Queensland Youth Choir

Robert Clark founded the Queensland Youth Choir in 1984, originally as a training program for young singers. The choir has since evolved into four performance choirs: Poco Voci, StellaVoce, Vivace Voices and VoiceWorks. The choir's home is the Old Museum Building, and over the years, the choir has produced many well-known music professionals such as Jason Barry-Smith and Tarita Botsman.

At the start of 2012, the choir has officially changed its name to the Queensland Show Choir. The name change was supposedly about reaffirming the artistic style Robert Clark founded QYC on in 1984. The organisation was inspired by the Show Choir movement in the United States and in particular, a group called the Singing Hoosiers ^[1][2]

Official Queensland Youth Choir logo

VoiceWorks

VoiceWorks is the Queensland Youth Choir's flagship ensemble, with members from 17 to 25 years of age. This ensemble performs all year round, and has had the experience of performing with many famous people, including Michael Crawford, Tina Arena, and Frank Sinatra. VoiceWorks recently competed in Channel 7's Battle of the Choirs where they advanced to the semi-finals and finished in the top four behind University of Newcastle, Vox Synergy and Harambee. This group is directed by Craig Allister Young, and entry into VoiceWorks is only by audition.

Vivace Voices

Students from Year 8 to Year 12 perform in Vivace Voices (with the exception of the occasional Year 12s that are accepted into VoiceWorks). This ensemble also performs all year round at community and private events, Christmas Carol concerts, and in QYC's annual concert series. Rebecca Penna is the Musical Director of this ensemble. An audition is required for entry into the Vivace Voices Choir.

StellaVoce

Formerly known as The Queensland Children's Choir, the group was renamed to StellaVoce in 2005, and remains under that name today. This choir is for children in Year 4 through to Year 9, and performs in both public and private concerts. The group is conducted by Rhonda Coady, and choristers in this group are auditioned.

Poco Voci

Poco Voci is a non-auditioned group for students from pre-school through to Year 4, and is conducted by Marion Wood. The main aim of this group is to develop music skills in young children, and as such, this choir performs less frequently.

President's Trophy Night

President's Trophy Night is a special annual event designed to showcase individual performers within QYC. Entrance into the finals of this event is possible after performers complete a heat in either solo, duet, or small ensemble format.

Prizes are also given to those who place 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their respective age group. In addition to this, encouragement awards are also presented to performers in the junior and senior categories.

References