambilla Suite 2006 by Dan Walker was the result. They also make the occasional national television appearance – with Leichhardt Espresso Chorus on Battle of the Choirs on the Seven Network in 2008.
In 2007, with the festival focus on women and girls, the Coonamble area women formed the group Songs in the Key of She. They also shared in the stories that were used to create the Moorambilla Suite 2007 by Dan Walker, singing with the Regional Girls Choir and the women from Leichhardt Espresso Chorus at the Moorambilla Festival.
The Coonamble Singers continue the work of both of these groups and they perform regularly around Coonamble and at the Moormabilla Festival.
The Hot Flats, under the direction of Katie Sinclair, are a 25 strong SATB mixed choir who meet regularly at the pub at Nevertire to rehearse. Members come from the surrounding towns of Trangie, Warren and Nyngan and sometimes even Dubbo. They have presented several local concerts / soirees and are building their repertoire and skills into a fine regional choir. They will be performing at the Moorambilla Festival this year.
Michelle Leonard works as frequently as possible with these groups, conducting rehearsals and workshops and mentoring the leaders of the groups. The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus hosted several singers from Coonamble last year as part of the Carols of Norton concert and the sister relationship that has developed between Leichhardt, Warren and Coonamble continues to provide further performance opportunities in Sydney for the regional group.
If you would like further information about these groups or find out how to join in please complete this form:
