Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne
Encyclopedia
The Choir of Trinity College
, the oldest college within the University of Melbourne
, is a collegiate chapel choir modelled on the choirs at Cambridge and Oxford universities. The choir consists of 24 choral scholars (either residents or non-residents of the college). Under the supervision of the director of music, the choir and organ scholar provide music for regular services of Anglican worship in the college chapel as well as a schedule of public concert performances and recordings for ABC Classics
.
, A.E. Floyd, reorganised the college's existing Glee Club as a chapel choir. Among the choir's early conductors was the historian A.G.L. Shaw, later to be dean of the college.
Students and staff continued to provide music for services in the chapel — with the number and quality varying along with the interest or skill of those directing them — until the 1970s, when the college determined that a professional director of music was to be appointed in order to give continuity and coherence to the musical program and also to maintain high standards through a system of auditions and scholarships. The first holder of this position was the Ormond Professor of Music at Melbourne University, Peter Dennison, who began a new and continuing choir in 1976 and inaugurated the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
The choir have recorded for and given live broadcasts on BBC Radio 4, US Public Radio, ABC-FM and 3MBS-FM. They were invited to present a concert of Bach
cantatas during the "Bach 2000" Melbourne International Arts Festival
and also participated in the Melbourne Federation Festival in 2001. The choir have performed concerts for the Melbourne International Festival of Choirs and the Melbourne Autumn Music Festival as well as festivals in regional Australia (including the Port Fairy and Apollo Bay festivals) and overseas (including those in Ludlow, Lichfield and Cheltenham). At the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2001 the choir were placed fourth in the chamber choir division. They have also undertaken invited residencies at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
and presented the Daily Service
on BBC Radio 4 on three separate occasions. In 2009, the choir were invited to participate in the Melbourne season of concerts by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
at the Melbourne Recital Centre
.
During university term, the choir sings full Choral Evensong
in the college chapel at 6.00pm each Sunday evening. The choir's service for All Saint's Day was broadcast nationally on ABC television
on 26 October 2008 in the series Hymns of Glory.
Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
, the oldest college within the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, is a collegiate chapel choir modelled on the choirs at Cambridge and Oxford universities. The choir consists of 24 choral scholars (either residents or non-residents of the college). Under the supervision of the director of music, the choir and organ scholar provide music for regular services of Anglican worship in the college chapel as well as a schedule of public concert performances and recordings for ABC Classics
ABC Classics
ABC Classics is the classical music record label within the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is internationally recognised as Australia's premier classical music label, with a catalogue of more than 500 titles...
.
History
In 1934, the chaplain of the college, T.M. Robinson, with advice from the then organist of St Paul's Cathedral, MelbourneSt Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
, A.E. Floyd, reorganised the college's existing Glee Club as a chapel choir. Among the choir's early conductors was the historian A.G.L. Shaw, later to be dean of the college.
Students and staff continued to provide music for services in the chapel — with the number and quality varying along with the interest or skill of those directing them — until the 1970s, when the college determined that a professional director of music was to be appointed in order to give continuity and coherence to the musical program and also to maintain high standards through a system of auditions and scholarships. The first holder of this position was the Ormond Professor of Music at Melbourne University, Peter Dennison, who began a new and continuing choir in 1976 and inaugurated the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
The choir have recorded for and given live broadcasts on BBC Radio 4, US Public Radio, ABC-FM and 3MBS-FM. They were invited to present a concert of Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
cantatas during the "Bach 2000" Melbourne International Arts Festival
Melbourne International Arts Festival
Melbourne Festival is a celebration of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia, outdoor and free events held for 17 days each October in a number of venues across Melbourne, Australia.-History:...
and also participated in the Melbourne Federation Festival in 2001. The choir have performed concerts for the Melbourne International Festival of Choirs and the Melbourne Autumn Music Festival as well as festivals in regional Australia (including the Port Fairy and Apollo Bay festivals) and overseas (including those in Ludlow, Lichfield and Cheltenham). At the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2001 the choir were placed fourth in the chamber choir division. They have also undertaken invited residencies at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
and presented the Daily Service
The Daily Service
The Daily Service is a short Christian church service, often from Emmanuel Church in Didsbury, Manchester, England, broadcast every weekday morning between 9.45 and 10.00 by BBC Radio 4 and on the Radio 4 DAB breakout. For many years it was broadcast live from All Souls Church, Langham Place, the...
on BBC Radio 4 on three separate occasions. In 2009, the choir were invited to participate in the Melbourne season of concerts by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is an Australian period instrument orchestra specialising in the performance of baroque and classical music.The musicians play from original edition scores on restored or reproduced instruments of the 18th century...
at the Melbourne Recital Centre
Melbourne Recital Centre
The Melbourne Recital Centre is Melbourne's second largest auditorium for classical music . It was opened in 2009, as part of the Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre complex, and is located on the corner of Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street in the Melbourne Arts Precinct,...
.
During university term, the choir sings full Choral Evensong
Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer may refer to:* Evening Prayer , the Anglican service of Evening Prayer* Vespers, the Roman Catholic service of Evening Prayer* Ma'ariv, the evening prayer in Judaism. See Jewish services...
in the college chapel at 6.00pm each Sunday evening. The choir's service for All Saint's Day was broadcast nationally on ABC television
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
on 26 October 2008 in the series Hymns of Glory.
Discography
- O Clap Your Hands (Cherubic, 1998)
- Rejoice: Sacred Choral Music through the Ages (ABC Classics 472 310-2, 2002)
- My Spirit Sang All Day (Cherubic, 2004)
- O Blessed Light: In Praise of the Holy Trinity (ABC CLassics 476 294-2, 2004)
- The Children's Hospitals Hush Collection: Volume 5 (HUSH 005, 2005)
- Abide with Me: A Treasury of Classic Hymns (ABC Classics 476 5682, 2006)
- Southern Star: Music of Christopher Willcock and Benjamin Britten (ABC Classics 476 6349, 2007)
- Mystical Songs: Choral Music of Vaughan Williams (ABC Classics 476 6906, 2008)
- Choral Spectacular: The Greatest Choral Music of All Time - eight tracks by Trinity (ABC Classics, 3 CDs, 476 5706, 2009)
- Angel Songs (ABC Classics 476 3769, 2010)