We’re absolutely delighted to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the AGC this week.
On March 7, 1984 Judith Curphey OAM started the Australian Girls Choir. Judith boldly named her little group of girls in Burwood the AGC as she believed that it was as worthy to train girls’ voices as boys’. The vast majority of children’s choirs around the world were mixed or for boys only, notably the Victorian Boys Choir, the Australian Boys Choir and the National Boys Choir (all based in Melbourne). Judith chose an unconventional path in a variety of ways and importantly decided that the girls would dance as well as sing; this decision was frowned upon by most traditional choral conductors. Within months she’d started the AGC in Adelaide and by 1989 the first international touring choir flew to Canada and also included girls from Sydney.
The AGC has grown into a beautiful, vibrant organisation that currently trains over 6,500 girls across Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and we believe that it is the only choir of its kind in the world. Judith is now 94 years of age and recently attended one of the planned 40th anniversary events. It didn’t take much encouragement to have her conduct one song that was enthusiastically performed by 160 party goers including alumni and past and present staff members.
The confidence with which Judith led the organisation over the years remains an important aspect of how we work and we’re immensely proud to have a dynamic alumni network that strengthens year on year. At the suggestion of one such ex-chorister last year, we began investigating the idea of spreading our wings and in August willlaunch the Australian International Girls Choir in Singapore. The strong ties between Australia and Singapore lead us to believe that this expansion will be successful and in coming years, we hope to offer cultural exchange opportunities to our girls and staff. We encourage you to pass this information on to anyone you know who lives in Singapore and we hope soon to connect with former choristers and team members living up there.
Judith has inspired many of us who’ve worked with her over the years and at 40 years of age, we see that the AGC is a mature organisation that can welcome more girls from a range of cultural backgrounds into our community.
Nicole Muir AM
CEO
Winter Showcase
We hope all girls have enjoyed term 1 and have settled in well to their weekly rehearsals – please don’t hesitate to approach your Venue Manager or contact the office with any questions. If you have just joined the AGC, you may like to view eNewsletter 1 sent in late January.
We’re looking forward to sharing all of the wonderful repertoire and choreography the girls are learning at our upcoming Winter Showcase. The Winter Showcase will be held at Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University in Clayton. Concerts held on Saturday June 15 – All choristers from Berwick, Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Mentone and Ringwood venues including Camerata Burwood East and Performing Choir Concerts held on Sunday June 16 – All choristers from Caulfield North, Essendon, Greensborough, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Kew and Yarraville venues including Camerata Kew and Performing Choir Our Winter Showcase will be a captivating mix of musical styles and you’ll get to see girls from all levels of the AGC perform. All girls in our training levels will be involved in one performance.
Arrival and performance times as well as ticketing details will be distributed in early term 2.
New to the AGC? Click here for more information about our Winter Showcase!
Winter Showcase Production Rehearsals
Piccolo and Vivo levels
All concert preparation for Piccolo and Vivo choristers will be covered in their regular weekly classes, and as such they will not be required to attend the Production Rehearsal. Piccolo and Vivo classes will be held as normal on Saturday May 18.
Allegro, Avanti, Prelude and Concert Levels
The Winter Showcase Production Rehearsal is an opportunity for girls in Allegro, Avanti, Prelude and Concert Level to come together and rehearse. Girls will be involved in a variety of performing arts activities including working with our dance instructors to learn and prepare the choreography for their Winter Showcase item. This rehearsal will replace regular Allegro and Avanti Saturday classes held on the same weekend.
Choristers will attend a Production Rehearsal based on their regular rehearsal venue. Please click on the relevant link below for your daughter's Production Rehearsal information, including arrival, venue and parking details.
Saturday May 18
Allegro, Avanti, Prelude and Concert Level from Box Hill, Caulfield North, Ivanhoe and Kew
Parents are invited to watch a class in action, meet their daughter's tutor and connect with other parents. Piccolo, Vivo, Allegro and Avanti demonstration classes will be held throughout the whole rehearsal. Prelude and Concert Level demonstration classes will be held in the last 30 minutes of rehearsal. Demonstration classes will not be held for junior specialist groups or Camerata and Performing Choir.
You can download and print our Demonstration Class Guide here (this will also be available to access online via a QR code at your daughter's demonstration class).
Click 'Demo Classes' below to view the demonstration class date for your daughter's class.
Academy Photography will no longer be taking individual photos for our Piccolo to Concert Level choristers due to reduced demand. We understand this is a change from previous years, and you are welcome to contact us if you have any questions.
Term Dates
All levels
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Final Saturday classes for term 1 will be held on Saturday March 23 and final weeknight classes will be held in the week of March 25. Term 2 classes will begin on Monday April 15. You are also welcome to visit the website calendar to view term and event dates.
ASPA Head Office team members answer all phone calls and email correspondence between 9am – 4pm AEDT Monday to Friday.
It is our aim to have all relevant information available to you in the eNewsletter and on the website. Beyond this, Venue Managers at your rehearsal venue are very knowledgeable. If you reach our voicemail system then we assure you that your call will be returned within 24 hours and usually quicker than this. We welcome the opportunity to have conversations with parents and we aim to respond, in a timely manner, to your queries whether we receive them by phone or email.
AGC Online Shop
Visit to purchase all AGC uniform and merchandise items
